Lawrence Karman

Let me also add that my main problem with Rathbone was not with the service but with the product. The factory AB batteries lasted 2 to 3 years. Using the same chargers and charging routines the re-cells only lasted around 12 to 14 months, with one battery less than 12 months. Add to that the weight disparity between the re-cells (they are lighter) and the new batteries, let me say it just didn't work out to my satisfaction.

Ron, I simply have presented the facts of my experience with your product with others on this web site who share the same professional interests as myself. You have posted here with a solicitation for your company's services and products and I thought those that read them would be interested in knowing directly what my experience was with Rathbone Energy. I have not asked you for any type of refund or exchange. I have accepted your recells for what they are and have moved on. I am sure many others are more than satisfied with their experince with your company. Let them post here if they want to. I wish I had the same positive experience they did. All the best to you and good luck in the future.

Ron, I am very pleased to report that today, on a feature in LA, one of the evil Genesis cameras was destroyed by a charging bull! They let him out of his pen and he turned, jumped over a fence and charged directly at the camera and sticks and "took it out". Hit it so hard it's hairs were embeded in the glass of the lens. I can only surmise that Ted Churchill has been reincarnated as a bull in California and finally had the opportunity to do the right thing with this camera in the name of all the poor steadicam operators that must fly that pig in one piece mode. Apparantly some unlucky person drove up in a red pick-up truck just after he smashed the camera and he proceeded to scrape the entire side of the truck with his horns. Ole! God knows what the bull might have done if it was the "Red" camera.

While I don't like to offer negative feedback regarding a vendor I just have to offer feedback regarding the Rathbone Hytron 50 recells: I had mine done by him and they performed well for about 1 year. Now they are useless. One didn't even last a year. It definately was not worth the months of hassle it took to get them done by Rathbone. Apparently I caught him during some unfortunate and tragic personal problems, hurricanes, changes of staff, lightning storms that wiped out his computers, and relocation. I had no reason to doubt the veracity of these excuses, but frankly it was too much for me to try again. And they didn't last. As he warned, not all the recells took due to the fragility of a temperature sensor and I was forced to replace a few batteries with a new AB Hytron 50. The bad thing was that the recells are slightly lighter than the original AB batteries and every time a new AB battery was given to me to replace a down battery on the sled I had to rebalance the drop time. Annoying to say the least.

Try Jerry Hill. I am sure he is making a double, but not sure if it is done yet. Pretty sure you can get it with a rod or a rosette.

Batteries Plus in Thousand Oaks for the Proformers. $100 each. Cheaper than Rathbone and much easier to deal with. 805 494-8484 Not sure if they do the Hytron 50s

I'm sure Tony will function as the DP and operator. He is not an easy man to work for, although I am told he has changed for the better, but just wait till he gets in the pressure cooker of a studio feature. Oooh, makes me shudder just thinking about it. Definately not worth it for scale. And fuck these producers for trying to bone some Steadicam operator when they are not even paying a DP! Good for you Grayson.

Interesting post, Will. I'm curious about how you overcame the purported weakness of the AR in, I assume, not being able to keep up with fast level changes. By "dialing it back" did that mean just going slower or fiddling with the electronics? Is there somewher we can view this spot? If your current movie is based on "Bringing Down the House", please don't let them f* it up! It was a great book.

I was there. The camera was the "spinning mirror" 65mm from Panavision. Kind of a stripped down version of the System 65 camera that was used for A camera. Rusty Geller also operated with that camera. He can be reached at: gellers@bigpond.net.au This was before I operated Steadicam. I got to operate the Arri 765. It was really fun to scan that big frame in the eyepiece.

Yeah..........I'm currently working on a film with Gary Cole so I'm going to have to ask you to send those pictures and TPS reports to my personal email box ASAP.

Brad, I would be more than happy to discuss rates with people I know and maybe some I haven't met yet in private. Feel free to e-mail me. Common knowledge of where to draw the line is a good thing, but you have to be able to trust that others will do so when the time comes.

Gemtlemen, I share your frustration, but I would strongly advise against discussing $ specifics on a public forum. It only gives the wrong people ideas.

Two actually, Doc...pan plus either tilt or roll, depending on how they are oriented. Of course pan usually doesn't need stabilizing, but it is added inertia in any event. One of the nifty things about antlers is that they can help equalize the feeling of the three axes, in that there the standard Steadicam configuration has a lot of inertia in tilt, less so in roll and less still in pan. Adding antlers oriented left to right can help balance this out. As long as you don't hit someone with them, yeah. I stand corrected. You are absoulutely right.

Here's a brief response: Making the rig more bottom heavy is helpful. But that comes at a price in terms of mainaining level on angular momentum changes. Grips with 4X4 double nets are very effective against the wind. Held as close as possible to the camera and rig from the windward side. If wind direction is coming directly at the lens then 2 4X4 held together in a "V" pattern just behind the camera can be some help. Plus side: usually available and no expense to you. Negative side: Sometimes the wind forces the net into the rig or your sudden change of direction runs you into them, upsetting the frame. Not too effective against swirling winds. Also, grips need to be paid and fed.(and rightly so) Antlers are effective aginst the wind and relatively inexpensive. Negative side: They only help to stabilize one axis, they add weight and require a re-balance when added, and worst of all they have a rather large profile and often bang into things and heads. Gyros are the most effective tool against the wind. Negative side; Very costly, noisey, requires rebalancing when added and heavy. That being said, if you are often working in windy conditions then they are your best bet and you should invest in a set.Do a search on this board and you will see a recommendation for using 3 gyroscopes. Good Luck!

Thanks for the info.

Bill, I'm so sorry to hear that. Yet another story of someone being screwed by an insurance co.

David Eastwood and Ted Ashton were listed on the credits. The usual suspects.

I bill through a corporation for my equipment and I do not charge sales tax. The rule of thumb is if you paid sales tax when you bought it, you are not required to charge sales tax. In California, if you have a re-seller's permit which you can get by registering with the State Board of Equalization, you can avoid paying sales tax when you buy, but you must then charge sales tax when you rent it. It involves mucho paperwork, not worth it. I assume if you buy from out of state or country then technically you should be charging sales tax, but who's watching.

As I recall Stalone doesn't like his face to be shot from one side or the other. Make sure you find out which it is. Sorry, can't remember which. Had the best GIANT tiger shrimp there, and a crab dish that was the best ever. You'll love it there.

Lars, I think Neal already answered that. It is pricey but it is remotely dimmable. Can't be controlled by the Bartech.

Ive used the lite panel on lots of films. Nice soft light, can easily be powered off the sled with minimal power draw, and fairly light weight. The hard part is deciding which one to get; tungsten ar daylight, spot or flood. I lean towards the daylight/flood.

I second that. Really great post. Nice to hear details like that.

I hear the RED is awesome on the Steadicam! :rolleyes: While you are right, Alec, I have to admit I do find this discussion interesting.

Thanks for the detail, Erwin. I figured with the PRO 35 and all the external BS it would be heavy enough not to need the additional iron weight. When I flew this camera I knew I would be running around with it for hours at a time. I knew it would be too light for my rig and didn't want to add the extra weight. I would have liked to have used the Flyer but I wound up using Garrett's prototype for the Flyer, a converted SK which flew the thing beautifully. I see you used a Preston. I can't remember for sure but I think I used a LAN control for focus and zoom which I attached to the gymbal and did it myself, video style.

Sometimes you just can't win. Is that a weight plate you've added to fly this lightweight cam on the XCS sled?