ChadPersons

If anyone has an extra socket block I'm looking. 818 430-3227

Just got the HD upgrade and looking to sell the used parts of what I replaced. Upper and lower J Boxes are working fine. The post is in good shape but the cable has a break in the video wire. $2000obo. Chad Persons 818 430-3227

Hey Bill, Really sorry for your situation on Las Vegas but Im glad you're working again. I'll certainly spread the word of your poor treatment to anyone that will listen. I'd really like to know who winds up taking Las Vegas. I can tell you it won't be me. I wish you all the best. Chad Persons

Hey All, I am selling my AR an MK-V Nexus Sled. Never really thought about sending it out with other operators but after reading the posts why not? So here it is. If anyone would like to help get my AR and sled out there and split the rental on it let me know. It is very cool but not a daily use item. You can do what I've been doing on the West Wing and have two sleds built at the same time and simply slip the camera into the Revolution when you need it. The West Wing has been cancelled and I'm not sure any other TV show would be willing to pay any extra for it so let's get it out there. Feel free to call me if anyone is interested. 818 430-3227cell Chad Persons

Brand new MK-V Nexus Sled (used twice) 2" four stage post V2 Gimbal Nexus Base w/ three battery plates topstage dovetail plate Alien Revolution roll cage sensor processing unit Panasonic 7" LCD rotating monitor motor mount cables for all common cameras optional... Microwave Preston Follow Focus MDR-1 two Motors cables for all film cameras Hill brackets extra antennas all gear pitches separate iris control unit w/ 25' cable Transvideo 6" Rainbow II call 818 430-3227 to discus pricing

Includes... FI-Z microwave Handset and Transmitter MDR-1 Reciever motor driver two sets of antennas two MDR-1 Motors three motor cables one is (19mm I think) three hills brackets two transmitter batteries w/ charger six focus rings run cables for all film cameras iris control unit with 25' cable power cables for MDR from Pro sled, panavision and Arri cameras two sets of gears shoulder/ neck strap for handset I'm asking $15,000

I'm using the Transvideo Cinemonitor IIISB and I'm very happy with it. I've had to add a pound of weight to it to get dynamic balance in the form of a black diving weight lead. Sounds bad but it actually looks cool and works very well. I think I spent around $3400 for the monitor, two cables and the anti-reflective coating. The service is very good as well. Just my two cents, Chad Persons

I now have two BFDs and just wanted to chime in on how happy I am with them. My Preston is gathering dust now as I enjoy the equaled proformance at much less weight. Add in the fair price and the best service I've experienced from any vendor since making the move to steadicam eight years ago and I can't imagine why anyone would buy any other system. By the way, anyone interested in a microwave Preston MDR-1 with two motors? Sorry, just throwing that in. The light weight and its low profile is also great for when we go hand held and your assistant can't be next to you for any reason. Oh and having two separate channels has come in very handy in that we give our DP a handset for the iris pull which he really likes to do himself or if we go with two hand held cameras both assistants can be remote. All the Best, Chad Persons

Hey Everyone, I look forward to Saturday the 30th. Sounds like a lot of fun. Hey BJ, you mean April 30th not May right? Let us know either way. Anyway, I plan on bringing my AR just to make sure there is enough to go around. My problem is that I don't own a weight cage with a camcorder. If someone would bring one I will certainly bring my AR. And Howard, if you read this, will you bring your new follow focus. I'd love to take another look at it. All the Best, Chad Persons

I've recieved most of my AR. I'm just missing one piece and then I'll be using it in the field. If anyone would like to see or try using it once I have the last piece is welcome. All the Best, Chad Persons

Just to be extra clear on my opinion. David Grove is right... Off topic is a fine place for a post on opinions regarding the election results. But I have a problem with it being presented as "#$%@the south.com". My entire family is from Florida is of course the reason. Maybe it is my polite southern upbringing but I find that web site rude and insulting. I know it's all in fun and it's certainly not gonna ruin my day but I feel that people could have better taste in what they post. Here's an idea... How about an emotional cooling off period for post election posts? Kidding.. All the Best, Chad

Hey Ron, I haven't seen the George Bush punching bag at the monitors lately. I don't think you were there the day they pulled that one out. It amazes me how blatantly insensitive people in high position can be to express there beliefs in the workplace the way it is done on our set. I put a Bush bumper sticker on the camera truck and it was torn off the next day. At the same time there is a Kerry sticker on every vehicle that has their own parking place. People have been bitching since the election that we no longer have a Democracy. I argue that Democracy is strong in the country just absent on our set. Trying to Respect Everyone, Chad

Will, It scares me that you find that web site so appealing. It also bothers me that you buy into and contribute to the idea that this great country is actually as divided today as it was during the civil war. True that this election and the last were very close but that means , to me at least, that democracy is strong and that we as a people still believe that our voices count for something. There are no militias being organized on any side. Over one hundred ten million people voted... WOW... Bush got the most votes EVER and Kerry got the second most votes EVER. If you believe in democracy then I think you should just except it. We voted... Bush won. Move on... I completely respect your right to be upset about it but to drag your beliefs into a "steadicam" forum in the form of "fu@$the south.com" is, how was it put so eloguently? Oh yeah... A little "Arrogant Northeast Liberal Elite" like to me. Feel Free to E-Mail personally if you would like healthy debate (NOT Argument) Chad_Persons@yahoo.com All the Best Chad

Hey David, I use a Pro vest and yes I was squating. I find it easier to squat into a catchers stance or go to one knee to get low instead of having an apple box floated in. Chad

Okay, Okay... "AR" it is. Just finished another day in Air Force One. Had to go down a corridor through a door to get into the Presidents cabin and then go around his desk finishing in a catchers stance at desk level for the rest of the scene. Holding that stance was brutal compared to how comfortable I could have been with the AR. Plus I could have gone right over the desk instead of around it. I can't wait... Chad Persons

Hey Howard, I can't wait. I really wish I had my AR this week. We're shooting a good portion of the current episode inside Air Force One. We have been alternating between high and low mode consistently throughout the last couple of days and with most of the plane pre-lit my assistants and I had to be a pit crew to keep up with the change overs. Beyond the convenience of not having to change over there was, in my mind, the most possibility yet to create shots that only the AR could do. I would have liked to have done a shot with the camera skimming over the tops of the headrests or cruising low through the rows of reclined seats to an isle way and then rise up into a walk and talk. I would have liked having had the ability to choose which wall of a narrow corridor I could skim the camera along without going goofy-foot or Don Juan. Most of all I would have liked having had the ability to pull the post into more comfortable positions during lock-offs given many of the cramped places you find yourself in inside an airplane. Anyway, I am very excited and very eager to get my AR working. And when I get mine the invitation is still open to any operator in the LA area to swing by and give it a try. All the Best, Chad Persons PS "The Revolution" sounds cool to me and is easier to say so thats what I've been calling it. "The Alien Revolution" is kind of a mouth full to me. Maybe I'm wrong and I certainly mean no offense, just a very minor thing to consider if up for consideration at all.

Hey Eric, Do you have your AR already? I assume that none of the "pioneers" have recieved theirs as of yet since I paid for mine, in full, just a couple days after the showing in LA a couple months ago and I'm still waiting for mine. Not to sound hostle but I just wonder what you mean by "when we want to talk about it we (The Owners) will"? I would love to talk about it once I have it. Wouldn't you? All the Best, Chad Persons

I'm not a very technical guy but I am interested in a zoom handle if you develop one. I just started my third season on the West Wing and was suprised to find out that we switched to 16mm. It's kinda cool now that I'm getting use to it. I fly the 8-64mm zoom all the time now and have recently put thought into having a zoom control hook up. If you get it going let me know. Paul Sommers, on Cold Case, said there is already some sort of zoom control I could get but I haven't seen it yet. Anyway, keep me in mind. Chad Persons Chad_Persons@yahoo.com

What about playback to the directors monitor from the Modulus on the sled? If we could transmit playback to video village that would be fantastic. How can we do that simply? Chad Persons

What's with the pissy attitude grimmet? First, you ask "what's wrong with this forum?". I think the forum is great and I visit it everyday. The problem is that it is a puplic forum and people are not comfortable talking rates in public. Maybe I'm wrong. What do you make? Have you ever undercut someone? What's the lowest rate you have ever worked for? Did you get that same call I got last week for the show in Hawaii? What did they offer you? Do you really want to answer questions like these on the forum? These are the things we spoke openly about at our get together and like I said it was enlightening. Second, you ask "why did you only invite twenty-two ops?". Sorry if that sounds misleading. I personally invited twenty-two operators AND made a post on the forum. My intention was to keep it small so that people would be comfortable and we could talk rates openly but at the same time try not to exclude anyone. It's impossible. I did the best I could. I really do hope that no one was insulted by my method. I posted about the get together after the initial invites went out because Paul and I had no good system for including everyone and given the responses posted about the Alien Revolution and the insult people took to not being invited to see it I thought it wise to not go there and seem elitist. Unfortunately only two responses came from that posting. Why, if you read my post, didn't you respond? I also did write in my last post, which you quoted, that we hope this will grow(meaning our network of operators). Thanks Ron for jumping in on this and helping to clarify. I'm going to try to organize another get together at my house in Studio City when the Alien Revolution I bought comes in so everyone who is interested can give it a try. This includes you grimmett. I think you would really enjoy this group of guys. All the Best, Chad Persons

The way I see this Canada vs. USA thing is that it does exist but not so much in the Steadicam world. Productions certainly don't go to Canada because their Steadicam Ops are cheaper? Do they? We are all aware of the Canadian governments incentives to gain film production and our unions creation of lower rates to compete. Canada isn't alone though in this tactic. We have Arizona and New Mexico doing the same thing plus a number of "right to work states". Personally I think our government should step in not our union but thats a bigger issue. Lost my point for a minute there...Ohh, I remember. Isn't the real problem with the consistant issue of Ops undercutting each other and UPMs pitting us against each other OUR lack of communication? I have to believe that in most cases Ops are not puposely undercutting each other. If so there isn't much hope for us. If we just had a way of talking to each other when a production is looking for an operator at an unfair rate. Who wouldn't love having a network of information at their finger tips from all the other operators. A couple of weeks ago Paul Sommers and myself arranged a get together here in LA for Steadicam Operators with the purpose of creating an open community for us all so we can share the information that is usually so hush-hush. Eleven very good and established operators showed with four others that couldn't make it but wanted updates and to be a part of the new mailing list. We only invited twenty two ops total as to keep the meeting quant but we hope this will grow now that we realize its potential. The stories that we all shared for four hours was so enlightening for all of us. I could write pages of the positive things that came of the meeting but I'll refrain for now. I just think that everyone in our relatively small Steadicam world CAN ban together to create a healthy community if we just put the effort forward. Chad Persons

Jamie, I competely agree with Howard and Alec. Having good set etiquette and knowing when to speak and when not to is critical to our job. The mechanics of operating truly is only half of what makes a good operator. I've found that when in doubt just stay quite and do as your told as well as you can. You can't go wrong that way. If you think you have a good idea for a shot make sure that you have a good feel for the chain of command so you don't step on anyones toes. For example, say you have "a great idea for a shot". Ask yourself some questions first. Will my idea have an effect on the lighting in anyway that will make it more difficult or limiting for the DP? If you're not sure then ask the DP humbly and privately. Second ask yourself if the shot helps the Director tell his/her story? In my more eager days I often came up with elaborate shots only to be told that they were great shots but didn't fit the film. Think about whether or not the actors will be receptive to an idea from the operator? Many actors don't like too many chefs in the kitchen. And finally, choose your battles. Save your ideas that your not 100% crazy about and suggest the ones that you really do feel would be great. Too many ideas can be threatening to the DP or Director. You'll find that if your ideas are consistantly good you will develop a trust with your DP and Director and in turn they will ask for your ideas more often. That is the best feeling. When you have earned your place on the creative side of film making. All the Best, Chad Persons

I think the shirt looks pretty cool. I'll take a few. If there could be a run of long sleeved shirts I would take a few of those as well. They would be great for hiding ourselves in reflections. Chad Persons

Have not fallen yet(knock on wood) though I did see my AC fly off a flight of stairs before I got to them. He landed gracefully and the actors didn't miss a line. Only he and I laughed about it. There was one story that I thought was pretty cool though that George Paddock told it to me a year or so ago. He said that he was visiting Chris Haarhoff on the set of Saving Private Ryan on the day that they shot the scene where Tom Hank and his guys ran into the French town in the rain while we hear a fire fight going on. He said that Chris stepped on a roof shingle with his lead foot and when it kicked up he caught his back foot on it. Down he went into the mud. A complete face plant. He was okay but the camera and rig needed some attention. The ACs swapped out the camera and wiped down the rig. To everyones suprise the rig was working fine. Chris and George, literally, took a hose to the arm and it was good to go. Says a lot for the Pro rig if you ask me. Sounds like a sales pitch but its not. I had bought mine a few years before so I'm sure it wasn't. All the Best, Chad Persons

Hey David, I'm umm looking for a new umm 1st AC and I was umm wondering if you umm knew of any? :P A girl would be fine... ;) Just kidding. We have to act like boys sometimes. Cool pictures, Chad