MegSchrock

DB III relatively new Pro Junction box XCS 2" post 18"-36" XCS 2" Gimbal w/ ergo handle. PRO Lite base TB-6 Monitor XCS 2" dual rod monitor bracket. Custom 7" length. XCS digital level XCS fat baseplates x 3 PRO baseplates x 2 Several PRO cables for P'vision and Arri. Several brackets and widgets. Hard Shipping Case 4 Anton Bauer batteries 4 port charger Hard shipping case Vintage beefy baby stand and dock. All very well taken care of.

DB III relatively new Pro Junction box XCS 2" post 18"-36" XCS 2" Gimbal w/ ergo handle. PRO Lite base TB-6 Monitor XCS 2" dual rod monitor bracket. Custom 7" length. XCS digital level XCS fat baseplates x 3 PRO baseplates x 2 Several PRO cables for P'vision and Arri. Several brackets and widgets. Hard Shipping Case 4 Anton Bauer batteries 4 port charger Hard shipping case Vintage beefy baby stand and dock. All very well taken care of.

I'm moving to a smaller rig. selling this one. DB III relatively new Pro Junction box XCS 2" post 18"-36" XCS 2" Gimbal w/ ergo handle. PRO Lite base TB-6 Monitor XCS 2" dual rod monitor bracket. Custom 7" length. XCS digital level XCS fat baseplates x 3 PRO baseplates x 2 Several PRO cables for P'vision and Arri. Several brackets and widgets. Hard Shipping Case 4 Anton Bauer batteries 4 port charger Hard shipping case Vintage beefy baby stand and dock. All very well taken care of. $25,000 USD

I'm going smaller, selling the big rig. DB III relatively new Pro Junction box XCS 2" post 18"-36" XCS 2" Gimbal. Comes w/ ergo handle. PRO Lite base TB-6 Monitor XCS 2" dual rod monitor bracket. Custom 7" length. XCS digital level XCS fat baseplates x 3 PRO baseplates x 2 Several PRO cables for P'vision and Arri. Several brackets and widgets. Hard Shipping Case 4 Anton Bauer batteries 4 port charger Hard shipping case Vintage beefy baby stand and dock. All very well taken care of. $25,000 USD

Here's what's in the box: DB III relatively new Pro Junction box XCS 2" post 18"-36" XCS 2" Gimbal. Comes w/ ergo handle. PRO II base TB-6 Monitor XCS 2" dual rod monitor bracket. Custom 7" length. XCS digital level XCS fat baseplates x 3 PRO baseplates x 2 Several PRO cables for P'vision and Arri. Several brackets and widgets. Hard Shipping Case 4 Anton Bauer batteries 4 port charger Hard shipping case Vintage beefy baby stand and dock. All very well taken care of. $25,000 USD

Downsizing to a smaller rig. Here's what's in the box: DB III relatively new Pro Junction box XCS 2" post 18"-36" XCS 2" Gimbal. Comes w/ ergo handle. PRO II base TB-6 Monitor XCS 2" dual rod monitor bracket. Custom 7" length. XCS digital level XCS fat baseplates x 3 PRO baseplates x 2 Several PRO cables for P'vision and Arri. Several brackets and widgets. Hard Shipping Case 4 Anton Bauer batteries 4 port charger shipping case Pretty much everything you need to get you up and running. All very well taken care of. $25,000 USD

Hello! It's Meg, from many many posts ago. It was suggested that I share what I've been up to and I'm honored to know that some people are curious. So here's my bit: After a few jobs in random departments in 2004 and some jobs here and there in 2005, I decided to move to New York in early 2006 and commit full time to g&e. Since then I've been working steadily as an electrician and occasionally I have the opportunity to be a gaffer. I love being part of the g&e crew, but I can't stay that way forever. Yes, I want to start seeing other departments. Particularly: The Steadi-Cam operators. I've been poking and prodding operators since I met my first one, Dave Ellis. I realize now that it may have been a nuisance for all those operators to have an electrician throwing questions at them while they're setting up their rig and for that I apologize. But I've learned a lot and I'm extremely grateful to all the operators who put up with me. I've had the chance to bug many great operators over the last year and a half and I'm sure I'll be doing it more (sorry). About a month ago Alec Jarnagin and Afton Grant let me fly their rigs. It was an amazing day and I hope I'll be able to do it again soon - and someday I hope to fly my own rig. I've got a spot reserved for the Pennsylvania workshop in October and I can't wait. I'll be joining you all soon from the newbie pages of this forum. Thanks so much to everyone for all of your words of encouragement. I've learned a lot since 2004! -Meg Schrock

don't be mean. I really DO want to become a steadicam op, I'm just dirt poor at the moment. I mean, I wish I had $2000, but I don't. I'm anxious to get started but I'm still not able to afford the workshop and I was hoping that someone could give me some helpful advice. Your suggestion that taking the workshop is the next step (despite it's resentful tone) is very helpful. Thanks for your advice, I'll just be patient and save up the money. Still, I don't appreciate being insulted just because you don't think that I truly want to be a steadicam operator and you HAD to take time out of your busy "advanced member" schedule to answer some silly kid's questions in the steadi-newbies forum.

For about a year now I've been thinking about becoming a steadicam operator. I've looked in to work shops, browsed the forums, and talked to steadicam operators while working on different sets. So I've for "step 1" down in the guide-to-becoming-a-steadicam-op: Deciding to be a steadicam op. (seriously, I HAVE decided. I've posted before and everyone has been like "are you sure you want to be a steadicam op? are you sure you have the desire? because it's not worth it if you don't have the desire" and my answer is "yes, hell yes!") What I can't figure out is what step #2 is? I'm pretty sure the next step is not "buying a rig" as that would be a very risky investment for never having done it. I think the next step might be "going to a workshop" But again, that's a $2000 investment (not nearly as much as the rig, but still substantial). Are there any other ways to test the water with out putting down the big bucks? Like perhaps shadowing a steadicam op for a day or something like that? I guess I'm pretty much curious how everyone gets started. I'm guessing that most people were behind the camera as a DP before they bought their first rig, but I'm not sure. I've been doing grip/electric work and some AC work. Is it possible to jump into the steadicam world with mostly grip/electric experience? or should I spend another year or so working in the camera dept? Any advice?

Stephen, Hey, I actually have been an assistant in the camera dept. My first job ever was in the camera spet on a film directed by steve buscemi earlier this year, that was pretty cool. But then I got into grip an electric because it pays well and is easy to move up in. I actually know quite a bit about set politics, and sets certainly don't scare me. The next time I walk onto a set, it certainly won't be the first. It's fun being a girl juicer, but honestly, I don't want to be shouldering 4ks for the rest of my life. Plus there isn't nearly as much creativity in g&e as in camera, even if you are the gaffer key grip. Rob, I certainly don't want to jump in blind folded, that's why I'm posting. I just don't want all you guys to hate me for my posts (jkilroy) before I ever even get to the workshop. David G, thanks for the website. Sebastian, I've gathered that being a steadicam op with out the workshop is like going sky diving with out getting into an airplane. the workshop is my fiance, we just haven't set the date yet. Dave Ellis, hey, how's it going. I totally met you an that movie that Jamison was the DP for, the Manderin one. Remember me. The girl: the third electric? that godforsaken field in maryland. Thanks for the post. It took a while to read. I'll consider it. Ok, I have to go. Thanks all!

Hey, Thanks guys, for all your thoughts. Accountant, maybe? Used rig, definitely. Jumping in head first when I'm still fresh-off-the-college-boat appears to be a bad time. But it sucks working at awful jobs knowing that I could be playing on a film set with the coolest toy ever invented. My plan is to get the hell out of DC and move to New York because that is where art and business get married. It's a big market and it's probably difficult to get started there. When I get my rig, I'll probably spend everyday in my closet-of-an-apartment in Washington Heights or where ever tinkering and practicing and figuring out how to get the next gig and I'll do well because too I have a good attitude. So sometime next spring you New Yorkers should expect to see a fresh new steadicam op with a beat-up old rig wandering the streets and looking for a gig and then you can say to yourselves, "hey, that kid used to post on the steadicamforum!" I'm sorry some of you guys don't seem to be having fun doing what you're doing. I can't imagine anything better! Mr. Leigh, Are you mocking me? Because that hurts. Right about where my kidneys sit.

OK, I'm still confused. After talking to several steadicam operators on various films sets. I've gathered that it's important to go to the workshop. The workshop is, like, $2,200, I can conceivably come up with that amount... but how do I come up with the $66,000 it takes to buy a rig? I'm already super in debt with college loans... I just don't get how it's possible to buy your first rig. If someone could give me their history on how they financially became a steadicam operator I'd be really happy. Thanks guys! -Meg

Hey guys, thanks so much. I'm definitely checking out the newbie sight and am beginning a web search for workshops. Any recommendations? Today I actually began working on my second feature film. Unfortunately, I'm not in the camera department. I got moved from camera PA (my first film) back to locations assistant. But hey, I guess that is a good way to learn about set politics. Thanks again for all your responses.

Hi, I just graduated from a liberal arts school and have already worked on two feature films in the past 3 months. However, I'm tired of being a PA. What I really want to do is be a steadicam operator for documentaries. I would really appreciate any advice for getting on the right track. Should I go to a film school? should I take classes? How soon do I need my own equipment. Is it a stupid idea for a girl to be a steadicam operator (almost everyone I've told has scoffed at the idea)? I think I can do it, but I have no idea how to start. Any advice is welcome. Thanks so much!