Donovan Gilbuena

Hey John, I always record American Idol for the purpose of studying Dave Eastwood's craftmanship and when I saw this on my DVR I thought it was Dave shooting - very smooth operating I think you did a great job and I know you are not used to hardwire compare to with AVS system in it. I don't know if you can still remember me, I did assist you one day on Oprah's Big Give. Last week I got a chance to fill in to shoot Steadi with AVS wireles system at CBS So you think you can dance. I thought that show is pretty tough because of rehearsing the song 3x before you shoot the actual show. Anyway, it's great to see you shooting like Eastwood.

Sorry Rob, good guess with Freddy but it looks like I am the guilty one...I worked this show in Nashville last month. When I am not filling in for Eastwood, Vuona or Hector here in LA, I manage to occasionally get back to my old stomping grounds of Nashville to work a show or two. Thanks Charles and Sebastion for your kind words. It means a lot especially coming from my peers.

 

It's funny because I never saw the finished product until this link was posted, and it looks like the editors cut off the first 10 seconds of the piano intro with the camera moving up the strings & hammers. They got into the song at an odd moment when I was changing directions....oh well, thank you post production :( The director and I plotted the camera move with only a music chart, cd, and one practice during sound check. After the rehearsal we made a few notes, drank a Jack Daniels (we were in Tennessee, afterall), and what you saw was the finished product. Unfortunately I caught my shadow a little bit in the beginning, but if I were given the chance at a 2nd take, it would have been perfect ;)

 

I must give most of the kudos to my camera utility, Hugh Wilson. Without the guys behind me managing the cable and spotting me for safety, I could not do what I do. It was a heavy Ikegami HD camera tethered by a fiber camera cable, which made the move a bitch to accomplish without getting snagged or tangled, tripping over footlights and audio monitors which are hard to see on a darkened stage, or seeing my cable in the shot because of the multiple 360's. Thanks Hugh!

 

The director of the Grand Ole Opry series (Jim Yockey) loves Steadicam and gave me 2 entire songs in the show to shoot with one shot, all on Steadi. The other song was a ballad by Brad Paisley which I have yet to see. I'll look for it on YouTube I guess.

 

Cheers,

 

John

<a href="http://www.johnperry.tv" target="_blank">http://www.johnperry.tv</a>

 

 

PS. Rob Vuona, call me when you can regarding Link HD wireless hardware. I have prices and info...how much $ do you want to invest? It's damned expensive!

There is an industrial type velcro that works great for the level in Steadicam I use(ProVid) and it is Available in Culver City, CA

Mar Vac Electronics 12453 Washington Blvd (310) 391-6763

I hope it'll help you out. :)