Victor M Macias

So sometime last year I was doing a feature and the director had me wearing the steadicam from call until lunch then back on till wrap. It was a baseball movie and we where shooting during the summer in Acton as well as San Bernardino. One day I had to go use the mens room and was trying to get 5 minutes to take care of business. One of the producers told me to go ahead, "I will cover you" I walked over to basecamp and was met by a p.a who said I was needed on set. I walked past him and went about my business. When I returned to set I found the producer jokingly putting on my vest, so I helped him and told him how to do it, no moving just standing still getting crowd reactions. He did well for the first 30 seconds but offcourse the director shot till we rolled out. I took the sled and vest off this producer, he couldn't even speak. He went home shortly after that and didn't come to work for the next 2 days. About a week and a half later my masters arm broke on me. The same producer had me take it to Tiffen and payed for the repair out of his own wallet!

Very disappointed that someone would take this job. Maybe the pain in my back is from the knife.

 

I may have had a back injury and been out of work (no paycheck) for 21 months but I still have a backbone.

 

With respect

 

Bill

The thing that is getting me more frustrated is the fact that this operator has been doing it for a while and I would think he would know better. Not to mention that it's not like he really needed this show anyway it's my understanding that this operator had another show that was starting in a couple of weeks. What does this show us new guys?

Victor M. Macias

Hi Dan,

I was in a similiar situation and not having worked for at least three months but it's like a game with these producers nowadays and as much as it hurts, we need to stand our ground. I've had producers tell me in the past that they can find someone else and I tell them go ahead. A couple of weeks into the shoot they're trying to find someone else cause that last guy bailed on them for more money. One of the things I start saying to them (producers) is that by paying me my rate it guarantees that I won't be leaving them if something else comes up. It's tough, we have already given up to much.

Victor M. Macias

ditto on staying local. I too am interested in the U2 -- it's very cool rig.

 

Ron B

Right now the only problem I'm having, is the top stage on the U2 it seems a little bulky and even though it has great bells and whistles, I wish you could opt to buy a diffrent top stage with out all that I'm new at operating but how many time do you use the tilt on that stage? Although the price is great.

Hey guys thanks for the feed back I was just at tiffen on friday looking at the U2 thats a nice rig and Frank Rush took me and some fellow operators on a nice little tour of the systems and all. I think my mind is made up.

Victor M. Macias

Hi everyone, my name is Victor. I have an old master sled with the iso-elastic arm and am seriously thinking of buying a newer rig. The problem is that there are so many to chose from and everyone says get pro when I ask why I hear more about how bad the customer service is at tiffen than people talking about equipment. I have had to go to tiffen for little things and when I have been there, Kyle Young is always so helpful I have never had a problem, it's a matter of fact they are letting me use their G-70 arm for a week and an HD monitor. The arms working great by the way. Still some of the guys aren't sure about them and these are guys I respect wich really makes me think about buying a new rig. I am just trying to get an opinion from more operators and hear what you have to say. Hope to hear from you

Victor M. Macias

definately use current market value -- if she wants half of what it was worth X years ago, then that would apply to the house also (when the $750k fixer-upper was going for $250k). Literally splitting the package up is also a fun idea -- the mediator will help with this. I hope it doesn't get to court or the lawyers will get the $$ and both of you will be bitter and broke instead of just bitter.

 

RB

Hi Ron,

I will find out this monday 06/19 what happens I'll let you know

Victor,

 

Sorry to hear that, dude. The way you describe it, $40k is way off. Even $33k sounds a bit high. You might want to contact Derrick Whitehouse (http://www.whitehouseav.com). He deals a lot of used rigs and could probably give you a good estimate.

 

Best of luck,

Afton

 

"I'm not saying what OJ did was right........but I understand."

-Chris Rock

Afton,

Thanks I took your advice and am working with Derrick on the quote.

Thanks once again

Victor M. Macias

So i got a situation on my hands. My soon to be exwife feels that I owe her $40,000.00 for my steadicam that i bought while we werestill married. Im trying to find out what would be a fair market value price for it now. It came with six batteries one wich isnt holding a charge at all and two that can use some recelling. I have an old 3A vest and the sled with monitor and an isoelastic arm wich has a crack in the elbow. It also came with 5 cables, a docking bracket, docking ring and two dove tails one short and one long and a j bracket. I need to get a couple of diffrent prices so i can take this to my attorney and let him figure this out. I opaid $33,000.00 for it but for some reason she thinks its worth more. I would appreciate all the help I can get to sort this one out.

Thanks,

Victor M. Macias

Most prosumer camcorders are a 1/4-20.

Thanks I just wasn't sure if it was the same for the higher end cameras

i was wondering if anyone knows the size of the bolt that connects the panasonic dvx100 to a tripod

Hi Victor,

I suppose you mean the Panasonic DVCPRO HD Varicam camera.

It's a good camera, not too heavy compared to the sony HDCAM cameras.

 

As far as I know it only outputs an HD-SDI signal (720P format), no SD-SDI or composite output...

So you should make sure that they rent the right down-converter with it.

Thank you Nils, I will make sure I get the proper converter

I got a masters elite film rig and I'm gonna be flying a vericam out in Tahoe for two weeks in December. I have never used it and was wondering what I should be ready for? Any input will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

I am new to steadicam I have had my rig for six months and everytime I turned on the monitor I had to adjust my frame lines well today I could not even find them is there something I need to do other than turn the knobs on the frameline generator or is something wrong with my rig and if so you can I take it to?

I am selling my ms vest it's Lori Hayball's old vest that I got when I bought her rig I tried it a couple of times didn't care for it so I am selling it. Make me an offer. You can call me at 213-842-9805. Thanks

Let me know if you still have it I am intrested in it.

If anyone is intrested I found a machine shop that build me a weight cage for $250.00 I have been practicing with it and it works great.

I was wondering if anyone has a weight cage that is for sale?

e mail me at viclorconsa@msn.com