Daniel Stilling DFF

With the risk of being shot by the "off topic" police, you can unlock the iPhone with a really risky and complicated process, but you can only use T-Mobile. The iPhone is a GSM phone, and the only GSM carriers in the US ate T-Mobile and ATT. I don't like ATT too much, but the iPhone is well worth few dropped calls... Dan

I'm really surprised by this mostly negative review of the BB stuff. I have a feeling that you did not understand a few features of the system. The top stage can be rotated 90 degrees, so the connectors are front-back. I did that on mine. The dovetail plate sits solidly and has never moved a millimeter after tightened The gimbal is excellent. Once you calibrate the screws on the gimbal, you are set. I have not done any further tweeks since, and it's very smooth and precise. I've never had to loosen my gimbal to set the length of the sled. And I've done so many Panavision shows where the lenses are so different that you have to change the length pretty much every time there's a lens change. Never any issues there. The battery plate plastic clamps are made of plastic so they don't scratch the bottom of the battery module when they are tightened. Never had to change any, works great, no wear and tear. Once you learn the sled, you know what combination of plates/batteries work and where they should be located for the best dynamic balance. You don't have to change that often. But more than once, because of awkward set-ups (vehicles on low mode or the like) I benefited of being able to move the batteries around on the fly to help on balance. I use a Masters arm and a Klassen vest. All in all It has been a very solid piece of precise equipment that has not let me down. My set ups are fast and proven over time, as I've had this sled for about 6 years now, being my third sled. It has worked with every camera on every type of production. Hope this helped shed some light on this. Daniel

Hey guys, Yes, I do have one, and I'm very happy with it! You can PM me if you like if you have any questions :rolleyes: Dan

As heard on the set of Desperate Housewifes: "we write the storia for Eva Langoria" I don't know about Starbucks... They would have to learn those really complicated coffee names, that takes skill... Daniel

Hey there, Just a small add-on info that I learned the hard way when I was doing 2nd unit on Scrubs and filling in for Rich: When you attach a modulus and power it from the camera, never use the power switch on the Modulus, allways leave it on. If you switch the Modulus on with the power cable attached to the camera, the fuse inside the camera will blow, and it's a pain in the but to replace it. It might not happen with all the cameras, but it's a good thing to be aware of. Dan

Hey all, About the 25.000 deductible, call me naive, but in my opinion that is the productions problem. The gear is under productions responsibility. Something happens and they cover it. If it comes out of the budget or from insurance, that's their decission to make. After all. that's why they have insurance. If someone rams into your car on the street, it's the guy that is at fault responsibility to pay for it, insurance, deductible and all. Once I was working on a ABC Family/Lions Gate show, and a horse kicked and destroied my monitor and monitor arm. There were no questions asked, Next day production was paying the invoices for the new stuff. Besides all that, say production fails to cover us, what about our own insurance, wouldn't that kick in and cover it all (of course, minus the deductible)? Like many here, I have insurance through Walter P. Doyle. and I was hoping that it will cover my gear no matter what. Isn't that so?

I understand all those points. What drives me crazy is that the production I mentioned had a budget of 3 million!! I have made my rate before on 500.000 movies. Don't tell me you can't pay decent rates on a 3 M budget with no huge cast names!

Hey all, Thank you so much for all your help. Thanks for the e-mails and phone calls. Dan Coplan graciously offered his weight cage, so I'm covered now. Again thanx everybody!!! Dan

Hey all, I'm going this wednesday to Detroit to shoot B-roll for a documentary on plug-in hybrids, and while I've been looking everywhere in my house, I can't seem to find my weight plate for small cameras like HV 200, Fisher Price HDV, etc. Could someone help me by lending their weight plate from tuesday until sunday? Call me on (213) 840-4525. I can pick up anywhere in the LA area. :rolleyes: Thanx a bunch!! Dan

Very well done Mark, I have lost count of how many productions that have offered me low numbers, and I passed on them all. The new "Tier 1" low budget contract for outside of production cities, have the operator position as "negotiable". I was offered $ 20.00/hour and 500 a week for gear! The sad thing is that somebody took it... It's just not worth it. Shortly after that I got offered to DP a comercial for 3 days and got paid a day a what normaly I get paid a week on decent tv shows... Just say no...

Wrong piece of equipment for the job. DON'T do it!!!!!

Yeah, I don't know what is going on around here, but today I lost 2 jobs to undercuters... It really blows... And productions love it... :angry:

Hey Dan, I did a movie a couple of years ago in Costa Rica and had a lot of Steadicam in the sand. It sucks. As said before use water shoes, you will most likelly have to step in the water. Protect your gear from saltwater. If you can, have the shooting close to the water, where the sand is firmer. Make sure you have grips with double nets for wind. If you end up in soft sand, antlers will add a lot the way you don't want it. Good luck with the eye candy! Dan

When it comes to goofy or regular, I like to think of it as when you play an instrument, a guitar for example. You would think that your right hand (if your right hand is dominant) would be the one at the fretboard, doing all the complicated moves between the strings, right? But no, you use your left hand for the complicated and delicate work while your right hand picks on the string, the stronger and simpler stuff. The same on the Steadicam. Your right hand is on the arm side doing the rougher work and your left is on the post side doing the delicate and complicated part. That's why it didn't feel weird to me to do it regular. Of course there are as many variants to preferences as there are operators. This was just my interpretation of it, but as if was said here, the right way to do it is the way it feels right to you, no rules... Dan

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I'll be there!

Hey guys, If this happens, I would love to come by as well... Hope to see you guys!

No problemo Steve, it was my pleasure helping you, Erwin and Garrett out on that!! The Red was definatelly the most interesting thing @ NAB this year, but I didn't have a chance to see it either. But the way things are, we will soon be flying it all the time, so I'm glad it works well for us.

Hi all, As many of you know, Rich Davis is a very talented Steadicam operator that has been working on Scrubs for the last four years. On thursday we will be able to watch an episode that he directed! It's been a pleasure for me to work with him on this season of Scrubs, and I just wanted to give Rich kudos, as it takes cajones to step up and be the head of such controlled caos that TV production can be. :D Congrats Rich!! So next Thursday night on NBC, check your listings, and watch!!! Take care, Dan

I apologize if this is obvious, but for you guys that are incorporated, do you charge tax on top of your rental??? That would be the point I imagine... Thanx Dan

Hey all I am in the process of researching about disability insurance. Other than a mention to AFLAC I haven't seen any mention of it. Does anybody have it?? through who?? There are so many variants and carriers. Does anybody have experience with Petersen international?? Thanx a bunch Dan

Hey man Happy birthday!!! Dan :D

photos please!!! :blink: Sorry man, what happens in a female prison movie, stays in the female prison :P

Actually I worked on a female prison horror movie a few years ago. Besides the ocasional shower scenes it did suck just as any prison movie does...

Thank you very much!!!!