Tomas Burian Posted January 1, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2012 How do you mean 'too academic'? I thought that precision was important in order to have the camera leveled. Pilot doesn't come with any level bubbles so nailing even a static balance is pretty hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members RonBaldwin Posted January 1, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 1, 2012 Maybe part of the reason many old fart drunken masters can easily get slightly annoyed is because it seems everyone today wants a quick tutorial and the fast-track to being a steadicam operator. Few do the proper searches on this forum to read up on a particular subject before posting a "silly" question...and even fewer work long and hard at honing skills before full on steadi-assaulting the world with bad form (and horizons). There are lots of resources for steadicam nowadays (and this is certainly the best one) but this isn't something that can really be learned from a book, from some visits to a website, or from an instructional video (though all those can help once a foundatiin is laid). It's ike trying to learn a martial art or some form of dance from the internet and getting discouraged and upset when everyone you post questiins to asks if you have spent time with a master or taken a class (or even seen it done in person). I know classes are expensive, but it's an investment in one's carreer right?! Meet/make friends with a local op who can -- get this-- SHOW you something! I guess it's the world we live in now. Everyone wants something for nothing and fast! Apprenticeship is now brief and expected to turn to master immediately...no more journeymen. Who has time for that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Stone Posted January 1, 2012 Report Share Posted January 1, 2012 Attending a workshop is not an option for me...If there was a website that could provide all this beginner information it would be great. Does it exist? Tomas, your profile says you live in Sweden. There are courses taught across Europe each year. Some in England as well. You have been given access to the Steadicam world on the cheap through a Pilot rig. To think that because you spent a couple of thousand Euros on a rig that you will have cheap and easy access to that which makes up the Steadicam world is a false logic. That goes for both training and gear. This is the best website for both beginners and seasoned Steadicam Operators. Like any forum you have to look around. You should expect it to take around six months of studying and absorbing the material in the archives here before your practice and learning begins to show appreciable progress. For starts, get the EFP video from TIFFEN and the Steadicam handbook. Take at least the 2 day course that TIFFEN offers; the week long course is better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Eric Fletcher S.O.C. Posted January 1, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 1, 2012 How do you mean 'too academic'? I thought that precision was important in order to have the camera leveled. Pilot doesn't come with any level bubbles so nailing even a static balance is pretty hard. No it's not "pretty hard" to "Nail" static balance. You don't even need a level to do it. Seriously it's things like this that just reinforce that you REALLY need a workshop. And please until you have a few years of serious operating under your belt, don't make a video or website on how to balance and dynamic balance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomas Burian Posted January 1, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2012 No it's not "pretty hard" to "Nail" static balance. You don't even need a level to do it. I also thought that but I just wanted to make sure that if the shot is wrong it would be because of my lack of skill and not improperly balanced steadicam. Or can you counter a bad balance by being a good operator? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Osvaldo Silvera SOC Posted January 1, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 1, 2012 Just a little experience here..... I owned a full size rig ( Model 1 sled, 3A arm, 3A vest) for almost 3 years before attending a course. I had taught myself how to operate by watching the EFP VHS and practicing my butt off just "winging it" but there were hundreds of hours in the vest with a 35BL1 on it before I went out as a "steadicam operator". And even though I was already getting paid to come onto a set as a steadicam op, I took a course. When I returned from that course I was a changed man. I had been doing SO many things wrong ( but they still worked to get the shot) Operating the heavy cameras got so much easier because I learned things at the course I could not possibly learn from the video. From adjustments on the vest to proper camera set up, to the correct way to adjust the arm sections....the list can go on and on. I know you have mentioned before that taking a course is not an option....maybe becoming proficient in operating is also not an option. I am sure there is an operator in your country who can show you a few things with your system. whether you have to save up and then take a drive or train or plane to see him/her or they come to you if you pay their way. You can do it. If you have the will to learn the system you will accomplish it. Do not give up. If there is a course in your country or even somewhere else in the future, try and get there, they usually have several different systems for you to learn on, and every system you learn is a different set of skills you put in your brain pocket. There was a young man named Joe on youtube who also had alot of problems balancing his rig. He blamed it on the rig and ultimately went mad. Good luck, you'll get it, just put the rig on and don't take it off till your sweating like a pig!. Start with a short sled and adjust the gimbal up and down for your drop time, then lengthen it, then slide the camera forward, then back, and learn all of the different reactions to changing those things, you'll end up with a working balanced rig at some point, just don't get frustrated. Ozzie---Happy New Year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Janice Arthur Posted January 1, 2012 Moderators Report Share Posted January 1, 2012 T 1) you were supposed to be gone for a week WORKING Before u came back here 2) all excuses excuses excuses go work with the gear don't sit at your computer 3) your responses show how little u know if u'd just think about it There is enough Info out there if u'd just start WORKING 4) don't come back for two weeks -- don't respond. 5) man-up right ? and learn something deep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Eric Fletcher S.O.C. Posted January 1, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 1, 2012 I also thought that but I just wanted to make sure that if the shot is wrong it would be because of my lack of skill and not improperly balanced steadicam. Or can you counter a bad balance by being a good operator? Dude, put the rig on and practice, stop making excuses like "it doesn't have a level". Is it impossible for you to BUY a level? Both Janice and Ron's posts are fantastic, read them and heed them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Afton Grant Posted January 1, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 1, 2012 Both Janice and Ron's posts are fantastic, read them and heed them Yes, although Ron frequently hits on both my wife and my five month old daughter, so maybe just go with Janice's advice from now on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members RonBaldwin Posted January 2, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 2, 2012 Both Janice and Ron's posts are fantastic, read them and heed them Yes, although Ron frequently hits on both my wife and my five month old daughter, so maybe just go with Janice's advice from now on. can't help it...they are both really cute! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Mark Schlicher Posted January 2, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 2, 2012 I just wanted to make sure that if the shot is wrong it would be because of my lack of skill and not improperly balanced steadicam. Or can you counter a bad balance by being a good operator? Reasonable questions. I completely understand your desire to make sure you have the rig set up properly, so you don't waste time trying to achieve good results from a rig that's way out of whack. Makes sense to me. I also get that you realize the rig won't fly itself, and you'll have to work at it. To use the old guitar analogy: I hear you saying: "I want to make sure the guitar is in tune before I start practicing. That way if it sounds bad I know it's my inexperienced playing. How can I get the guitar in perfect tune?" The answer you're getting from the veterans is: "Don't worry about perfect tune yet. Just get it close, (and here's how to do that). Practice your chords and scales and simple songs diligently. As you progress, you will be ready to be concerned about perfect tuning." It's solid advice (though maybe not what you expected), along with the advice to get to a workshop or to get lessons. Like a guitar, it's not impossible to teach yourself, but it's much easier with a good teacher. It is worth the effort and cost to get good instruction, if you are serious about operating well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Kovatch Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 I'm not seeing too much input from other newbies so I'll throw something in. Thomas, I've had my Zephyr a little under a year, and have maybe 150 hours in the vest. (I know, I should have two or three times the number of hours :) ) While I did eventually take a workshop, I found things started to gel shortly after I first started operating. After maybe 15-20 hours. My operating was far from perfect, but I was getting a feel for things. All I had initially was the book and the DVD. I watched the entire dvd 3 or 4 times, and I read the first 100 pages of the book countless times. Take advice from the pros here and just start operating. You have all the tools. I realize a lot of people get hung up on things like dynamic balance and suffer from information overload. I did. And then it wasn't any fun. And it's supposed to be fun. Trust me, when you start nailing shots or a particular move, it's extremely gratifying. Craig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Rob Vuona SOC Posted January 29, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 @Janice Bahahahahaha "one week, no forum for you". Said with Soup nazi accent Lol...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Thomas K. Jensen Posted January 29, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 Hey Tomas. It takes a lot of time to learn the skills required to operate steadicam well.As everyone else has said, take your time to get to know your rig - practice the line dance, read the steadicam handbook and watch the EFP video. And just use your eye to judge if its hanging vertical in both side to side and fore and aft. No need to get all crazy about dynamic balance.In almost 90% of the shots you need to do, it doesn't have to be in DB. And if you want, you could fly to denmark, and I'll be glad to give you a day of training. Here is a link to where you can buy the book:Steadicam Operators Handbook The EFP video can be ordered from Tiffen Good luck.Thomas :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.