circue du soleil 3D film in Vegas

[Philip J. Martinez SOC]

Maybe are arms can take it but what about the top stage? I've done a few 3D gigs and I'm most worried about the ware and tear of my top stage (ultra 2c).

[RonBaldwin]

Maybe are arms can take it but what about the top stage? I've done a few 3D gigs and I'm most worried about the ware and tear of my top stage (ultra 2c).

 

 

Aside from the worries about the wear and tear and/or wrecking your gear...what about the wear and tear on your body? Imagine the havoc this is wreaking on your hips, knees as well as back.

 

10 yrs ago people were f'ing batshit crazy about how "overweight" the BL-4 and G2 conversion kits were and those cameras were in the upper 30's. The past few years it has been the Genesis/F-35/F-23 + deck that is (and should be) getting everyone's panties in a bunch in the low 40's. So now schlepping a 50 to 55 lb camera abortion and a (at least) 22+ lb sled is suddenly ok?! Holy hot stone massage! You'd better be getting double rate for that one to cover chiropractic care and physical therapy and have the crew working around you wear safety glasses incase your socket block, a spring or lower vertebrae explodes!

 

I'm not sure if you guys who do this are supermen to admire or just pack-mules to roll my eyes at? God I hope and pray this fad blows over or technology catches up to demand before I get a call to wreck my gear and body.

[Lawrence Karman]

Brooks, it looks like you made the right decision to turn that one down. Pace does make a very manageable lighter rig with the sensor blocks only from I think Sony 900's which should be compatible with the F23's they are using on the rest of that show. Just like bringing in a liteweight for Steadicam instead of having to use a G2 or Platinum they should provide a lighter setup. It's unreasonable to ask an operator to carry that much weight. And possibly a liability for the company if an operator were to get hurt. I will bring this up with the Local 600 safety committee at the next E Board meeting.

I wonder if Janice's wheel-thingy she made as a quasi hard-mount would be practical for this 3D application? Or the Buddy-cam handlebar setup? Or your Segway?

[brooksrobinson]

Lawrence, I was thinking the same thing about the weight and about hardmounting. It would be reasonable to do (maybe) if you were able to hardmount, but I'd rather not take the risk and find myself in Vegas running up and down stairs or God knows what else doing 20 minute passes with a 70lbs camera. I'd rather say no to a job like this than show up and make an ass out of myself. Having not done 3D yet, I'd rather wait until there is a job with some prep time built in so I can get my head (and body) around it and make sure I've set myself up to succeed rather than fail. Thanks for the comments - interesting to hear what others have to say at the Safety Meeting.

 

Brooks

[Pedro Guimaraes SOC]

Pedro has me even more confused as well. It SEEMS like Pedro is saying it is 70 lbs including the sled, monitor, batteries. As he seems to confirm here:

 

Like I said it is about 70lbs including your sled monitor etc..

 

A G70 and a Pro arm theoretically max out with ~70lbs total on the arm. If the total "camera weight" is 70lbs, the additional weight of the sled/monitor/battery would overload the arm, which no one is saying happened. I have definitely seen steadicam arms take far more weight than rated for (on a Flyer), so 70lbs of camera weight is not out of the realm of what I wold believe, hence my willingness only to guess and hope that is incorrect. Which I still guess and hope is the truth!

 

It's not unlikely I just need to see the fully built rig on a frickin' scale before I come out of denial. :)

 

We did not put it on a scale. Sorry.

 

Complete ready to fly.....cameras, motors, batteries, extra weights we used...READY to shoot.

 

all black canisters.....rig was NOT sinking on the arm. So that how I get my guess of around 70lbs. Since it's rated to 72.....

[Michael Fuchs]

I did a 3D concert film here in NYC not to long ago and they are right about the 70+lbs. It's definitely a beast and a lot of mass to put into motion. You dont really need a long post because the camera(F35 w/ 20mm Master prime in my case) that is vertical actually puts the weight below the gimbal so it act like bottom weight. Its strange to wrap your head around it but once you pick it up you immediately understand. Pace also had a recorder and wireless transmitter on the setup that I carried. It maxes out the PRO arm so it takes a bit of muscle to move it around. Any questions, feel free to email me.

 

Dave Thompson

Davethompsonsoc@mac.com

 

 

Hi Dave,

 

Would you admit to having worked the Justin Bieber show at the garden if that's the concert film you're talking about? ;)

I ask because a friend I worked with recently was in charge of the DSLR timelapse photography and showed me this pic of one of the steadicam setups, which might have been you or Jeff Zachary (who I believe was involved also?). I just couldnt tell what the heck was going on with the bottom of the rig in terms of what piece of gear/mounting system allowed to you attach all those batts to the bottom of the Pro w/quick release. If this was not the concert you were referring to then I guess my post is just another interesting pic of an intimidating 3D setup. yikes

 

[Daniel Stilling DFF]

Am I seeing double or are there 5 batteries on that rig in the last picture?

Man, those things are monstrosities...

I miss the good old days of 435's or SR 3's. I have a feeling that I have seen the last film camera on my rig...

[RonBaldwin]

Is that the set-up with the built in auto side to side to compensate for convergence movement up top? Looks like 12+ lbs of batts!! Sweet.

[Dave Thompson]

I guess I have to publicly admit that I was working at the Justin Bieber 3D concert. The photo in Micheals post was the other stedicam rig operated by Kyle Rudolph. The one I was using included 2 F35s, 2 20mm Master Primes, a recorder and wireless HD transmitter. Attached is a photo(sorry for the poor quality) and it weighed in at 70 + lbs.

[Alfeo Dixon SOC]

I guess I have to publicly admit that I was working at the Justin Bieber 3D concert.

But did you enjoy it Dave...

[Joshua Harrison]

I guess I have to publicly admit that I was working at the Justin Bieber 3D concert.

But did you enjoy it Dave...

 

 

If I know Dave, he probably owns Justin Bieber's entire catalogue.

 

Josh

[Dave Thompson]

I am burning you a copy of the catalogue as I write this Josh. I am even going to include a locket of his hair that got caught on some of the velcro from the rig as he scurried by. The rig weighed more than he did. The 50' techno with a Flight Head and the 3d rig(2 Alexas and 5:1 zooms) was 200+ lbs.

[Rick Davidson]

Good call Brooks. We only have one spine!

[Alex C. White]

I was able to sit in on this shoot last night and they had two operators going, both in 3D rigs. Unfortunately I can't say much more than that, but it was a big operation (10+ 3D camera rigs set up - Technocrane, statics, Steadicams, etc.). The Steadicams looked loaded but the operators flew smoothly :) Much respect to those guys.

[Rob Vuona SOC]

I was able to sit in on this shoot last night and they had two operators going, both in 3D rigs. Unfortunately I can't say much more than that, but it was a big operation (10+ 3D camera rigs set up - Technocrane, statics, Steadicams, etc.). The Steadicams looked loaded but the operators flew smoothly :) Much respect to those guys.

Alex,

Who were the operators?