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William Demeritt

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Posts posted by William Demeritt

  1. Selling my MK-V Omega AR "v2" (with the brain contained in the base of the main unit, no additional accessories) as a kit. It includes:

    - MK-V Omega AR v2 roll cage with cables for CineLive sled (you can convert the cables)

    - SmartSystems Horizon Leveler - self-leveling monitor mount with weights. This keeps the monitor level without connecting to the AR. 

    - MK-V "gravity" monitor mount - levels the monitor using gravity rather than electronics and motors. Solid backup monitor mount should you have issues. 

    - Apple iPhone and iPad, compatible with the Omega AR app. Change the AR settings remotely using the iPad, and use the iPhone orientation tracking to level the AR to the same angles as the iPhone. The "Upgrade" movie had the effect where the camera rolled in perfect unison with the talent using similar tracking. 

    Pictures to come soon, just listing it now. Comes with a Pelican case with the cage, cables and tools. The Smartsystems monitor travels in a separate box, but could be combined into the AR Pelican. 

    Asking $21,000 for all of it. Buyer pays shipping.

  2. Hello all, as the subject says, I'm selling:

    - GPI Pro HD Centerpost with HD cable. No issues with it, I'm the 2nd owner (although it worked far more with me than the previous owner, so practically new before me). Asking $3,800 or make me an offer

    - GPI Pro gimbal with VZ grip. Works well and serviced frequently while in use. I'll clean it up before sending to you. Asking $6,000 or make me an offer.

    I'll discount if you take both. 

    20240211_135019.jpg

    20240211_134952.jpg

  3. Pictures coming soon, but it's pretty much this as a package: 

    • GPI Atlas Arm + 2 grey canisters (trying to hold onto the 2x black canisters, but can discuss if you need them)
    • GPI CineLive sled: (GPI DB3*, CineLive UJB, CineLive telescoping HD centerpost, Gimbal with arm, LJB, Gold mount Gen IV battery hanger, telescoping PRO monitor arm)
    • Jerry Hill dock w/ 2x Jerry Hill docking rings
    • 1x SmallHD 703U monitor + power cables
    • Media Blackout Tally system (top and bottom, 8-pin bottom sled to power monitor and send tally signal, as well as LED bar for tally, and talent-facing tally LED bar)
    • Included cables are 2x CineLive pigtails for GPI CineHD camera plugs, or convert to use your old cables. 
    • If you need a stand, I can throw one in. 
    • NO batteries
    • NO vest
    • *DB3 is the old version, not the DB3S. Has some cosmetic damage on the housing for the side/side knob, I can show you but does not impede use of the sled at all.

    I've got additional gak I can throw in to sweeten the deal (I'll give you a fiber jumper if requested, etc). Let me know what else you might need to make a deal. No vest. 

    Asking $32,000 USD, located in LA, can ship within the US if you like.

  4. I did a job with the Alexa35, it works fine with 24v power from your sled. The breakers are to prevent overdraw on amps, not volts. I used an old PRO 24v XLR cable (an old Movicam cable I had) into the Anton Bauer gold mount XLR plate, and it powered on from my sled no problem. You can fly 26v batteries in the battery position on the back of the camera, but I wouldn't recommend using 26v batteries on your sled. The 12v pins would become 24v pins, and the 24v pins would then be 48v. No bueno.

  5. Batteries should match your work. I have Dionic XT batteries (90wH) for my commercial/scripted kit, and generic "BCB" (150wH) batteries for my live kit. In the past, battery brand name probably mattered more, but lately, the generic batteries seem to function just fine. And for the price, you're fine going for cheaper generic batteries if you need. 

    • Upvote 1
  6. Longer gimbal arms, for me, was a "better to have and not need" situation. Mounting gimbal arm zoom/focus controls works far better with longer gimbal arms, but also just using it naked just gives you a tiny bit of versatility that pays off in the long run. Hand clearance, monitor clearance, rig positioning, etc. 

  7. Steadicam is a very unique job on set, and we've always relied on the ingenuity of other Steadicam operators, utilizing information we research and investigate ourselves, to solve problems unique to Steadicam operators.

    COVID has created a new set of issues that affects us uniquely. As such, while we need to comply with COVID requirements set by production, medics, or COVID compliance officers, we obviously need to protect ourselves AND the way we work so we can continue to do the best job we can while also staying safe.

    Masks and social distancing are the obvious baseline for most individuals working on set, but for people wearing 50+lbs of gear every day, masks and distancing may create problems that other departments or individuals may be unable to sympathize with. I think we need to solve this problem for ourselves, and do so in collaboration with COVID guidance:

    • What have you found works for you on set, and also keeps you and others around you safe?
    • What protocols have you established when it comes to handling your rig?
    • What PPE have you found that lets you work a bit more "normally", or at least allows you to physically perform your job as closely to pre-COVID standards as possible? Face shield and N95 mask? Hand sanitizer timers?
    • Have you discussed with the crew and established an understanding that only 1 camera assistant and 1 designated grip may handle your rig when resetting or walking back to 1?
    • Like 1
    • Upvote 1
  8. Tom nailed it. I don't need the multi-window view in SmallHD, but the ability to crop and choose your framelines, mask them, change any number of options, etc, always keeps SmallHD in my kit. Also, I'm a fairly "disposable" type (everything goes bad, why fight it), so I'd rather go with an ultrabright, well programmed, well designed monitor and grab a couple at an affordable price than spend 2x or even 3x on another monitor. Nothing against other manufacturers, I've owned monitors by many of them. However, SmallHD really has the price point to feature point that just keeps them as my go-to. 

    FYI: as of writing this, SmallHD is selling some B-stock monitors, and they have the 703U monitor for $1499. If I had any idea when I was working next, I'd grab a couple in a heartbeat.

    • Like 1
  9. I haven't looked at the Cine7 for a Steadicam monitor yet. Looks brighter than a lot of options (and not as bright as others, both more expensive and cheaper). For a pure Steadicam monitor, it's probably feature overkill, but if you want a Steadicam monitor that you can set up to pull off the sled and use as an operator's monitor, it's probably perfect. 

    • Like 1
  10. I remember when the Fitbit was all the rage, and now everyone has integrated step trackers on their various smart devices (phones, smart watches, etc). I also recall that the step count and calorie counts are, for the most part, completely overstated by the respective devices. 

    I had thought about creating a device that worked with my docking fork to run a timer whenever my sled wasn't docked, so I had a rough idea of how much time I'd spent wearing the rig each day. Ultimately, both step tracking and time-in-the-rig tracking became less interesting because, as David implies above, it doesn't change the shot, it doesn't contribute anything significant, and it doesn't serve as grounds to increase my invoice. 

  11. I don't recall the exact context, but I recalled hearing a story about Ted Churchill that I try to carry in my professional life wherever and whenever possible. I'm probably horribly misquoting the exact words, but it was something like this, when asked how he was such a successful Steadicam operator: "I may not have been the best, but production was never waiting on me." I tried to apply that, along with a heaping helping of humor on every show to which I have the good fortune to contribute. 

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