Premium Members Michael Stumpf Posted January 4, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 Several years ago I was asked to do steadicam out of a helicopter, I refused. Sadly, a few days ago, another helicopter went down filming a TV commercial here in CA. Names were not released. If you are asked to do any kind of operating hanging off a Helicopter...just say NO!! Here's the brief story. http://www.death-valley.us/article1154.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brad Grimmett Posted January 4, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 Very sad. Thanks for posting this Michael. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wicked_Chicken Posted January 4, 2005 Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 Wow. Thanks for the link and the advice. On a side topic... what would be the purpose of flying steadicam outside a chopper? Something like a walk-on to a crane? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulSommers Posted January 5, 2005 Report Share Posted January 5, 2005 Having shot near helicopters and out of them I cannot imagine attempting to control the rig in the prop wash. To quote Garret "don't do it" I get strange looks from my assistants all the time when I do something they consider "unwise" but I'm leery of helicopters. Lets not forget that they have ten thousand critical moving parts and the aerodynamics of your donkey box. One of those parts fails and you hit the ground. I have a buddy with a gortex abdomen because they tried to get "one more run at it..." There are plenty of skilled and talented people who work with helicopters regularly and they are the ones who should be doing those shots. They have the experience and the vocabulary to talk with the pilots (often they are also pilots), and they understand the limits and capabilities of the equipment in the conditions on that day. Don't be a stud let them do it. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Alan Mehlbrech Posted January 8, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 8, 2005 It sad to hear about this . If YOU get the call to do helicopters calmly tell THEM to look into Tyler mounts . " Tyler Camera Systems has been supplying stabilized camera platforms for over 40 years. The Tyler Mounts have become synonymous with helicopter aerials and accommodate all film and video formats. We provide the highest quality and most reliable systems of the industry, by-far. The various Tyler Mounts have flown over 200,000 hours on over 50,000 missions." http://www.tylermount.com Please Be Smart Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Marc Abernathy Posted January 9, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 9, 2005 very sad. they finally released the Ops name in the above article... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Burton Posted January 9, 2005 Report Share Posted January 9, 2005 very sad. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I have seen some helli pilots do some crazy things. I was editing some idents for a local channel a while back. The producer said to use some aerial shot from the archive that had been shot from a previous crew. At one point the rush's show the helli flying over a busy beach resort. Then the cam op asks the pilot if they can get lower over the beach. What happens next ? the pilot lands on the beach, right where all the people are on the beach. The cam opp gets out and shoos people away from the helli and gets back in and they do another pass. You could see people shielding their kids from the prop wash on the beach, sand going everywhere. Crazy in my book, i nearly took the tapes to the police, and soon after i left the channel as crazy seemed to be their middle name. Matt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Eric Fletcher S.O.C. Posted January 9, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 9, 2005 <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Crazy in my book, i nearly took the tapes to the police, and soon after i left the channel as crazy seemed to be their middle name. Matt. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Honestly what do you think that the police would do? When it comes to aviation releated issues they can't do anything, also Helicopters can land anywhere "Safe" so they didn't do anything wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Burton Posted January 9, 2005 Report Share Posted January 9, 2005 erm whats safe about a crowded beach with kids and dogs runin around. Yes people will get outa the way if they see a helli flyin over their sandcastle, but the hole thing didn't look safe atall. I wouldn't want a helicopter landing on soft sand anywhere near my kids ! but lets not go off topic. cheers. Matt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theparnell Posted January 10, 2005 Report Share Posted January 10, 2005 Ive got a family friend who used to work in tv news, legend goes, he hung out of a chopper, only being held in by his shirt by his assistant about 30metres over water to film a rescue on a boat. He just did it in the heat of the moment to get 'that' shot. stupid... i say yes. but he did get a national best cameraman award for his work on the report but. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Garrett Brown Posted January 24, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 24, 2005 I have lost six friends in six separate film-related helicopter crashes: two hit wires, two ran out of fuel (!), one main shaft frozen, etc. I won't go up in them any more. Garrett Brown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Brennan Posted February 5, 2005 Report Share Posted February 5, 2005 I have lost six friends in six separate film-related helicopter crashes: two hit wires, two ran out of fuel (!), one main shaft frozen, etc. I won't go up in them any more. Garrett Brown <{POST_SNAPBACK}> The helicopter crash operator in question was apparently using a side mount. (you can see the footstep in the picture) As a matter of interest BBC now require producers to give the pilot a document detailing causes of last three accidents in UK which were due to loss of tail rotar authority. Loss of tail rotar authority is usually down to flying sideways with cameraman hanging out the back door. A nose mounted remote control gimbal is the answer. Mike Brennan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicolas Rome Posted March 15, 2005 Report Share Posted March 15, 2005 I have lost six friends in six separate film-related helicopter crashes: two hit wires, two ran out of fuel (!), one main shaft frozen, etc. I won't go up in them any more. Garrett Brown <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I remember on the malibu workshop 2000 when jerry talked to us about your friends who had those accidents and the danger of helicopter shots! I allways tell people about that ... But it is also a matter of having "control" over the situation. As we all have experienced directors, or anyone pushed by them, tend to forget about safty when they want to get the most "spectacular shot of the world!!" I don't know a whole lot about piloting helicopters but it in the recent years I have done 3 or 4 helicopter shots, ofcourse not with a steadicam, and everytime before the flight I spoke to the pilots and told them that I don't care what the director says safety is the priority during the flight! No matter how spectacular it could look! I must say that the few pilots I worked with here where carefull also due to the strict rules in italy. One did't even take off because the bracket for the wescam was not legaly authorized in italy because it was coming from Brussels. Anyway, I allways think about jerry' words and prefer to fly my steadicam than a helicopter!!! Let me know when you come to Italy! Nicolas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeighWanstead Posted March 15, 2005 Report Share Posted March 15, 2005 Can anyone tutor me why not use gyro instead of steadicam in flying shot? I thought that is gyro design for. TIA Leigh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Daniel Stilling DFF Posted March 22, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 In february I was shooting single white female 2 in downtown LA, in front of a building, and immediatelly behind it, another shoot was going on. It was a japanese comercial with Keifer Suterland, where they where going in the 24 style. They had a chopper with 6 "soldiers", siting on the outside, 3 on each side, flying in circles, about 50 feet in the air, dangerously close to the building, making the turns steeper and steeper. I could almost hear the director scream "faster, faster!!" as they allways do... Normal flying is very safe. Flying for a shoot is some of the most dangerous things you can do... Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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