This seems like a good idea...

[Charles Papert]

Well, the story I was referring to earlier went as follows:

 

On a show about ten years ago, I was working with a DP who was not particularly popular on set as he liked to inform everyone around him how to do their jobs (not just camera/g/e), one of those "have to be the smartest guy in the room" personalities. After the A camera was set on a shot, he asked the grips for a 12-step and once it arrived, turned to me and said "climb up there and get an overhead shot". I pointed out that the XL was in Steadicam mode. His response: "like I said, climb up there. We don't have time to convert". This being the last straw in a series of BS calls , I shook my head and simply said "No".

 

His eyes opened wide. "What do you mean--no?"

"I'm not climbing up a ladder with the Steadicam to get a static shot. But I'll get you the shot you want".

 

I then asked the electrics for a crankovator stand with a combo to spud adaptor (i.e. junior to 5/8") and to set it up next to the ladder. I put the docking bracket on the pin, mounted the rig on the balancing pin, and then had them crank the stand up as I walked up the ladder babysitting the rig. I got comfy at the top and lined up the shot. Safe and easy.

 

Once back down, I explained as patiently as I could that in the future, he just needed to tell me where to put the lens and I'd get it there. Not sure if it sunk in or not. I left the show a week or so later anyway.

 

Obviously not every show has crank stands (especially ones being shot with Basson rigs). But in 25 years, I never saw a reason to climb a ladder wearing the rig. Did some other crazy stuff but not that one.

[Blake Waldock]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6t0nraGwms&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

At 8.07...

[David Allen Grove]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6t0nraGwms&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

At 8.07...

 

at 1:57 Chuck Henry: "It's very quick and easy to use." lol.

 

I like what the narrator says at 3:27 about cables. ;)

 

and I always wondered who the Steadicam operator was in this video. Is that Guy Bee?

Edited November 1, 2010 by David Allen Grove SOC

[Bryan Fowler]

I'm just curious what socks the ladder guy is wearing.

[RonBaldwin]

wow, I first saw this video 20 yrs ago! Haven't seen it in a long, long time -- I always loved the lock off at the end

[Charles Papert]

and I always wondered who the Steadicam operator was in this video. Is that Guy Bee?

 

 

but of course! just before his "pirate" phase with the flashy pajama bottoms! Also Kirk Gardner and of course Teddy, and Ed DiGiulio...

[Sanjay Sami]

 

Brian "I don't care about your damn shot if any one person is not safe" Freesh

 

On almost every action movie I have ever done there is tons of stuff way more unsafe than that. Just a few days ago, on a movie I am working on in Berlin, a stuntman lost control of a car due to a timing error on the part of another driver and flew sideways across 3 lanes of highway, over a median and crashed sideways into our insert car, smashing 2 Arri 435 cameras and 2 Optimo 24 to 290 lenses . The driver of the insert car saved the lives of the 2 operators on those cameras by swerving in the nick of time. They escaped with minor injuries.

But dangerous situations are not always in your hands to avoid. You do what you can, but you also get hired because you will go that extra mile to get the shot.

Jerry Holway has done a lot of stuff hanging off cables that I consider to be pretty dangerous for manned operation, Garrett Brown has gone into cages with wild animals, Larry McConkey has done some crazy stuff shooting off the front of Herb Aults electric buggy for Vanilla Sky (as told to me by Herb) ... none of them without risk :)

[Brian Freesh]

And driving to the grocery store is more likely to get you seriously injured than any of those situations, statistically. When we do things extreme things, we take extreme caution. Nothing is 100% safe. You can die walking out your front door. It's all about minimizing risk. Can't get rid of it, but you can minimize it and make an educated decision whether or not to proceed. Fella on that ladder could have minimized his risk much more. Most notably by not doing the shot with a Steadicam, if it did not need to be. Maybe it did, that's fine, be safer.

 

No shot or paycheck is worth not seeing the movie/not spending the check.

 

Brian "Waiting for someone to get uppity and check the statistics he was too lazy to look up" Freesh |-)~

[Thomas English]

I did a ladder shot the other day. Had to get a lens directly above a doorway looking down. Low budget with no kit. I decided to do it on a ladder. Went into super long post mode. Clambered up the ladder with 2 sparks and my focus puller holding onto the thing (as well as about 8 sand bags). Extended my long camera over the doorway and got a .... static.

 

I dunno, its not the right tools for the job but come on. If your careful its not that bigger deal. I would point out though that doing that same shot with the correct grip equipment would have been quicker (and safer). We just didn't have it. This took longer and was not that unsafe.

 

I like Charles idea with the crank stand. To be honest I don't think it would have worked for me because of the footprint. Thanks though Charles.

 

I also imagine that the guy in the photo had someone with him on the ladder the whole time ... just one person though.. who also had to go take THE photo.

[Peter Abraham]

but of course! just before his "pirate" phase with the flashy pajama bottoms! Also Kirk Gardner and of course Teddy, and Ed DiGiulio...

 

Teddy, Eddie, Kirk and Guy. Wasn't that a late-70's movie? :D

 

I was asked to do ladder work now and again. It happened early enough that I carried what I thought was a reasonable cheap alternative. ( Eventually built a stronger version ). I told grips to get a 4x8 sheet of plywood. I carried thick angle irons and 5/8" bolts and washers. Drill through, mount the angle irons and hook them onto the non-step side of a ladder. Voila- instant platform for crane shots. Wound up making a plank for myself. 2 feet wide, 2" thick, 8 feet long. Thick emery cloth grip treads on it. Angle irons at one end. Take a sled case, rest it underneath about half way up to stop the plank from flexing and it's quite rigid and safe. Also, every step gives you another angle of inclination to use.

 

Ladders? Not so much. Another way to walk up into the air safely? You betcha.

 

Best use of the "SteadiRamp®" ? Outside of the Ed Sullivan Theater shooting a walk up with Dan Rather as he headed inside.

 

There is always a safe way to get the shot.

 

Best

 

Peter Abraham

[Peter Milanov]

I then asked the electrics for a crankovator stand with a combo to spud adaptor (i.e. junior to 5/8") and to set it up next to the ladder. I put the docking bracket on the pin, mounted the rig on the balancing pin, and then had them crank the stand up as I walked up the ladder babysitting the rig. I got comfy at the top and lined up the shot. Safe and easy.

 

Thank you Charles. Used that the other day. Worked like a charm, safe and easy.