Wireless Follow Focus

[kat stein]

Hi, I am new and seeking advice.

 

I am on preproduction on a student film. We are going to be using a red on a steadicam for a series of long takes. We were curious about wireless units for follow focus, zooming, and adjusting the iris. Since we are all students, we are not sure where to even beginning looking at renting and what all is need. Any advice and knowledge is welcome.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

-kat

[Lohengrin Zapiain]

Where are you located?

 

It sounds like you will need a FIZ unit (Focus, Iris and Zoom) if you want to control all of them at the same time. The options are Preston and Scorpio. Call your local camera houses and one of them should be able to provide it. You are looking at $380 a day to start with but these days everything is negotiable. Stay away from single channel units if you want to control more than one motor at the time.

 

You can also try to contact local Steadi ops but no a lot of us do dry-hires

[Daniel Stilling DFF]

Hey Kat,

 

There are several considerations here:

If you are hiring a pro Steadi op, (s)he will probably have their own system. If you are doing it yourself, you need to consider if you really need the 3 channels at the same time.

You said you are using a RED, and if you are using a zoom lens with a 3 motor system, and who knows how many accessories on (hard drives, batteries, etc) you won't be able to do it unless you have a full size rig, and if you haven't done this before, or done it just a few times, you will have a very hard time going through "a series of long takes" unless you hire someone experienced.

With that said, are you really going to zoom, focus and do an iris change all in the same shot?

And if you are under budgetary constrains (who is not these days?) a 2 motor or even one motor should be sufficient. BFD's are excellent units and should be more that adequate, and you can put several systems together if you need.

So, assuming you will be focussing on all shots, you could have a 2nd motor going between zoom and iris, or just stick with one, and use primes and cut up the shots, so you can keep them within the same exposure...

But my final advice: hire someone professional and experienced to take care of the Steadicam part of your shoot. Much better use of your money, and lees headaches.