Anthony Hardwick

Chas, Thanks for asking the question that we would all like to know the answer to! Your post had me laughing out loud. What IS the deal with that avatar!!?? Anthony

I think both arms are very good. They work on different principles of course... the Pro arm uses compression springs versus stretching (the technical term is eluding me). The Iso Elastic also behaves differently with regard to it's nature of bearing the weight at whatever boom height you bring it to. I have of course tried the Pro arm numerous times. I wouldn't buy something as integral to my system as an arm is without trying it first. I actually used a borrowed one (thanks to Colin Hudson!) on a recent shoot, and that only reaffirmed that for me, the Pro arm is what I'd prefer. Frankly, I always wanted a Pro arm from the beginning... I just couldn't afford it. We all have to make decisions and compromises (especially when starting out) when choosing the gear we buy for a given system with whatever particular budget we have to work with. I did not have an unlimited budget, and one of the choices I made was to save a few thousand dollars on the arm, so that I could put that money towards other gear (like a back mounted vest). I prefer the Pro arm for a variety of reasons, although there are plenty of sweet aspects to the Iso Elastic. I love the no tools adjustment of the spring tension on the Iso Elastic, for example, and the Iso-Elastic effect is quite easy to grow to like or love. In the end it's apples and oranges. I've had my apple, now I want an orange.

Alright Brad... That's it. Let's settle this after school. 3:00 pm.... no guns, just sticks and knives. ;) "I can't change the topic title, and I can't delete the accidental double post." These are good reasons... not being able to change the mistaken title just adds confusion, and the doubled post just clogs up the works with useless and unnecessary redundancy. Here's another good reason: just think of how many trivial posts could potentially be avoided (like all of the posts in this thread except for the first one).

He he... Well as they say... haste makes... stupidity. Thank you one and all for alerting me to the mistake I made while trying to post as I was running out the door. Indeed the thread title should read: MS Iso-Elastic Arm for sale $11,000.00 Somehow I also managed to post it twice... ahhh well.. Here's another good example of why people (or at least a moderator) should be able to be delete or modify posts on certain occasions. I can't change the topic title, and I can't delete the accidental double post. The best I could do is exchange the text of the second post to have a few "..." in it. If there was a moderator I could appeal to, this mistake could be eradicated fairly simply, but it looks like my hasty mistake will endure (and cause confusion) for all eternity - or at least until the machines rise up and take control of the 'net.

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I'm selling my arm... getting a Pro Arm. It's super clean, and was just serviced by Rob Luna. For more info email me off board. I'll reply with my phone # if you wish, or you can just look me up in the ICG directory. Anthony

Cool, Eric... it sounds like a plan!

Being a HUGE Who fan, I just thought I'd chime in with... I'm 38 years old, the Who IS coming to town - the Hollywood Bowl (well 1/2 of the Who anyway) and I've got tickets!

Howard and Kelly, Hearty congratulations on the birth of your baby Rosie! That's wonderful. I wish your family all the best. Sincerely, Anthony

Will, That is great, man. I used to do tri's when I was in Santa Cruz, but that was a looong time ago (1984 - 1986). With the Hudson (as opposed to the Pacific), at least the water temp will be quite pleasant. Let's hope that the river's water quality has improved as much as they say that it has. Best of luck my friend... let us know how you do. Anthony

Hey Erwin, Sorry I missed your B-day... didn't realize. Been crazy busy. I'l call you when I get back from NYC later this week. Hope you had a great birthday and father's day! Anth

Go West...? I already Wentwest. ;) As Fred pointed out, 310 is the West side (Santa Monica, Venice, etc.). You can try me, but it's looking like I'll be shooting out of town a lot over the next couple of weeks.

In addition... even if we could speak about it... I'd like to know who's the "we" you are referencing when you asked, "Is it everything that we've been waiting for?"?? Whoever you are, you just registered today, this is your first post, and you write as if you are a seasoned operator. Why hide behind a new alias?

I've had more than enough of my share in helicopters - especially when I was an A.C. They're particularly dangerous while being used for filming for so many obvious reasons. The most common one is pushing the boundaries of safety. I know two D.P.'s who've been in helicopter crashes and lived, as well as a few fatal stories. Remember the HSI shoot just a couple of years ago? Two of my own experiences were pretty hairy, and they were both in foreign countries. One was flying in a huge ex-Russian military helicopter in Nepal up to a mountain village at an altitude of 16,700 ft. The Russian crew defected with the ship at some point. I was wondering where they were getting parts and where they were servicing the thing while living in exile in Nepal. When I noticed some oil or hydraulic fluid leaking from the main rotor bearing/Jesus nut area, I asked the pilot (via the interperetor), and he said... "It's when you don't see leaking fluid that you have to start worrying." Then he went back to smoking his cigarette while doing his pre-flight inspection. Later after many hours of shooting in the high elevation village, some ominous clouds started to approach from some distance. The pilot and co-pilot smoked their cigs and looked at the weather, and mentioned that we should get going soon. The Director and A.D. asked for a little more time (pushing it), and the pilots reluctantly acquiesced. A short while later they reiterated the urgency to get going, and of course after stalling for just one more shot, we scrambled to pack up and get out of Lang Tang (Dodge in Nepalese). We flew back down through mountain ravines and valleys in a mixture of rain and sleet. I remember pondering the existence of God and the wisdom of praying for the first time in a loooong time - all while trying to concentrate with a THROBBING headache caused by the high altitude exposure without a sufficient and gradual acclimatization period. I've never been so happy to touch down after a flight before or since. That very easily could have turned out as another... "Remember that crew that was lost in a helicopter crash in Nepal?" story. The other time was in Japan, and the pilot got air sick while trying to fly the shot. Hmmmm. I gave up motorcycles a few years ago after many years of being lucky. I think I'll probably opt not to shoot from a helicopter again. I'm glad those guys are okay.

http://www.steadyrig.com/

David, I did post an answer or perhaps more of a book really :) in the "Off Topic" section. I just didn't want to spin this thread away from the original topic. So, about the BBQ, I have been receiving email RSVP's from many of you, and do not fear, I will be sending out a mass email later today to those that have RSVP'd and also to those on the Steadicam Guil'd email list. See you all soon! Anthony

It's been said many times before in answer to your question... a workshop is a great investment for a variety of reasons. First, you will get quite a bit of time flying quite a few rigs over the course of the workshop. You will learn how to properly set up and balance a rig. You will learn about the principles of how a steadicam works. You will be taught by professional steadicam operators with extensive experience in the industry. You will learn very quickly whether or not it's something that you want to further pursue. If you do choose to pursue learning more, you will have gotten off on the right track perhaps saving any number of bad habits from being developed. There are plenty of other reasons, but that should suffice for now. If you can come up with the cash and time to take a workshop, it will be money and tiime well spent - even if you decide that you hate steadicam and never want to fly one again. Think of all the money you will have saved over jumping in and buying some gear and THEN finding that out! Good luck.

Jerry, Thank you for taking the time to post the information you did (including the link to the Patent). I agree with your views, and I would like to hope that this community is predominantly composed of ethically minded people. Certainly no one's hard work and ingenuity should ever be ripped off by anyone. I think we must all agree on that. In any case, I am not in the business of trying to build a better mouse trap. Rather, I am just trying to use the mouse trap that I have to elegantly, skillfully and artistically catch those elusive mice. ;) In any case, as my cat repeatedly proves to me... it's not the mouse trap... it's the mouser. Best, Anthony

Directions will be sent out via email no later than Thursday evening ONLY to those people who RSVP to me via the forum's email function. Sorry, but I am not going to post Colin's home address on a public internet forum. There are far too many stalker type of women (and men) in the Steadicam community who might take advantage of that information ;) Seriously though, I just don't think it's wise to post too much personal info on a public forum. Having said that, Colin's social security number is.... One more very important detail... YOU MUST INCLUDE YOUR DIRECT EMAIL ADDRESS TO ME OR YOU MIGHT NOT BE GETTING A REPLY EMAIL WITH THE DIRECTIONS. This is simply because the forum's email function does not allow a person to email more than one person every 15 minutes. Presumably this is to cut down on SPAM mailings to forum members. Unfortunately this means that it is impossible for me to email all of those who contact me through the forum email via the forum. If you are on David Allen Grove's mailing list for the Steadicam Guild, then you will receive the info without having to RSVP, but to be safe, I would RSVP if you have 30 seconds of time. So if you don't RSVP WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS AND YOU'RE NOT ON THE STEADICAM GUILD'S EMAIL LIST, you'll have to try to get in touch with someone who you think did in order to find out where to go. The BBQ will officially start at 4:00 PM and will continue until people want to go home, or Colin kicks everybody out.

Jamie, Thanks for the kind words! It's been a while. I've been well and busy up until two weeks ago. I am heading back East Monday, May 24th and will be staying just over a week until the Wednesday after Memorial Day. I'm going to get out to Shelter Island for the big holiday weekend, but I'll be in the city for most of the weekdays. My schedule's open so let's get that beer! Let me know when and where's good for you. It'll be great to catch up. Regarding Tim Wade's suggestion... well, I'm all set :). I have all 7 courses for camera operators completed despite the technical obstacle of being a DP in classification. My Passport should arrive with all the stamps for said classes to prove it. I am concerned that for others, there may not be enough time to satisfy the additional 3 courses required between getting booked for a gig, and the start date of the project. In any case, unfortunately it's every man for himself with regard to that issue. I just wanted to give folks a heads up that there is a conundrum to be dealt with. I can almost taste that beer! Best, Anthony

Alright... I thought I'd put my $.02 in here, and in the process hopefully get an answer or two to questions I have. First, of all, I would like to know what exactly is covered in the patent of Tiffen's tilt stage (Jerry Holway's design)... assuming it is Patented. I respect the process of invention and the protection of innovative new technologies and design via the Patent system as much or more than the next guy. Jerry has designed numerous outstanding products, and has numerous patents to his name. He deserves the well earned recognition, monetary reward and patent protection for those products. Having said that, my questions are simply these... First, is the tilt stage protected by a patent? If the answer is yes, then... Second, is the idea of having a tilt stage on top of a steadicam by itself protected by the patent, or is it at the point of adding the CG pivot point that the design becomes protected? The point is that I would never wish to purchase a product (or commission a custom one) that is an infringement on someone's patented design, but I wonder what exactly is protected regarding the tilting stage. The process of applying for a patent, and the resultant patent or patents involves a determination first of all whether or not something qualifies as unique, novel and therefore protectable via a patent. Many designs are not ultimately awarded a patent because the design fails to meet those (admittedly paraphrased and simplified) criteria. Perhaps Jerry can or will weigh in on this and let us know what is the case, or surely someone with more tenacity could search the U.S. Patent site to find out these answers. Frankly, it's not that important to me. Sure I'd love to have a tilting stage. Am I going to make one? No. Is someone out there going to make one that infringes on an existing patent? I hope not. Would I buy such a product if it DIDN'T violate any existing patents? You bet. That's fair.

Although I haven't heard the definitive word from Colin, I think it's safe to say that this coming Saturday (May 15th) will be the day of the BBQ at Mr. Hudson's Casa. Swap meet sounds good... anyone who cares to bring your old, tired, or simply unused item or items... feel free to bring it on down. Any food and/or beverage items that people would like to contribute would be welcome. If you think you will be attending, please email me when you have a moment (if you haven't already done so), and let me know if you'll be bringing anything in particular so I can coordinate the culinary elements. You can reach me through the email function of this forum. Thanks! Anthony

Chas, That sounds very cool. Let me know what you find out! It was nice to see you earlier tonight. See you next saturday. Anth

This isn't a ring lite, but for a lightweight "obie" or eye light that can easily be attached to any mattebox with some velcro, this looks pretty good to me. I'm thinking about the "Camera Lite Kit." http://litepanels.com/html/packages.html

Rob Luna does have at least one for sale right now. A Master's Series in perfect condition. I know... because it was mine ;)