Janice Arthur

Hi all; I've also used thrust bearings like brant has described and they work really well. Have a good 2014. Janice

Dan; Yes he can grow it year round but its hard to keep the green ones lit. Janice Hope you're well.

Hi all; Thanks and will follow up Appreciate it Janice

Dave Very cool. Hopefully more in the future will want one. I do have to say it does remind me of Star Wars houses. (All those bottles you'd have plenty of places to hide your weed. Not that I think of those things.) Janice

Pk Google kipp handles Monitors other can add info on depends on what u want to spend All over the place from $50-$3000. You now get to do the next steps Not being a butt just on a train and a phone. Now its your turn to do some research and come back with more questions Janice

Jens I'm all for good conversation so your points are well taken. I wanted to keep PK from spending money first without understanding surface statements he might have read about upgrades. I see newbies dive for expensive when maybe there exists a fine choice they just don't know, like a cable outside the post the monitor works just fine. As he figures out what niche and jobs he might get with the rig it might be worth updating. Simple things like a kip handle in the top stage tiedown instead of that horrible little knob will largely stop the slipping of the top stage. A drop of oil on all those points around the rig where a hex head exists will also do wonders. Replacing the screw in the gimbal (the one that you tighten to hold the gimbal in place) and a drop of oil in the screw hole will also do wonders for pennies. A better monitor HD or SD would also help an awful lot. Now once he's up and using it and really seeing whats good or bad like the gimbal he can now see if the upgrades are justified. So yes if its a free rig and he's a young willing guy great to do the work but its got to be tied to what will he ever get paid or how many jobs will he get with it? If he's in an area where he will make $300 a day max and may only have 15 days a year of work? That's the deeper stuff. Janice. Thanks

Per-Kristian; Welcome and thanks for doing lots of reading ahead. 1) EFP while a useful rig has a limited value to be spending money on upgrading it. Don't get me wrong it has value but I'd personally only do a couple of things to it. 2) I would use it happily and make money with it. 3) here is where I think you're making wrong assumptions. A) running an HD cable down the post; the expense and time involved not worth it. There is no crime in just running a cable from the camera down the front of the rig and to an HD monitor you now have on it. If you want to spin balance it take the cable off for those 3 min and then put it back on. 4) 24 volt. There is really only one camera, the Alexa that shows up 24 volts these days and it even runs 12 volts off its own onboard batts. Again no reason to go to the expense and trouble to modify a rig that's 15 years older than you are I bet. 5) Most cameras you run into today have their own batteries. 6) Maybe, and this is a maybe put an HD monitor on it and figure out how to power it off its own camcorder battery or off the rig and you're done. 7) the junction box is ancient and most of the connectors not really useful. 8) top stage ok but will frustrate you so not great either but useable. 9) get to practicing with it asap and enjoy and learn but really don't spend much on it and after you've gotten some jobs and clients and figure out what you really really need like f-brackets and other stuff then you'll be much better off. Good luck and use up what you can out of the rig and don't invest more than is really needed. Above is a survey of that. Janice

Martin; Maybe you've thought of this but can you even get this "system" in the door past the guards? Canada, I've got no idea but with security being what it is I'd wonder that some off-duty cop doesn't think its real and no know you're there in fun? (Yes I understand its fantasy world and lots of costumes will abound, I've actually seen one of these conventions.) Even coming and going from your car to the event in costume would light up the security cameras I bet!! Good luck. Janice

Hi all; I had my machine shop make them when the aluminum ones kept breaking. One each for $14.00 includes shipping in USA. So two for $14.00. Shorter one is about 1/3" tall and the larger one is about 3/8" tall. They are handy to have in this Pro-sumer world, is my thought and why I use them on a regular basis. Janice

Jessica; 1) You're in this period of great emotion, take a break. You're post had about 10 different levels to it and I'm lost at how to address even half of them. 2) Come back in one month-six months. 3) No one who cares this much can just let go here. 4) F- the bad guys, this is your forum too, everyone has made great strides to win it back from the bad tone that was pervasive here is greatly squashed. Brooks Robinsons and Dave Chamiedes are veterans who have started the ball rolling to great success; if you leave the bad guys win. 5) Emotion, sometimes it scares the guys, figure that out on your own. 6) Job referrals are really local, and you know this, someone you know is going to recommend you but not a random person on the forum. Heck I don't pull out names here and hand jobs to them so give up on that leg. 7) Take a breath, strides are made job by job and its never a straight line, are you paying the bills; then keep going. My benchmark was always 'if I sold the gear tomorrow I'd be rich for ten minutes, then I'd be qualified to work at Dunkin Donuts. 8) Ultimatums are hard to pull off and seldom successful let alone on internet forums, so watch that practice is my thought. 9) If you quit what will you tell your grandkids? I almost made it? If it weren't for the bad times you'd have no good stories. take a breath and go have a chardonnay. Janice

Ian; Personally, not having read every response but most, you have our best answers which is we really don't or can't quantify what you want to quantify that way. I would actually think you'd be better talking to animators because they really do have an awesome ability to know exactly how movement, scope and storytelling works in a very exact way. If you want to take those exact numerical points you could and make some algorithm from them The trick is getting them to give those numbers to you Whatever your deal good luck Janice

I just thought Terry clearly didn't want/or was not able to help those owners. I didn't see a bad thing Janice

Terry Do whatever you think but they're going to be more and more of these in the future as cameras shrink As to price you charge and what they can afford is again up to you. As a business model maybe you can come up with a few universal cable options for them and make the price point affordable for you and them? Good luck and never turn down a new option on income maybe it will grow into something in a few years Janice

Afton; Yes, 4-5 pouches is more than most binders will take but some lesser number and with cables that don't have big ends on them I have found them to work, clearly owners choice on how many and variety of cables decides a lot. Video cable are great for pencil pouches are ideal in a binder. It may also be that you just have one binder for whatever stuff it works for with you. Lastly also, there are flexible binders now too that will morph to fit whatever is in them and that might be an option? Have a good 2014!!! Janice

Hi all; This works as a low tech, low cost solution for those looking to manage/protect cables and yet find them quickly. 1) Office supply store binders. Yes, those 2" or so binders. 2) Office supply store or Walmart; Pencil pouches. I've found some clear ones lately at Walmart for as low as .75 each. Whatever you find works. You can even use one color for power cable or on/off or accessories or transmitters; you get it. 3) Make one binder Power; one binder Accessories; One binder Video or of course whatever works for you. 4) about 10 of those pencil pouches and you're all set. 5) This works for Follow focus, small bracket accessories, and any number of other stuff like small screws kit or soldering iron. On the binder spine write in bold print the "Power", "Accessories" etc. then its like pulling books from the shelf to find and protect what you have. It also makes it easy for someone else to find if you send them to your case for a fast retrieval. Lastly, always make one pencil pouch that says "daily set up kit"; it stays with the sled and is the everyday set up of cables you use. Its a handy, always available, with the sled stuff that may be a video cable or a power cable or a transmitter cable. This simple shortcut both streamlines set up and makes daily put away more seamless. And at the end of a long day you can throw in any other loose cables there and get out faster without worry where it went. This idea may not work for everyone but try a binder or two lying around your place and see if it works for you. Janice

Hi all; I have one of Hugo's arms if you need a replacement arm for a short time or want to try his arm. He's in Australia so I'm making one available in the US. The arm has a range of 13-63lbs and the post accommodates most gimbals. Thanks Janice

Hi all; I ocassionally see some really really old gear that is just too worn or beaten up or just not saleable any longer. (Or you won't take what people are offering you.) If you can't sell it why not talk to your accountant and see if you can donate it to a college or university and take a tax deduction? Often times you can value it at whatever you think it might be worth (and with your accountant's advice). This might get rid of the gear for you and also might get you more than someone is willing to give you. Good Luck. Janice

Hi all; I've been going through some old files and of course have run across some great pieces. This one made me smile. It was so Ted; beginning computers graphics era and he had it nailed; details that we never thought to put on paper and explain; the urge to help other and to teach; and just fun parts included that was his personality. I liked to the don't poke around inside the electronics of a 3A "unless you know what you are doing and wearing rubber gloves". His Christmas cards were wonderful each year and a treat when you got one!! Janice 3A 1988 Ted plate 1 .pdf 3A 1988 Ted plate 2 .pdf 3A 1988 plate 3 ted .pdf 3A 1988 plate 4 ted.pdf

Randy; I bought it, sorry. Janice

Hi all; Here is a point that may not be spelled out and why MOVI is important to us. We are the camera movement specialists in each of our worlds and Producers/Directors/UPMs want quick answers. If it involves movement they call us and that's what we want! We want to be the person with the answers. A tech who, had taken a workshop on the MOVI, showed up and it worked just fine, sound familiar? Somebody on the set wants to do X and someone else says "Get a MOVI" they call us because we have all the other movement type stuff and understand balance. In the new days of shrinking niche business and more competition you don't want to loose those phone calls. You (us the Steadicam/movement experts) want the phone to ring because both we might/should have one or we can tell them that's not the best way or yes you need a Steadicam. Either way you may be on the set already or you should have me there with all my solutions. Hire me I solve your problems! Lastly as we are seeing its its own niche and someone should have it on the truck, that Steadicam guy/gal has it and its our rental! Again you might be able to talk yourself into some work! As this device settles in if we don't have it we someone else will, now its just figuring out cost/income on how to get it working enough to justify the expense. I think of DSLRs we hated them but lots of us bought them just so we could be ready when it was called for, I think this will be the same thing. The other thing is everyone is constantly looking for new looks and devices to get those looks this is one more look that DPs are exploring too. It will be interesting if just for that.

Hi all; With all the ops on multi camera and audience events they should sell the back of the vest as ad space and cut us in on it ! Wow a whole new income stream!! Janice

Hi all; What I find interesting here is ironic; 1) many of us (including me) would like to buy one and have it avail when needed and take the rental money. 2) the creators have got to be amused at the 'it's crap or bad or has promise' but I still want one!!! 3) we admit the device has merit for the most part and will improve with use and evolution. I would be thrilled to be one the end/sale of this device because we all want to buy one! It's like the chef who makes a maybe bad entree but the orders keep pouring in. Funny! BTW I've had a client ask if I had one because he wanted both on a shoot. Janice. Have a fabulous 2014.

Justin; I partly agree with Peter. Arm good, Vest good, or fixable enough to use. Sled, get it cheap enough like $800. with a working monitor (existing green screen) and recell a couple of batteries enough to make the monitor work. Here are the finer points of both agreement and disagreement; 1) Don't do anything else to the rig. Why, because you'll outgrow it before you use up the money/time you invest in "fixing" it. 2) You will get about 12-18 months of use out of it and some practice time and some clients with it in that time. 3) When you go to sell it after that you'll still get $300-500 for it or put it up over your mantel as a good display piece. 4) You will be able to hold a range of cameras that Peter said and that's good but most cameras today have their own batteries onboard so why spend money rewiring or buying batteries on a system that's older than you are. 5) If the monitor works use it, it will give you an image, though small but viewable and its basically free. 6) buy yourself a cheap downconverter and send an image into it. Done; also very cheap 7) If you put in 2-5k in the rig when you go to sell it you won't get it back from whomever buys it from you. 8) I personally know a whole group of guys who are using a stock 3A and are happy as can be with it, so its fine. 9) Remember, as Peter said, what you're buying is a top stage and a post and a gimbal. The rest, if you change one thing is a) a lot of work b) not worth it (in my opinion). 10) transmitters, and follow focuses and misc other stuff either have their own batteries or can run off the sled for the cost of a cable. Heck you may not even encounter them for quite a while so why stress about them now. Good luck Janice

Hi all: This is a pet peeve. I'm always annoyed that simple emails and phone numbers of operators aren't on their signatures. I know why on some forums but in personal contacts with people they do not include the basics in a very simple direct way. Second level of annoyance is that I then go to their web site and both of those are buried under contact me. Again its one more barrier to reaching whomever I want to reach. Can't phone or email be on both or either of the signatures or the top of the website? Its too easy to find someone else if you make me frustrated, make it so easy for me to contact you in any form I choose. Thats my feedback what do you find effective? Janice 312 961-4370

Dave; Usually you just have to wait a few minutes before adding additional pictures, it keeps down the spammers as a safeguard. No wonder you are suspect of microwave systems you were an early adopter and it was so wrong. (your wife is a saint for letting you hold onto many of those parts this long.) The JAR optics is truely an historic piece, I'll take it once I see a picture. JA