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William Demeritt

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Everything posted by William Demeritt

  1. Anyone got a spare Stanton they want to sell off? Looking to buy one as a backup to my current Stanton. Prefer something that works, nothing that needs repair. Please feel free to PM me or email: will AT wbd3 D0T com . Thanks guys, Happy Holidays!
  2. Here's the Cliff's Notes I've come up with so far: Longer show, W2 for hours and loanout for gear Shorter show/gig, oanout for both hours and gear. The union has no objection to doing loanout, so long as the hours are reported to IA. Time cards have a loanout and personal social security number. NEW: If you're the owner/operator of your corporation, you can file an exemption with the state that you don't need to carry Workman's Comp insurance. If a show says they can't do loanout, it's not because of the union. Most likely, their workman's comp requires each employee and their hours be reported so the production company can pay the workman's comp insurance premium based on the number of workers and the worker's hours. I worked a show that tried to counter with the workman's comp insurance issue, I told them the corp was exempt because it's just me, and they let me do the loanout. Not union, but still worked. Some studios don't allow for loanouts except for department heads, which makes sense because a lighting director might have his guys on a show, so they have workman's comp insurance through his corp. Production still pays hours to IA through payroll and pays the employee directly while reporting earnings through the corp. The item about the workman's comp insurance exemption was told to me by an insurance vendor who normally does provide workman's comp insurance. Basically, if the loanout is simply you (so you have no employees), you file this form: http://www.cslb.ca.gov/Resources/FormsAndApplications/ExemptionFromWorkersCompensation.pdf Hopefully that helps us out!
  3. How's your Lisigav import business?
  4. Anyone have an agent or company they use to purchase worker's compensation insurance for their S-corp or LLC? I'm in Los Angeles, would like someone local or who knows California rules for worker's comp.
  5. Sorry, I didn't mean to confuse the issue, my showing those videos weren't to imply anything about the CineLive. In our testing, I remember we found a loop on the SDI ground, which sounds like the similar issue to Matias' setup. I'm pretty sure it works like this: ALEXA powered by 12V onboard Video device powered 12V off the onboard PTAP Video device connected to ALEXA via the SDI plug Connect 24V power cable to Alexa, and the SDI line backfeeds 12V over the SDI ground. Unprotected devices get damaged. I need to ask some of my electrician friends, but I think it has something to do with voltage differential in a system that has 2 power supplies in 2 different voltage without a common ground. The 24v power supply has it's own 24v power and ground, and the Video device has a separate 12v power and ground (the onboard 12v battery). Safest method: power Video device from ALEXA 2-pin power cable through the body. I think the video manufacturers have been building in protections for this now, but I'm not entirely sure.
  6. I don't think we ever got a real, reliable explanation, but Brian Freesh and I were able to recreate something VERY similar with a CineLive sled and killing a Teradek Bolt. I believe this has to do with the Alexa having a common ground for the SDI video and power system of the Alexa? Not entirely sure, I'm thinking an engineer can explain. However, the issue always seems to have these characteristics: camera powered in 24v mode, video device powered by 12v battery (either within the 24v series or 12v battery outside), and the video device connected via SDI. Here's a video illustrating the SDI grounding carrying power. Basically, any devices that aren't protected from voltage over the SDI ground (chassis) get damaged. It fried a Teradek Bolt, apparently fried your Paralinx Arrow X (assuming it's the SDI model), and a protection in the BlackMagic Hyperdeck Shuttle caused the battery to trip but the device didn't get fried. I'm not sure if this brings you any closer to a definite answer. I think perhaps the newer devices have protection on the SDI ground, but I'm not positive. I haven't killed my IDX CW-3 yet, and I'm fairly certain I've powered it from a 12v source while the camera was in 24v off my sled (either from a battery in parallel OR from a separate battery [MON line] while camera gets 24v from CAM and AUX).
  7. Holy crap, that's a clean box! Which case is it? Custom made foam I assume? Need some details! Give it up!
  8. I have one of these, and it generally worked well for me. One issue I did have was that during quick movements (hard whip pans, or fast FAST movements), the calibration would go out mid shot and lock to the far left or far right. You'd have to wait a few moments for it to realize it was at horizon, or just recalibrate between shots. Great for an external horizon if your monitor doesn't do it, but I found myself distracted by the inconsistency on occasion. Granted, I never sent it back to the factory for repair or anything. Steve Wagner did message me to say that it's a balance between the sensors, so I think it's probably something that exists in all gyro-compensated digital levels.
  9. I'm working on a show at Warner Bros right now, and was told that WB doesn't allow for rate to run through Loanout ever, so I've been doing similar to what everyone here is suggesting: rate through timecard, rentals through the corporation. However, I did email Barbara Jerome regarding IATSE's policy regarding the use of loanouts for rate as well as rental, just trying to understand why WB would have the police they do. The accounting dept of my show indicated it was a union policy not to allow loanout, but when I emailed Barbara, I got this response: Perhaps I am extrapolating too much from that, and I've done a few promos and music videos that were IA through my corporation (one was entirely payroll, the other was payroll for rate and invoiced for rental), so I need to find out if everything worked as I imagined. However, I figured that indicating I was using the loanout for the hours worked, and on the time card I had to give my social security number AND the Federal tax number, I figured that the social was used to report benefits paid to the union on my behalf and the Federal Tax number was for reporting the income. I need to call around tomorrow to verify that the hours from those jobs were reported on my benefits, but that's how I figured it worked. SSN for the benefits to be paid, and the Federal Tax number for all income paid to my corp. In my research regarding Workman's Comp (at least in California), most workman's comp (and workman's comp insurance) passes through the loanout to the individual working on the production. So, if I am working for a production, I am covered by their workman's comp policies as a pass through to me, individually, not the loanout corp. SOME workman's comp policies specifically do NOT pass through (perhaps they're cheaper? or have been used for fraud before?). I've worked for one company that specifically cited their workman's comp as a reason I couldn't use my corp. Anyway, considering I'm not an accountant and still getting my feet wet with the use of my corporation, I'm still learning, so don't bet the farm on my advice. However, I took Barbara's response to mean the unions have no problems with us using loanouts for the rate, so long as the benefits contributions are still made in our name (hence why your social security number should be on the timecards even when using the loanout). I've crossed out the W4 exemptions sheet on a few union gigs, ran it all through my corp and nobody seemed to have any issue. Of course, I'll be irked if my benefit hours aren't there... will report back when I know more.
  10. I've had the Tiffen digital level on my old DP7 and it worked out great.
  11. The Cinetronics Digital Level is incompatible with other monitors much in the same way that computer hardware isn't always compatible with operating systems or specific software. The level is not open source, it doesn't use any standard data for the monitor to interpret and then display on screen. The interaction between the hardware within the CDL and the software running the Gen 2 monitor is specific to the Gen 2 monitor only. The CDL is just an IMU inside the case; the monitor is what interprets the data the IMU is spitting out.
  12. Here's something fun I discovered about my HD6 X-SBL: the tally light works with the HD-SDI record flag! On most cameras, you can turn on the "Record Flag" over HD-SDI, and if you enable the monitor to detect, the red light tally and on-screen tally displays will trigger. Gives a little bit of extra confidence when you roll the camera to make sure you're still rolling.
  13. One challenge we face in LA is that you can actually make a full career out of openly going against the Unions (and scabbing on jobs that put someone out of work). While in other places, there's an actual fear of being found out, here in LA people damn near make it a lifestyle and don't care. The individual who finished shooting the last Sharknado movie allegedly has staked their name on saying "F*** IATSE".
  14. So what benefit does the Union having a contract in place grant you that exists now that you didn't have before? Were they not paying overtime? Were they not keeping things safe? Because it sounds like the Union just dealt themselves a winning hand: they get a contract, contributions moving forward to get you "Back to work", but you get nothing retroactively? Is that accurate? Money or no money, I'd be inclined to quit that show. Doesn't sound like a health workplace, Union or not.
  15. I carry a roll of Saran wrap in my kit, makes for great rain covers on the go. Anything you need to protect from water, just layer it. For the monitor, I usually wrap the screen once and pin it in the back.
  16. Does anyone know of a shop that services/repairs Digital M-One motors? I'm sure the manufacturer is an option, but after all that I've heard, I'll keep that as a last resort.
  17. Nice, that seems like a great alternative. I'm trying to find out if the Spot trackers do multiple devices under the same subscription, because $99/year per device seems a bit steep considering the competition. Then again, Trakdot may not do movement notification and be as security minded.
  18. I found this looking at cool gadgets online, and thought it might be perfect for us: http://www.trakdot.com Battery operated, GPS enabled and a cellular signal to transmit the device's location at any time. I figure it's pretty great for cases when working in town or traveling. I'll probably order one to give it a try and see if it sucks. Anyone else find a product similar to this, comparable price, etc? EDIT: then I realized it's sold out. Well, hopefully when it gets back in inventory, I'll order one. EDIT 2: you can find the device in other sites, like Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Trakdot-Luggage-Tracker/dp/B00KL3ZA4M
  19. I bought 8 Dionic HC's back in 2011(?) and they're still going strong 4 years later. I believe that most of the newer batteries out there (AB, knockoff, etc) all are pretty much equal when it comes to discharge and lifespan. Personally, if I was going to buy again, I'd go with the Dionic HC's again. Sure, there's cheaper options, but I know I can (probably) call Paul Dudeck or someone at Anton Bauer if one of the batteries went "bad" and maybe replace it under warranty, or get repaired easily. The alternative is wondering why my cheapo knockoff battery went bad at $200 per battery and replacing out of pocket. Not a wallet breaker, but I still like having someone I can call if/when something poops the bed. However, Robert got it right: it's a battery. Lithium Ion batteries aren't rocket science at this point. Buy what you can afford, and what services your market.
  20. ... HOW LONG WAS THE FIRST DRAFT??? :wacko: :blink: :wacko: :blink: I'll be reading this on an airplane Sunday.
  21. When I first did it, I thought they were less offset, but logically it just started conflicting for me. When I get home, I'll try to measure it to see where it sits.
  22. The two batteries are now more centered, yes. The battery underneath the post is still off, but I generally try to fly 2 batteries for most setups. I get away with it most times, with only a few exceptions. I think 2 out of 3 ain't bad, until I upgrade to a Gen 3 battery hanger at least. The photo from above was the only way to try to show how the batteries are now a bit closer to center. I'll probably try to find the CG on the batteries to verify what visually looks accurate to me. EDIT: geometrically, on the Dionic HC's, the CG of the battery is almost exactly where you'd think it should be: dead center of the battery, equidistant from each wall. The photo of the 3rd battery position under the post shows how far off most of the batteries looked prior to me flipping the battery paddle.
  23. I'm considering picking up a backup monitor, wanted to see if anyone had a spare or primary they wanted to sell off? Please let me know if you are. Prefer the DP7-PRO High Bright, not too interested in the standard DP7 or OLED models at this time.
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