Just started training Steadicam, uploaded a video

[Michael Desiderio]

I've just started training steadicam and have gotten used to balancing my rig and flying the steadicam.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwsV1JSo8Wg&feature=plcp

 

I'm rough in pretty much every area, and this is my first attempt at doing a video. This is my first time up and down stairs and through any tight spaces, first time outdoors, first time running. Lot of firsts.

 

-definitely need to work on horizontal

-need to work on head space

-stop bumping into things

 

Critique would be great

 

I'm excited to be a part of steadicamming!

Edited August 23, 2012 by Michael Desiderio

[Michael Desiderio]

I forgot to mention, I am using a steadicam flyer rig and a canon 5D mark II

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

Sorry I couldn't make it past 20 seconds.

 

You need to step back and ask yourself if you should really be posting videos like this.

[Michael Desiderio]

Sorry I couldn't make it past 20 seconds.

 

You need to step back and ask yourself if you should really be posting videos like this.

 

I am learning to use a tiffen steadicam rig and this is the newbie forum, so I figured that if there was anywhere on the internet to go to then this would be the place right? I'm not sure what you mean by the first 20 seconds, but if you mean the wobble and all-over-the-place shot then it is because I had just hit record and started bouncing around the camera to make sure everything was in place and levels were being kind to me. If you just mean that I shouldn't waste my time asking for any tips or criticism right now then let me know.

[James Davis]

Hey Michael,

 

I made it a little further in than Eric did, up to the 6 minute mark in fact.

 

if i'm being very honest I would have to agree with Eric, if you plan to make this a career for yourself at some point, i'd be very conscious about having such a cringe-worthy video online coming up in google searches next to my name.

 

I would recommend you buy yourself the Steadicam Operators handbook, take a workshop (or ideally both).

 

Take that video offline.

 

Once you have read the book at least twice and hopefully taken a workshop or gotten advice from an experienced professional operator, then I would go back to basics on the theory of steadicam, be more accurate with your balancing, it doesn't look like you've achieved proper static balance with the rig at this point which is one of the most basic fundamentals of steadicam, along with your operating this probably contributing to your skewed horizons.

Learn to FLY the rig, not push it with your hands, which is what you appeared to be doing for the most part, this in turn will enable you to not have to grip the gimbal as tightly, a common issue which i'm sure everyone (myself included) does a lot of in the beginning.

Have some purpose to your shots and your framing, what is your start frame, what is your end frame, what is the shot size etc etc.

 

I hope you take this constructively as it is intended and again I can't overstate the importance of taking a workshop and reading the book or getting some time alongside an experienced operator.

 

Good luck.

[Mariano Costa]

My advice is also to take it off, I skipped to the 1:30 mark and left the video when the annoying guy (he reminded me of the junkie-robber from 5th element...) was still there. There are almost only two rules for showreels:

 

1. only use your very best material

2. put the even better material to the start

[Michael Desiderio]

Hey Michael,

 

I made it a little further in than Eric did, up to the 6 minute mark in fact.

 

if i'm being very honest I would have to agree with Eric, if you plan to make this a career for yourself at some point, i'd be very conscious about having such a cringe-worthy video online coming up in google searches next to my name.

 

I would recommend you buy yourself the Steadicam Operators handbook, take a workshop (or ideally both).

 

Take that video offline.

 

Once you have read the book at least twice and hopefully taken a workshop or gotten advice from an experienced professional operator, then I would go back to basics on the theory of steadicam, be more accurate with your balancing, it doesn't look like you've achieved proper static balance with the rig at this point which is one of the most basic fundamentals of steadicam, along with your operating this probably contributing to your skewed horizons.

Learn to FLY the rig, not push it with your hands, which is what you appeared to be doing for the most part, this in turn will enable you to not have to grip the gimbal as tightly, a common issue which i'm sure everyone (myself included) does a lot of in the beginning.

Have some purpose to your shots and your framing, what is your start frame, what is your end frame, what is the shot size etc etc.

 

I hope you take this constructively as it is intended and again I can't overstate the importance of taking a workshop and reading the book or getting some time alongside an experienced operator.

 

Good luck.

 

Thanks,

 

I haven't done a workshop yet but I've read the first six sections of the steadicam handbook twice (from what I can see, these are the sections that are most important to start), and I've also read the SOA workbook.

 

This is definitely not a show reel. It's just a shot showing what I've done and where I'm screwing up a lot, and only meant for criticism. I am working on balancing as best I can. I know it was statically balanced before I started the shoot, but I think there were other circumstances making it difficult, including trouble getting my vest to remain completely in place. I am training with a near 4-second drop time.

 

I understand that steadicam is just a tool and that I have other artistic qualities to worry about as well. I'm working on improving in both areas.

[Matija Petrovic]

please take that video offline

 

this is one of the worst steadicam videos ever

[Adam Brown]

I'm learning and practicing as well, and by no means an expert, but I'd like to add one thing.

Are you using any kind of weight plates or cages, wireless follow focuses, rods, etc. to add weight to your rig? Just the 5D Mark II and a lens would likely be too light above your gimbal, making your rig too bottom heavy, and thus, more prone to that kind of wobble. Which, I believe, is the main reason why you're finding that you need to hold the rig more tightly than you should be... Based on my own experience, that's helped me to develop more control over the rig!

 

However, as others have said, that as a professional, no matter what level, the video does reflect on your abilities. If I were you, I would at least password-protect it, and use it as a reference, but publicizing it can only come back to bite you in the end.

 

Hopefully, that might help!