Bob Woodhead

If someone would be so kind: editingfx@gmail.com

OMG... we're being targeted!

"... it was just another fairy tale shoot...."

Hmmm... maybe Tiffen could be convinced to make a bulletproof Kevlar vest? Or... between takes you could swap the sled & cam for the minigun Jesse Ventura used in Predator.... (do you need to dynamic balance a minigun?)

(singing) "... 'cause I'm the Rubber Band Man..."

The Elastic-Elastic arm?

How about following swimmer to the pool, then down a ramp into pool with rig (lo-mode), maybe ankle-deep into water. You'd be leading the swimmer a bit. As swimmer dives, you arm down the camera into water FORCEFULLY, so there's a good splash of water around camera. Use that splash as a "hidden cut" opportunity to mimic same move in a 2nd shot, this time w/o rig, only camera in housing, so that you can continue shot underwater. I'd think the moment of impact would be visually jarring enough so that you'd miss the cut (well, soft cut, maybe 2 frame dissolve). Easy enough to test by simply doing two takes with camera in housing & see if they cut.

Nope, a few more years than that, Amando.... I'm 48. But I wanted to do it since I saw the first ones Garrett created. For most of the time I've been an editor, but in the last 5 or so have been shooting as well.

Hey Mark, glad to hear you're out there making it happen! (I was a classmate in your workshop.) What weight are you flying? Perhaps some more mass, adding inertia, would make it easier to.... "fly against the wind". Or, following Amando's suggestion, park a big box van behind you.

I'd really like to see the reaction when the main gun is fired....

And I'd guess the FlyerLE arm to be around 15. Vest, maybe 6? Wild guesses based upon a cup of Starbucks in left hand & rig in right.

I'm exhausted just watching it. Nice switch sequence through the last set of doors & stairs.

Thanks for the detailed info Alfeo!

Well, the mistake here is that you're missing a fill light.... :P

No help on balancing, but another issue - what about the relatively huge monitor cable and AC? Your prompter looks like mine, from Prompter People, and either of those cables, going out to the monitor, will be hellacious to deal with. How about using a 7" monitor over the camera, receiving a wireless video prompter feed?

Ohhhhhh..... I WANT one for Xmas! Linked focus & zoom... preset racks.... yummmmy.

I used to rock climb, and that video kicks in my "pucker factor". Whew! Hire your most trusted spotter!

Agreed, and that's why I've moved audio rcvr (Velcroed to top of battery). I didn't want to add any more weight to counterbalance the camera + accs, but, I wanted to retract the post just a bit, as I'm 5'8", and with the post fully extended not only would it make stairs difficult, but the monitor posit isn't optimal. Thanks for the cable routing info Chris - that's the path I took as soon as I saw where a cable would need to go to be out of the way. Small Velcro loop mid-post to keep it tidy. And your tip Dave - backup audio record in soundo's bag - yeah, total CYA there, thanks. For vid xmit, already tweaked my El-Cheapo xmitter to a vertical posit on top of cam body. Had it lying flat on a bit of Velcro, but then realized the rcvr isn't flying somewhere above the rig (no antenna on this one). Might be sending it back for a higher-powered unit. Afraid a Canatrans is waaay out of my budget. Well, though I'm still totally in love with my FlyerLE, already I'm thinking... "geez, to be able to fly just 5 more lbs, and have a tilting camera stage, and ..." But since my goal wasn't to offer my services as an op, but to create "value-added" for my production company, I think it'll be some time before movin' on up. (Though another reason I bought Steadicam brand was the resale vale....) So while I'm flying my rig around our small-crewed productions, I'll dream sweet dreams of being in LaLa, with my 1st trotting alongside tweaking the Preston, while I'm nudging the motorized stage a bit to compensate for headroom..... (anyone want to donate a Clipper?)

First, a thanks to Peter Abraham... Just finished a workshop... totally worth it, THANKS Peter! He managed to fix the bad habits I'd started. Anyone reading this who's planning on buying a rig - have it arrive the same week you schedule a workshop.... don't waste time learning bad habits 1st. I owned a Steadicam JR for many years, and when my FlyerLE arrived, watching the dvd VERY carefully, read everything here, but still managed to screw up my finger positioning and posture. Wasn't off by much, but as I learned, there's not much forgiveness if you want to fly a perfect shot. OK, to the topic; I'm flying a HPX500 (shoulder ENG cam, and with all accs, getting close or maybe over the max 19lbs). Another workshop attendee knew someone flying a Sony 350 on the FlyerLE, also having overweight issues; so they ran the audio receiver below the battery mount. Question - the video transmitter I got weighs nothing, and the only other accessory that's wired to the cam (so could be moved) and also weighs a significant amount is the audio receiver. Anyone rig a cable down the post for this?

I had "View New" bookmarked as well - it seems the link changed somehow. Doing it from the menu works.

muuuuuuuuuHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! rofl rofl rofl ".... with their MacBooks editing before I'm finished shooting...." aaaaaHAHAHHA

Welcome! There is a service charge to change to an HD monitor (I think it's about $800) in addition to the cost of the monitor. I just bought a FlyerLE, and asked in these forums whether HD was necessary, since the monitor is only 7" and a few feet away from your eyes. The general answer was "no". Having used it for a few weeks, I agree. If money were not an issue, well of course I'd put an HD monitor on to start! ;) The only problem I'd see would be if you have a camera that ONLY outputs HDSDI.

Heyyyy.... my momma was in the circus! :P Thanks so much everyone for the advice... taking it to heart & hands & back. And thanks for the "Flyer DB update" Jerry - when you say "1/2" behind", you mean battery-side of the post, right? Grin... I've been studying *your* posture quite closely the last few days, on the dvd. As for DB, I'm fairly close, though it does tend to precess a bit, that I just can't get rid of, but I'll forget that for now in favor of the hands-free exercise. I tried it a bit yesterday, after another EFP dvd viewing, and was able to take a few steps hands-free, so thinking that my threads are close to correct. Only other question - the vest tends to ride heavier on the left hip. Is this normal?

Yeah... if I just walk "normally", holding sled only by the post (on left, with left hand), I can wander around forever. It's when I go for "the shot", doing all those things to make it perfect (well, to the extent I'm capable...) crosshairs following "target", horizon level, elevation static as I go up/down curbs, smooth pan start/stop, whip on hard corners, multiple Switches, etc etc - that the effort factor goes way up. I'm sure alot of it is my physical conditioning (poor to fair), poor breathing, etc., coupled with unnecessary body tension from newbie operating skills. Can't wait to get the 411 from Peter! (btw, did read the "posture" PDF completely.... wasn't expecting Buckminster Fuller! wish there'd been a bit more specifics on correct posture, though.... I appear to be well-versed in what NOT to do!) Also interested in hearing how to translate the "in/out" tweaking of battery for dynamic balance to the Flyer, where it's got the angular motion instead. Static balance is no problem, and I can sling the rig around with fast stops with no "kicking out" of the lower sled. But if I SB the rig with cam CG over post, any change to the battery (for DB) changes SB. sigh. It's also a *&$@# to check DB, as I gotta put it on the arm.... monitor hits the stand otherwise. Where's my smart pill?? :blink: Off to chase my rig hands-free around the room.... hoping it doesn't get there too far ahead of me....

Yeah, found that one muscle very quickly Dave.... but not sure what's wrong with my posture. Trying to emulate EFP & SK video examples. (hips neutral or very slightly forwards, shoulders slightly back, very small bend in the knees for walking with a "heel-toe" roll (not "Groucho"), sled close in to the left. over-shoulder straps comfortably snug, waist belt tight on hipbones, arm adjusted for zero pull at main position) But I find flying that 18 lbs still very tiring after a hundred yards or so, at least when trying for good framing, horizon, action following, some speed-ups, etc. And after repeated "takes" for a solid hour, I'm beat. I mean, I can "up & at 'em" again after a short rest, but still... I do find the zone for hands-free to be very small.... I can barely move w/o the arm starting to move in or out from me. (signed up with Peter A. next month, btw)