Janice Arthur

Radomir; I'm still lost. I pick up one camera one day and another camera another day. My "capacity" to lift that changes with every job and I get stronger with every job. 20-30lbs is nothing. We pray for those days. I feel if you fixate on the "number" you'll be so distracted you can't shoot. Many small men and women carry half their body weight and with the Alien Revolution rig I hear its upwards of 100lbs that's huge for even the big guys. If you feel you need to know this stuff put on the vest, arm and sled (no camera) and stand on a bathroom scale, then subtract. If you feel you need to know all that stuff have at it but I think you are spinning your wheels and brainpower on stuff that can be better served in other pursuits. Just my input. Have a great time operating. (One very famous Steadicam operator, Ted Churchill was fond of saying; "I've got back muscles that show up on X-Ray." (big laugh) ) I do too at this point. JA

Radomir; Not understanding why you need weights of components. Sled, maybe, if you're shipping it but the values of the rigs are all sold as 'camera weight' it will hold. My Pilot will hold 2-10lb cameras. Old days it was based on the springs in the arms. The actual weight of the arm is not important nor the weight of the vest. Lastly, knowing that you're new, if you do need to know these things (not trying to be a smart alec); hold the sled and step on a bathroom scale, then subtract. Because the sleds get changed around so much by everyone some of the weights are unknowable and to publish them teadious. Sorry if I missed the point here. JA

Hi all; I'm off to do the ride across Iowa. Should involve lots of fun and sweating! It's my first week long ride and I've threatened to do one for years; finally got up the courage! Lots of hills (yes Iowa has hills) and hopefully lots of downhills too. Probably in the best shape I've been in in a decade. (Still hard to shake off the flab the lots of muscles underneath.) If anyone else is going it would be fun to know. Janice

Hi all; Posting for a friend. It's a Cinema Products EFP Arm S/N 231. It originally had the red springs (I don't remember the weight rating) but sent it back to CP for an upgrade to the blue springs (12 - 24 lbs). good condition, works well $4000 OBO. buyer pays shipping and insurance 615 792-3519 Clay Steadicam_clay@mac.com Also; PRO GYRO set w/ inverter and backpack good condition, work well 2 gyros kit originally $12,000. will sell for $8,000 OBO buyer pays shipping and insurance. same seller as above thanks. Janice

Jess; Some of them do but I've had the experience that its an either/or senario. I've never been able to get both to work at the same time. Those crazy menus, maybe I missed it. JA

Nikk; I couldn't figure out how to edit my previous post so I'll add this. Part of this business is designed to scrape people off. If the reward is fame, fortune, etc. then only a few people can reach the top. Its the same in banking or construction or any other business. If you give it a shot for a while and go on to something else that's fine but know that "staying power" is a lot to be said for who gets the calls. Its hard to stay. JA

Charles; I suspect this is a faster subject than you are used to shooting. The changes in the shots, are happening so fast that your post hand is not keeping up. Part of "drama" is that the differences in how and what you are shooting is making your peripheral vision "swim" as things go by quicker thus confusing your post hand on how to correct the "off-level" situation. Its all about "conditioning" to these new situations. I know that I can filter out things better now than when I was whatever skill level. Steadicam has this ability to keep making the light go on in our brains as we mature into the operating over the years. Also physical fatigue will delay your response time to these things so as you get tired it is harder to fix and focus on. As was said, practice, etc is key. You also need to be exposed to "fast" shots and repeatability on fast shots too. All those subtle tweeks on top to bottom drop time; trim for the shot; and body posture keep getting refined too. Just a bunch of thoughts, hope it helps. JA

Charles; I bought a Pilot for the reasons you suggest and because "little camera" jobs come up every-once-in-a while. It is nice. Works great. I too put on the Modulus. I modified a Modulus cable to run to the "M" connector on the rig. The trouble is the camera has only one video out and you need to split the video to the monitor and the modulus. Bad idea to split the signal. I velcroed on one of the 9v powered Video DAs you can buy for $150. it works great to service both sources. If you need to run a transmitter off these rigs that's the way to go. JA

Nikk; All the things the guys said are true. Just adding my bit. 1) Any market can only handle so many DPs/regular shooters and clearly you're not on anybody's list to call when they need one. You need to get known as that and it takes lots of work to get known for that. Sometimes you even need to own a camera (video) package. Talk to the other shooters so that they will refer you when they are busy; that's where most jobs come from. 2) Some DPs don't want "another DP" showing up on their shoot disguised as the Steadicam operator so be careful what you wish for. They will think you're criticizing their work or spying on their client or stealing their client. 3) Every market has its stratification. Movie guys don't do industrials (most of the time); etc. In your market because there are fewer jobs overall, that is less often the case but you can't expect to be everything to every one. (I get it that you just want to work more.) 4) Be careful how many hats you wear, I seldom, DP or Steadicam on the same job because its hard to keep up with all the details. I know when to say when. It is nice to be asked but I don't get a lot of DP jobs without Steadicam. I make sure my gaffer is someone I know and can pull it off. 5) Its been slow here in spots this year too but you talk to others in town and they are crazy busy. Lastly people lie, no one wants to hire someone who is not working, so they lie and you should too. 6) Most everyone I know in the business has a second job, like fireman do; they work 3 days on and the rest at another job. One guy rehabs houses, another is a carpenter, etc. No one expects to be busy all the time, esp in the smaller markets. Find something to "keep your brain busy". Even if you do 3 days a week that leaves a lot of time for "other money making ventures". All it needs is flexibility. I know an AC in your town who works a lot but on his days off he spends it working with the rental house in town doing "tech" stuff for them for the additional money and "contacts" etc. hope this quells your anxiety. JA

Hi all; comtemplating the purchase of another Preston. If you have a any Preston laying around you want to sell let me know. Can be; UHF system (the older one) or the newer Microwave one or one of the single channel systems. can have; only one motor Let me know. Kind of shopping, seeing what's out there. Janice Arthur Steadijan@hotmail.com

I really need to get rid of this stuff here it is and help me clean up. 1) 3A top stage y axis adjustment adjustment. 2 dovetails. Time for it to go. Single large screw attachment to the post (screw is included) Works fine. $300.00 OBO 2) 2 modulus 2000s with PRO cables Work great. Cramped Attic just tweeked them and replaced the buttons. $800 each or OBO. 3) 2 SLD Motors with gears and rod bracket and one motor cable $1000. each or best offer. Work fine. 4) DeRose Arri 3 low mode bracket, you use your dovetail with it, $400 OBO 5) Hill SR 1-2 (maybe 3) "L" shaped low mode bracket. $300 OBO You pay shipping. Janice Arthur Steadijan@hotmail.com for photos 312 961-4370 cell

Hi guys; I have to give the guy A for effort. He is trying really hard to explain everything and save people money and impart his knowledge. He knows what he knows. (I wish my web site were that detailed.) In his world, it is a fortune to pay $1500 for a "professional" Steadicam. This guy makes the internet great. On a side note; I have a new term "WAM" (walking around money). . . . as you walk out the door you check your WAM. Love the forum. JA

Hi all; Be careful what you wish for. . . If all this stuff becomes "too cheap" it'll be everywhere and suddenly rental rates will tank and competition will be through the roof. One of the realities of Steadicam is that because its expensive you get to enter a small community and also get to charge a lot. While the price of admission is high on the high end gear the pay off period can be relatively short depending on work. Having personally spent six figures on gear I know both sides really well but I have recently realized how "cheap" this is for a small business. Think of a McDonald's franchise or farmer who buys many six figure machines or basically any body else in business. Just spit balling here but it is something I've been reexamining lately. Janice

Pouyan; It would take volumes to answer your questions. You've got to think like you did when you bought your camera, and then just take the leap of faith to make it work. 1) I give myself 3 years to have an item make a profit. Sooner than that and I'm ahead. 2) If a tripod rents for $40.00 (an example) then a Steadicam is more useful than that maybe that's $100.00. Can you get $100. and can you pay off your rig in 3 years? 3) Sometimes you can say 1% of the purchase price per rental. 4) Its what the market will pay. If you're in an area that won't pay extra for it then does it just make your business better and you get more jobs in general as a result? 5) This is a question we all wrestle with all the time; there is no simple answer. Do your homework by thinking aloud in places other than this forum. The real world will answer your questions. Ask your clients, "Would you like to have a camera move around your event? If so that will be $ extra." 6) You sometimes leap on a piece of gear and then you must then make it profitable by your hustling. 7) No simple answers. Janice Arthur

Hi all; Thanks for reaffirming my reaction that this guy is amazing! I think of one layer of this device and I'm perplexed, let alone that it works . . . I'd pay to see this "art" to show up anywhere in my world. JA

Hi all; I don't post these things much but this one just entrances me. They're all powered by the wind!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMqftVhOuTw JA

Hi all; Several details of the flyer (or lighter rigs in general). 1) a two second drop time gives the operator more "feedback" about the rig. 2) This added "feedback" about how the rig is behaving tends to make the operator less prone to "over controlling" the rig. This "over" manuvering the rig seems to be the problem with the lighter rigs. In absence of the mass of bigger rigs I think you need more rig feed back and because they weigh so little; all the other details of tilt, etc can be overcome with general operating skills. 3) my new idea of four "baffles' of felt (6")material spaced about an inch apart does seem to help dampen the rig some. 4) I'm still experimenting with my fabric baffles. Clearly one length of fabric is too few. More later. JA

Soren; I'm working on that idea now so we'll see if it was a good idea or a bad one. I get a chance to "play" with a flyer this week. I have tried it in simple configurations now I'm going to try it on the real thing. JA

Hi all; I did not know Chip but it is hard to hear about a life gone. Why not direct the family to Derrick Whitehouse to appraise and sell his gear when the time comes. Derrick knows the values and can act as a "seller" taking the responsibility away from the family. I wish all who knew him solice in this horrible time. JA

Hi all; I just saw on NBC news the other night China is looking to get into filmaking in a big way. Sam Neill and some other big actors were there and part of the story was how the Chinese are using the "imported" crew members to learn from. I wouldn't put it past the Chinese to do some quick study as part of the Olympics and get their own people going on the Steadicam slots. If current trends are any indication the Chinese agressively attack any industry by figuring out how to do it in short order and they've got a year to learn in. The Chinese culture is a very determined entity. Look at how many jobs they have taken from Mexico and we thought Mexico had cheap labor. The Chinese government wants very strongly for these games to go well so look out at the possibilities. (I'm with you all, we can't do this for free but don't be surprised at other possibilities.) JA

Kyle; I enjoyed the video, very funny and nicely done. You've answered all of your own questions. Try all of the ideas you propose and see how they work. Except for some old quips from some older guys make up your own; the videos to date are clever enough. I know this is an unrewarding answer but I don't know how to answer your questions other than to make you think of them. "how far can you zoom in?" when is the picture too bad to use? Each of us answers that question differently on each shoot. Some days I'm a genius other days clearly in the middle of the bell curve. Janice

Mike; Its for whomever brought up a bad fitting vest must have been the other guy. All these posts blurr together esp when you rescan/read the post to reply. JA

Mike; Several things can be done. 1) I had this for a while at some point an it just goes away if you keep tweeking things. 2) Here are the things to try. 3) Yes it should fit on your hip bones not higher. (I see guys' pictures and they look like dolls' vests on them, way too short for my estimation.) 4) Make sure you are not "breaking" at the waist and are leaning back against the weight of the rig in a straight line with your torso. The heavier the camera the more the lean. 5) 90% of the time no one has the vest tight enough. I say, just short of not breathing is right. It should be very tight and when you pick up the rig the front spar pulls away from you and it feels really good. Tighter is great when operating and solves some other issues too. 6) The vests (FM) all have the mid chest straps that tighten away from you, reorient them so that you can pull them tighter by pulling toward yourself. (very easy stuff with a couple of plastic clips and some seat belt material). (or leave them alone and have your AC pull them much tighter when you suit up.) Hope this helps. It hurts like mad when you "crush" those points for 10 hours. Janice

Hi guys; Thanks for the cudos, love to party with whomever shows up. The sewing thing, hardest part is threading the machine and that takes 5 min to learn. Sewing is going forward and backward over the beginning and end of what you are sewing to keep it from unraveling and then guiding the material. It is a mix between a puzzle and visualizing the finished project, I find it fun. Get your spouse or mom to show you how to make a pillow. You'll know everything you need to know about sewing from that. It takes about an hour, total. I think of it as part of a basic skill set. (Jerry Holway is very good at sewing and has made some great bags over the years for his gear.) I've saved myself a lot of money over the years by sewing up new and old vest pads; fixing vest bags; etc. I use a 40 year old flea market sewing machine that does only a straight stich. (If any one wants to get into sewing heavy stuff for fun and profit check out the sewing machines they sell for sailing uses. They will sew through an inch of material easily. The machines are really neat, very portable and are only about $450. I want one every time I go to a sail show.) I get the joke, thanks Dan. Janice

Guys; Here is my solution and its a 5 minute sewing job. Take a Hard shelled knee pad put it on your shoulder long way. It will curve right around your shoulder. The velcro tabs even orient the exact way the ones you see above. Now just sew in a longer length of elastic to fit under your left arm. I did mine in a couple of minutes. It works great and stays in place. Its a $15.00 solution for two!!! Sell one to your AC for $35.00 Janice