Working corners and Lines

[Daniel sandland]

Hey guys!

I spend my current days at a movie set and ran into some obstacles today!

 

First shot was a walk & talk frontal from an office, out in a hallway though a cornered door and into a bar.. I ran into some trouble in the doorway given the space.

My best bet was to give them a littlebit too much space though the two angled doors and have them catch up as we got past them ..

If I stayed to keep the current frame they would Get in too close as we passed, any tricks here?

 

 

This shot was originaly ment for a Dolly but I had to cover it.

We followed the bar counter with alot off mess on it and ended up on a character entering a bigger frame at the end of the counter.

Challenge here was speed past bottles and glasses, and all the lines in the bar.. I've done "walking the line" exercises in advance, but keeping the bar perfectly framed white tracking w/o any bob what so ever, it wasnt alot but there was some..

Any Expert tips on how I can turn my ass to more of a Dolly? =P

 

 

About me as a operator; done steadicam for 6 years now, mostly tv but more film as of late, 24 years old and unfortunatly not been abled to attend a workshop, but had 3 days with one of our veteran operators as I started..

Also been back to train with him later on to watch for bad habits evolving to the worse..

(Getting a workshop soon, just, been too much work the last 3-4 years)

 

Usually fly a master but currently working on a archer with a g-50 arm camera is an arri.. So i know the g-50 is pushed a bit..

[Daniel sandland]

framed white tracking

While tracking..

 

Writing on ipad is suprisingly hard =P

Edited February 27, 2013 by Daniel sandland

[Philip J. Martinez SOC]

Hi Daniel,

I don’t fully understand the situation you are describing
with the door. When I have to make it through narrow spaces like doorways I

fly the rig centered on my body for that spot in the move. It is not the best
form but it helps to keep the camera centered for framing and there is less of
a chance to bump the sled on a wall.

I liked to keep G-series arms tuned a little low, meaning I
like to keep both arm sections just below level. I’m not sure if that is the
“text book” way to tune the arm but it worked for me on slow moves.

Footwork is a big deal on slow stuff too. If you are
stopping for a moment on each step you will see it. You have to constantly be
in motion.

 

 

[Daniel sandland]

I did some test runns later on that day where it hit me with the most obvious fact that, smaller steps and a better positure would probablu help ofcourse =P

and as you say, continuous movement. =]

 

 

The hallway was like this -----|_

 

The ---- being the hallway and |_ being door nr 1 and 2, they were very tightly placed so I had some trouble following it.. =]

[Dustin Heindl]

I assume you were walked backwards for the tracking? I have someone tap me when the doorway is coming up and then I hold the sled more in front of myself for a brief moment like Phil said. I only shoot backwards if I have to lead quickly.

 

and yes, tracking slow can be hard. You get that "bob". But yes as he said, move slowly with small steps is the better way I've found around it too.

 

I'm going to take that advice on tuning it just below level and see the difference. What do you keep your "ride" at? Pretty low?

 

G-50x arm here