Looking to make a start, on a $6k budget...

[Sarah Thompson]

Interesting comments, much appreciated.

 

In response, am I interested on a hobbyist basis in using a small rig on a few student shorts or friends' weddings? No, that's not for me. Apart from the fact that I've always hated working on weddings either as a sound engineer or stills photographer, and gained a policy never to agree to it with or without being paid for it, no, I'm more serious about this than that.

 

I'm also not interested in specializing in camera operating, either flown on Steadicam or otherwise. I'm interested in the art, the final image, and can't really see myself only being involved in part of that chain. I'd likely never earn an SOC because I could never imagine only operating the camera. If I'm involved in a project that has the budget to use an Alexa, F65, etc., I would most likely be hiring someone with an SOC after their name, and would be able to explain what I want because I understand what they are doing. This is also why I've learned to do my own matte paintings, match moving, CGI, grading, etc. -- not because I necessarily think I'd be the best matte painter/match mover/modeler/rigger/animator/compositor etc., but because by actually understanding the complete chain I get the chance to genuinely spot when someone is better than me, so I can hire them. And, if they aren't better than me, or if I don't have the budget, I can do it myself. Being realistic, I doubt anyone would hire me to work on their movie. I'm too weird. I'm not Hollywood. I don't fit the profile of any particular job. I'm too old (44) to work my way up, regardless of how good I might be, or not. That's not going to stop me, however.

 

As for the follow focus, or any of my other equipment, I can see where you're coming from, but like I said, I'm not likely to be hiring myself out as a Steadicam operator, so if I am operating, I'll be doing so on my own productions. This is fine with me. I have more ideas with respect to the follow focus than I've talked about here -- I'm actually waiting for a provisional patent to be filed before I want to talk about it online. What I'm building is actually not comparable with a Bartech because it's not actually a follow focus in the usual sense. Yes, the first prototype will look pretty bizarre, but prototypes generally do because the aim is to make them work. Making them look cool or making them manufacturable comes later. The first prototype won't be water resistant, because that adds complexity that is irrelevant to getting the results.

[RonBaldwin]

I'd better hurry and get "SOC" by my name!

[Jess Haas SOC]

I thought you were holding out until they agreed to hold all meetings at Jumbos?

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

I thought you were holding out until they agreed to hold all meetings at Jumbos?

 

 

We did

[RonBaldwin]

Last night we had representation from the SOC and the ASC...and little old me armed only with my 3 step program for success.

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

Last night we had representation from the SOC and the ASC...and little old me armed only with my 3 step program for success.

 

And that 3 step program worked.... 5am eh?

[Nicholas Davidoff]

You're an interesting and unique case Sarah. I wish you luck with your ventures. My advice was more geared towards the aspiring operator interested in steadicam as a career. Hope it's helpful.