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Janice Arthur

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Everything posted by Janice Arthur

  1. Matt; The only sure way out of one "genre" and into another is rate. The next time someone calls you say, "Boy love to help you out and do the job but you know I've changed my rate. It is now -----." This way you test the market threshold for money; make more; or simply price youself out of the music video business. If you fish around for info about the job before you commit they will be pissed off. The rate thing says 'I can afford to pick and choose;' therefore I'm better and I'm in demand. One thing, you must be able to afford to say no to a few jobs. (In the long run you get better PR in the industry because people know you are doing better jobs.) Hope this helps. JA
  2. I have Petersen International Disability insurance and it is a good plan. The actual insurer is Lloyd's of London for my policy. The key thing with any disability policy is that it be industry specific. Meaning if you can't be a Steadicam operator it pays. Most "generic" disability policies say, "Hey you can't walk, you can do something else. Get a job doing something else." Therefore they won't pay off. Obviously whatever other job I happen onto is not going to pay well enough to keep me going. They all have 90 day waiting periods and they all pay for max of 60 months. They ask about your current salary to gauge payout amounts. (People could, in a fraud environment, take out a huge policy then go for a claim and then skate for 5 years.) I get 4-6k a month if I'm ever forced to use it for a premium of under $2k a year. (vague exact numbers) Its not bad and that's a good return too. The Walter P. Dolle insurance company (cinti, OH) that does the Steadicam policy wrote my disability policy. AFLAC does disability too but I don't know anything about theirs. Janice
  3. Hi all; I've been doing Steadicam for as long an Jerry and Neal and I can say without hesitation I have a really strong and healthy back because of it. I too do extremely long days with heavy gear and besides being tired at the end I have no pain or problems. (Unloading the gear at the end of a long day is the biggest drama.) Like Neal I feel my legs/knees sometimes after a shoot and I may be stiff the next day from the amount of work but I don't have back problems. (Doctors do say that "crunchy, noisy" knees are not bad as long as they don't hurt.) Also like everyone, I need to stretch out more and work on better core strength as I get older but in many ways I've never been better. Its all about the posture. I never, never, never pull the rig out of that sweet spot of the "float" and I have an old 3A vest that fits very tightly and is very rigid. I see a day when I could stop because its just too physically demanding but not because of the back problems. Thanks guys. JA
  4. Hi all; I can't find Robert Luna's number and I need to have an arm checked out. Janice
  5. Hi guys; I solved this by having the "output" of the control room send you back a "good" video signal that you can feed into your monitor. You have to carry a second BNC but it solves the problem in a pinch. (This also works if you don't have a downconverter on an HD camera. The truck or deck or monitor can send you an NTSC signal via a second cable.) I was hired last minute on a multicamera job with no DConverter and it worked great. (I too split a video signal on one of my first jobs and learned the hard way that is no good.) I also now have a VAC video DA is my bag just in case. They are great. I haven't needed to do this for years but with all the technology changing it is a viable solution. JA
  6. Guys; I have to say I used the thin stuff for a really long time but after the ends kept being pulled off and I got tired of replacing them I just went with the standard BNC cables. (I also got to the point in life where disposable income goes toward retirement.) I now just use short BNCs off the shelf for $5-9. for the short runs and the regular stuff for everything else. Except for some occassional really stiff long cables, they're all pretty darn flexible these days. I carry acouple of 25' cables that are flexible enough ($25.00). Mostly I transmit anyway. Ok, everyone says weight issues, my short "regular" BNCs are probably 6-10 oz. and your thin ones are 4-6 oz. Not a big deal to me. Just my opinion (but you may want some of that money back some day and it does add up). Janice (my two cents)
  7. David; I made a practice cage to accomodate all kinds of the smaller format cameras. 1) the top half telescopes up and down to accomodate height. (done with simple set screws to hold the top section. 2) the rods that hold the cage can be moved to 6 positions on the plates to allow for width and lenses and accessories. (the four rods or even three can be anywhere on the plates.) 3) the two (top and bottom) plates are really 4 plates (5lbs) each with the operator being able to select the amount based on the camera he/she is using. 4) all the holes and choices on the cage are the same as the cage Mike O'shea makes. (really a wonderful amount of holes.) 5) length and height all the general sizes that everyone's cage is. (roughly 12" by 8" by (variable height)) Janice
  8. Hi Will; Love to add my "Barbie" Ads. Got to hook up scanner so it may be a while. Loved all those ads, it was fun to get the ASC in the mail and look to see who was doing what. Hope you're well Will. JA
  9. Since Janice has always demonstrated top-notch grammar, this poorly translated sentence leads me to believe that she herself has been replaced with a cheap Chinese knock-off. Keep a sharp eye out guys, you may be next. You never know when make it nicely so OK. uh-oh... Charles; I am caught; I usually proof my posts to prevent laughter. Substitute the last "make" in my sentence with "money" and the meaning returns . . . ah . . . (It was very early on a Sunday, is my excuse.) Janice
  10. Guys; One point no one has brought up is governmental tariffs. Many countries have extraordinary tariffs in place when you import gear like this. One example, 5 years ago a guy from South Africa said it was a 100% tariff on this gear so a $50k Steadicam becomes $100k. (maybe its changed now but I doubt it) This is on top of an economy that will never let you make the make back. So yes, it does happen, for all the reasons you listed, but even just one more. Janice
  11. Hi all; I just wanted to make a comment about using a color LCD instead of my tried and true Green screen. It was wonderful!!!! I have a back up little rig that I rent out occasionally and I thought it would be fun to try on this stage show job I had today. No stress, doing a friend a favor, less of a big deal if it gets bumped, etc. I'd put an inexpensive 7" LCD on the rig (much like an EFP) with a couple of cool mods. It was truely a pleasure, after 24 years of a green screen, to shoot and see the image as it is. I found myself not having to imagine as much what the final product would be and in some ways forcing my imagination to that leap. GB always mentioned at his workshops how you have to image a 30' screen, it was much much easier this way. It was always good for me to see the product in playback or in dailies to make that leap concrete in my mind. I have to say that in green/grey/black tones I think you (I) sometimes frame for the graphic shapes and the negative and positive spaces as much as for the content. It was really fun to be able to pick out the lead singer by his clothes color and not mistake him for someone else because I had to momentarily figure out who was in my frame. Anyway, lesson learned and fun revelations. Janice
  12. Hi all; I did a quick google search and found at least one interesting article. Again it seems we're all right. Check out; http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_hear_2/ The article says, in part; "But in the brave new world of digital television, there is theoretically no adjacent-channel interference. So when all analog transmitters go off the air in February 2009 (which was originally supposed to happen by the end of this year, but broadcasters managed to get the schedule pushed back ? good thing, as hardly anyone I know actually owns a digital TV set), all those empty adjacent channels will now be usable. Rather than give those channels to other broadcasters, the FCC is going to shrink the UHF band, taking away everything above channel 51 and requiring existing broadcasters on those channels to move to the lower part of the band." So, we don't loose all of it but its going to get a lot more crowded and lots of it is still up for grabs. The article talks about wireless audio a lot but it's got a lot of content relating to the field. I'm going to reread it. JA
  13. Hi all; I've heard that the FCC (in the US) will be using UHF channels for the special Homeland Security network in 2009. Does anyone know more about this? What channels? I need to update my personal Modulus and I'm really trying to know a little more before I invest any more. (I already own Canatrans for rental, which I bought a couple of years ago.) Janice
  14. Hi all; One detail of "lubing" you should be aware of; Graphite and Silicon don't mix. I would occasionally spray WD40 in my home locks and hinges, well at some point some oil containing graphite got in with the WD 40 and I could no longer get in my house. It locks up as if you don't have the right key. (As a locksmith is drilling out the lock he tells me the tale.) An expensive lesson learned. So in your Steadicam lubing, stay away from (WD40 or Silicon and graphite combos). (Some silicons attract dirt too.) Janice (hi Brant)
  15. Hi all; I have read all of these posts and I am disheartened by the PROGEAR owner. I am disturbed by his actions and they are clearly not a one time thing. I propose that we do something and hit him where it really hurts, the shows. Everyone of us and the SOA (as our group) should send e-mails/letters to the show exhibitors saying his is an unreputable exhibitor and they should not offer him exhibit space. We could make a difference and also "get our pound of flesh" from this guy's butt. He cannot continue to make money off of us and then steal from us and get away with it. This would put him out of business. Anyone who is in the "know" send us show exhibitor info. and I'll gladly be the first to send off an e-mail. Janice Arthur
  16. Hi all; Something like fifteen years ago I helped get the Steadicam Insurance policy going for equipment. It has been a tremendous success and many operators have it. I have been looking at health insurance for the last few years and if you've had to use yours you know the pitfalls of health insurance. Well I ran across AFLAC, yes the thing with the duck. It is a cool thing, pays lots of stuff, my and I'm sure your insurance doesn't and doesn't conflict with any existing insurance. I think maybe we could get the SOA to work as the Association and even get a better rate. Its also world wide so good for everyone. The for instances are; Cancer coverage $5k for initial diagnosis; $300 a day for hospitization; $300 a day for Radiation and Chemotherapy. $60 a day lodging benefit if a family member must travel with you out of town. These are just the highlights. There is NO lifetime maximum for these benefits. they have lots of choices, like accident insurance, long and short term disability. No catch, they pay us. Its $35.00 a month. I thought cheap. I had some medical bills that my insurance didn't cover last year and this would have made a big difference (I'm healthy too.) You should check it out. I just thought it would be helpful and if we do a group we will all get a better rate. I had the guy who helped me do a PDF on some of the hightlights (below). Thanks for expressing an interest in AFLAC! I look forward to meeting with you in person to answer any questions you may have, and tailor-fit a solution to your needs. With that in mind? WHAT is the challenge that we face? WHY do you need AFLAC? WHERE is the need? When a serious health event occurs (an illness, an accident, or even a maternity), there are always costs incurred, even for people that have major medical coverage. Consider: ∑ There are deductibles, co-payments, numerous medical costs not deemed ?reasonable and customary? and any and all out-of-network costs or penalties. ∑ Include, as well, a variety of out-of-pocket expenses such as travel and lodging for specialized treatment, care-giving family members? loss of income, household help, medical equipment, etc. ∑ 75% of those who were forced to declare bankruptcy in recent years due to expenses related to a health event HAD major medical. It just didn?t cover all the expenses incurred. The above doesn?t even include the loss of someone?s greatest asset when they go through a serious illness or injury?their earning power. ∑ Workman?s Comp is great, but only 1/3 of all accidents happen at work, and W.C. or a company disability program only replaces 60% of one?s income. ∑ What if your spouse or child is the affected person and you need to take time to care for them? Workman?s Comp or disability won?t cover them, but normal expenses continue. ∑ Most people are living off of 100% of what they make. In fact, 83% live paycheck to paycheck. With no savings, how will you get by if you are unable to work? WHO has an answer? HOW can the above challenges be met? For about 50 Million people worldwide, AFLAC provides peace of mind, the kind that comes with knowing that they are protected from financial hardships associated with illnesses and injuries. ∑ AFLAC pays policyholders directly so they have the cash to cover out-of-pocket medical expenses (co-pays, deductible, drugs, etc.) as well as ongoing financial responsibilities. Policy holders can utilize the cash as they see fit, to handle the most pressing needs first. In a nutshell: business owners can offer additional benefits to their employees at specially priced rates while spending no money themselves AND reducing their taxable payrolls. Contact James Michael today to learn more about how AFLAC can help you and your company! Call my cell: (206) 919-0603, or email me at: james_michael@us.aflac.com.
  17. Hi all; I'm looking for misc parts. PRO 2 junction box, Donkey box any type monitor arm that fits on a PRO 2 Post. Gimbal that fits a PRO 2 post (doesn't have to be a specific manufacturer.) this is long term looking for so whenever anyone has this stuff let me know. Janice Arthur
  18. To all; I would like to say I'm thrilled with this kind of topic. I'm tired of reading about who needs a cable or a battery or a whatever (it good to be able to ask that question too but they are boring to read.) I have not seen the AR only read about it and I've wondered how it was working out/selling etc. I don't think anyone has been mean-spirited, I think of it as if we were all just sitting around talking. This is the best use of this forum. Janice
  19. Hi guys; Leon, is the AC, worked with him a while back. Can't remember his last name. He lives in Philly. Don't recognize the Op. Janice Sorry guys didn't see Will's posting. JA
  20. Hi Erik; I had a guy call about something like this a long time ago. I really think handheld is better. You have no where to go when the boom comes across and sailboats rarely stay flat, so you're standing position is compromised. Also, when it comes right down to it, just walking around a sailboat the rules of boating are "one hand for the boat," so now just to move around (without gear) you've lost one hand for operating. My two cents worth. Janice
  21. Hi all; Just a kind of fun "this is what happened to me the other day". Shooting a Music video on a roof top, no rail guard. We're not close to the edge or strapped for space but there is no rail guard. Grips are all over keeping me from the edge but the DP, nice guy, loves to hook up the LCD HD monitor to see an image before we shoot. He wanders more than I am comfortable with behind me and immediately I realize if he goes over I go over too. (Mental image him first, gear and me, all going over like a cartoon and I'm oblivious until I feel the rig being pulled away. Think of that snapshot of your face at that moment.) We get the grips to "reign" him in and all is well but believe me I kept him in close contact every time we had that monitor hooked up. I have a sweet 7" LCD they can monitor from when shooting and I'm transmitting, best new money spent. No story beyond that. JA
  22. Hi all; I was looking for a reasonable (quality) c-mount video assist camera. I don't know who sells them any more. I don't care if its used or new. Janice Steadijan@hotmail.com
  23. Guys; Check out; www.wpdolle.com/ they supply 150+ operators and have a great plan. Janice Arthur
  24. Thanks guys; I appreciate all the compliments, yes I am the only retro-ager in the bunch. Just this week I start looking for preschools for myself. Thanks again. Janice (P.S. The reason my workshops are so cheap is that its the price people want to pay, it all works out.)
  25. David; I took the exact opposite approach, I list the major stuff (vest, arm sled, FF, camera, mags), then say "plus accessories" which for me includes cables, transmitters, everything else. Then I take the cost of the things in the sled case and do a total of what it would take to replace them (with a little cushion) and give that a dollar figure. (Say sled case $30,000.) This way I'm not tied to a specif set of stuff, and since we all know we change around parts often then I'm not up a creek if case A gets stolen and I, for some reason added a transmitter to that case. I thought about your system but boy thats way more work than I do. Janice
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