Ben Russell

Thanks again for all of your feedback - the consensus here and elsewhere is clearly that I shouldn't expect to shoot this project myself (did I mention that it's going to be all long takes, a la SATANTANGO?). Wishful thinking on my part, coupled with a keen interest in learning some new technologies to move my own film practice forward... I've got a bit to think about and more than a bit of planning to do, and I've been fortunate to get a number of off-list responses that I can hopefully work with in the future. I'll keep all y'all apprised as the shoot day draws closer. PS - the ACL-1 had problems with the power supply, couldn't draw enough to run a 400' mag, but (as Jess notes) this problem was solved with later models. Regardless, I'm going to try to find an SR...

Thanks for the quick response - do you have any thoughts on the specifics of 16mm cameras and gear that I inquired about? As for training and the Steadicam Look, while I can't imagine that my few months of training would get me anywhere near the technical prowess that such operators as Tamas Nyerges, Greg Schmitt, or Matias Mesa possess, I do have practical and (more importantly) conceptual reasons for needing to use this particular mode of address. Your point is well-taken, however - if you know of anyone who wants to work for a month in a South American jungle village with only their travel and expenses paid, please send them my way.

Greetings from Chicago. I'm a film professor and experimental filmmaker living in Chicago with a question about an upcoming project... I just received a grant to make a 16mm documentary of sorts in the jungle wilds of Suriname, South America, and I would like to shoot this film entirely with a Steadicam. It's not practical for me to hire an operator (nor economically feasible) and while I don't have much interest in working as a Steadicam Operator per se, I do need to get some training and practice using a Steadicam rig with a 16mm camera before my month-long mid-September shoot. While my selection of available equipment is a bit limited (Arriflex-S, Eclair ACL, CP-16) I'm curious as to what sort of gear I would need for this shoot AND what 16mm cameras are ideal for such a thing. Assuming that I will take a workshop between now and then (any suggestions?), does it seem feasible to expect that I might become proficient enough in such a short amount of time to take this project on? I apologize for my general ignorance of All That Is Involved, and I greatly appreciate your feedback.