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Renting Alexa, Basic Steadicam Accessories


Ron Smith

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I prepped an Alexa at Arri CSC recently, and talked to them about what kind of package they'd be giving a camera that's going on a Steadicam. They have the low mode top plate, which screws on in place of the top handle, and they also have a "high mode plate" (which they were out of the day I was in), which bolts on to the bottom and holds the tail end of the Alexa in place, very similar to the Anti-Vibration plate above.

 

They did note that when I'm going to be working on a job, I should ask the producers (or better yet, ask myself) for those pieces to be included, as they're not standard parts to be sent out, unless the producer/PM mentions that they're going to be doing Steadicam (and gets a rental tech that's familiar enough with the gear to know that the Steadi op would need those). It's better in this case to assume nothing is included, than to show up on set and have to fly a bridgeplate and who knows what else.

 

I do wonder if Ron isn't coming at this from a camera house perspective, however, since according to his profile, he doesn't own a rig. In that case, I'd absolutely want to see the Arri low mode plate, and I think one of the Alexa Anti-Vibration plates would be great to have in inventory, for any ops who don't own their own. If the camera's configured for a Sony QR base, I'd love to see one of the Sony QR Steadicam dovetails (like this one), but wouldn't expect it. At the bare minimum, you should be offering the Arri BPA bridge plate adaptor, which can do for mounting the camera to a rig in a pinch.

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as well as a wireless video.

But these might not be useful for most seadicam ops as they should have their own.

 

Why is that? why should we have our own? the reality of the situation is that I shouldn't have to own a follow focus either

 

And yet we already do. It's a strange situation.

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BPA 1 -- way too many jobs when this has not been included. 15mm iris rods -- stubbies; Again 3 jobs that didn't have them (prepped out of Pana). Also, for Pana Primo lenses I always request a hot swap plate just so that I can put the focal plane closer to the centre of my post.

 

I have bought my own BPA (CinematicPrecision.com) and have my own 15mm rods because I have come so riculously close to having my arse handed to me in the past.

 

An Alexa Steadicam plate (again, CinematicPrecision) should be a part of your standard kit.

 

And yet we already do. It's a strange situation.

 

I don't, and I won't for a good while longer

 

This is the part of my "required" kit that pisses me off the most. And it's about $30k. I want to start asking my 1st AC's to bring a PRO arm with 4 black and 4 blue cylinders and -- while they're at it -- 8 AB HC's with dual quad-chargers and book me a room for three nights at the nearest 5 star, drinks for me and my chick (single serving chick each night, please) included. Sounds about like an even trade.

 

Everytime an AC gives me the, "I hope you have a FIZ THREEEEE" bollocks, I want to drop kick them into a pit of ultra-low-budget producers that want them to work for meal/credit.

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I didn't know that Cinematic Precision sold Bridge Plate Adapters as well. Do you have a link?

 

http://www.arri.com/camera/pro_camera_accessories/support_systems/bridge_plates_bp_12_and_bp_13.html

Should this be a sufficient replacement to the BPA-1? I think that this is just an updated version of the BPA-1, to allow the use of the Alexa shoulder pad.

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