My Sh*& Don't Stink and Yours Doesn't Either. What's the best shot you've done and why?

[Dave Chameides]

Brian,

Awesome feedback.

 

Caitlyn,

One of the weird things that will happen, and you may not even notice it over time, is that you;ll start to read subtle body language and know what's coming long before it happens. It's weird how that happens, but it does. Also, the more you practice, the less you'll think about the rig and you in it and the more you'll put towards framing the shot so don't be hard on yourself at this point, just keep on shooting and the rest will follow. If most of us who have been around for a bit are any indication, you'll never really be completely happy with your operating anyway.

 

Good stuff and thanks again for sharing.

 

dave

[Caitlyn Timberlake]

I really appreciate the feedback Brian!

 

I built in some tilt to help with the headroom, looking back on it now I think I could have added a little bit more.

 

Dave, I wish that day would come sooner! I'm normally pretty good with anticipating body language in wide shots, but the tighter the shots get the more impossible it seems.

 

Back to line dances for me!

[Dave Chameides]

It will, it will, just keep on walking that line. I used to put slow music on and walk around making up "music videos" in my head. Hours and hours of slow moves stoping to hold lockoffs, pushing in to a closeup of a lamp, that kind of thing. The more time you get in the rig, the less you'll think about these things when you're on set and the more you can concentrate just on operating. Also, for the record, I'm not the only one out there who will admit that i still cut heads off from time to time, so don't beat yourself up too much.

[Ian Collishaw]

New guy here, have been operating for about one year now. Actually, the anniversary of my first hour of training is coming up in like four days.

 

Anyway: This was the first day I got to use my Bartech, ever. So it was my first legitimate, big boy Steadicam day. Running a Scarlet on my Scout with some LOMO OCT19's. The whole day was a 12 hour gauntlet of Steadicam, from some walking and talking, to filming a dog attack a guy (with proper protection of course) and even some softmount off the back of a truck.

 

It was actually the first job I got paid a legitimate sum of money, as well, and that was fantastic.

 

It was a music video, and it's not finished being edited, but there exists a teaser trailer for it:

 

http://vimeo.com/80660981

 

 

This next video, however, is probably the work I am most proud of. It was shot two weeks ago, took 2-3 hours of planning and 5 takes. This was the best take I personally did, unfortunately my AC did better on the takes where I didn't do so hot.

 

Thankfully, they chose the video that made me look good.

 

On the same Scarlet I used for that music video, actually.

 

http://vimeo.com/81372088

 

My horizon and headroom are the two biggest things I need to work on as far as I can tell, but I'd appreciate it if you guys showed me what else I'm bad at so I can correct.

 

This is a great thread idea, by the way. The last time I put something I did on here I pretty much got my ass torn apart. Wasn't great.

Edited December 11, 2013 by Ian Collishaw

[Dave Chameides]

Hey Ian,

Hope your ass has healed. Good stuff. Not much to say about the music video as its so chopped up but how much do you love that there is a teaser for a music video? Also, I'm pretty sure most of us have shot that same video early in our careers. With me it was with FM Rocks back in the day.

 

I like the short/opening shot. Really well done for one year in and you have a really cool way of controlling the rig in those mini quick pan/adjustments. That's a tough thing to do. Your horizons do need some work and the headroom was tough to judge because I didn't know what was a choose and what not but thought for the most part it worked except at the end as you were heading up to her on the platform (assuming it was a platform). My suspicion is that you re fighting the rig a bit and maybe overpowering the gimbal but hard to tell on that one. Is the rig sitting right on your body (meaning do you feel that you are being thrown/controlled by it as opposed to you controlling it)?

 

My suggestion in any case is to keep on doing what you are doing. For one year in this isn't bad. I spent a lot of time early on just standing around with the rig on and trying to control it with no hands, but just my body. Once that thing becomes an extension of your body than you just need to guide it a bit more to get it to do what you want to do. I like to think of it as the force (geeky I know but work with what ya got right). You want to have your energy flow through that thing as if it were an extension of you and then you just need to use your hands to coax it the rest of the way.

 

Hope that helps. Good stuff.

 

dave

[Ian Collishaw]

Oh, the reason why things got wonky when I walked toward her on the platform is because I had to duck so that my reflection wasn't shown in the mirror behind her.

 

That was... particularly stupid, I bet, haha.

 

as far as a teaser for a music video goes... yeah. That's pretty funny.

 

I really appreciate your advice and praise! Certainly helps my ass on its way to healing.

[Ian Collishaw]

Oh, by the way, all of your guys' stuff is awesome.

 

The 30 Rock Steadicam joke, I mean, come on! That was literally made for us.

[Dave Chameides]

Throw something up Ian! Agreed on the 30 Rock shot!

[Jarrett P. Morgan]

This thread has been a pleasure to read and watch as it has progressed. Wonderful work by all the ops who have posted thus far!

All I can think about though is the Outkast song. Awfully degrading given the context though...

[Dave Chameides]

Come on Jarrett, post something up? And what am I missing with the OUtkast song reference?

[Brian Freesh]

And what am I missing with the OUtkast song reference?

 

Chorus of "Roses", linked here with apologies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=I7pWhXv4ZVE#t=50

[Dave Chameides]

Ah, I'm an old fart. Didn't get that. So how about adding some footage to the soup?

[Jarrett P. Morgan]

Brian: "with appologies", haha

 

I didn't say it was a good reference, just one that keeps popping up in my mind.

 

 

I will when I have some time to look through it. I have a bunch of footage that is still under lock and key from productions that haven't been released yet.

[Ian Collishaw]

Brian: "with appologies", haha

 

I didn't say it was a good reference, just one that keeps popping up in my mind.

 

 

I will when I have some time to look through it. I have a bunch of footage that is still under lock and key from productions that haven't been released yet.

 

Glad to know this is going to be a constant issue my entire professional career.

 

Why is getting footage like pulling teeth? It's literally "push four or five buttons and wait" at this point. come on.

[Victor Lazaro]

That's why I have a recorder on board. I don't need them to send me the files, just give me permission. Plus it allows you to review what you shot to troubleshoot.