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About the Paris workshop...


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I gave a call today to the guys over at Tiffen in Paris about their workshop. I was all excited and all about attending this class BUT... When I learned that it was more like a presentation of the Tiffen gear, and that I couldn't bring my own gear I really started to wonder why I should spend 2500 euros (about $3,000) just to watch and try gear I can't afford/use or have no interest into.

From what I read on the board, it seems like the US workshops are a lot more user oriented, where everyone brings its own gear which seems to make a lot of sense to me : I want to become proficient with my own gear, not Tiffen's !!!

No wonder why it's not sold out at all ! The guys over here have it all wrong, it seems...

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As far as I know, both the Maine and Pennsylvania workshops provide the equipment - or should I say, Tiffen provides the equipment to the workshops. I don't know if you are required to use theirs if you have your own, but I'd guess most people taking the workshops are not yet owners.

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Hello,

 

I've sponsered several Steadicam workshops in the U.S. Our policy, not necessarily Tiffen's, is that these are Steadicam workshops not Glidecam, Basson, MkV, or anyone else's workshops.

 

Think about the support, booking, shipping, and everything else any manufacturer provides for such an event. The workshops I've been involved with and the instructors I've worked with all agree that the idea of a workshop isn't for the sponsors, the manufacturers, or anyone else to get rich. The idea is to train operators. I think it's one of those what comes around goes around karma type things.

 

The skills you learn can be used with any rig. I know we've trained a bunch of Glidecam operators at our Steadicam workshops in the past, they used the Steadicam rigs we provided, or their own Steadicams, and after they went home they used their Glidecams. Never a complaint.

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If you can make it over to the uk i'm sure MK-V or Optex could offer you some great training for a much better price. I have taken the optex workshop at the bbc and thought it was a perfect introduction and quick start guide. Making sure i didn't pic up any bad habits or misconceptions has been realy benificial to me in my operating today.

 

Cheers

matthew burton

Planet-mu.com

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I run the SOA workshops in PA. We are a Tiffen sponsored workshop. It has nothing to do with "Tiffen showing off their gear." It has everything to do with what's best for the students involved. Not everyone who takes the workshops have their own gear. The SOA can't be responsible for a student using another students gear. Would you feel comfortable with a brand new op running around with your 70 grand strapped to them???? Tiffen provides demo rigs for the workshops and some instructors provide the others. The SOA's insurance covers these rigs only. We encourage students to bring their own vests, whatever make it is, as long as it works with the arms we provide. You should be thankful that Tiffen provides these rigs to teach you a craft. I think you are forgetting what a logistical nightmare it would be for all involved if you brought your own rig. By the way even though we are a Tiffen sponsored workshop we educate all involved about all their choices once they leave the workshop.

 

jay kilroy

VP, SOA

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" It has everything to do with what's best for the students involved. Not everyone who takes the workshops have their own gear. "

Hi All

If you are looking at doing a workshop Please consider Australia down under Myself , Phil Balsdon and operators teach at Melbourne University great place for a holiday as well .

I would like to thank Tiffen (cp) for createing these workshops With out there support (and yes the sale of there rigs ) : I would not be operating today (I fly a pro )

Louis Puli

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magnum

 

The Paris workshop is intended as an advanced workshop so will be quite different to the optex course, hence why I am considering it.

 

I suspect howard is now concentrating on his AR training but he does also offer advanced training days.

 

In paris, I think you ll want to use their kit.... for the simple reason that you can learn how the others live. the little mods u could later make to your rig. Take your rig and keep it in the car... im sure you ll end up playing with it on one of the days. Trying and playing with different rigs all the time I feel is very important. There are often circumstances where you need to hop into some elses rig at short notice.

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Here's where the money went on the PA workshop I attended: eight instructors for sixteen students + Garrett in attendance; three great meals a day to keep you going; and a network of contacts for support.

 

Of course there's only one type of rig. How could you learn anything changing rigs every half hour?

 

If you learn well, you'll earn it all back in a couple of day's work.

 

Chris

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Hey All

 

At the last Melbourne workshop (in Jan this year) we had 9 students. With 3 rigs, and 3 instructors, and myself as an Instructors Assistant / Support Person. We had a Master Series Film, Masters Elite and a Pro 2 with the lot.

 

Every year we have had extremly different rigs. Year 1 we had 2 x 3a's a Provid, and a Pro 2. And another year we had a Masters Film, Pro 2 and a Glidecam Gold.

And we have always kept the 1-3 ratio of rigs and instructors, because as we all know we learn almost as much from operating rigs as from watching how others operate and hearing their feedback from instructors as well.

 

We found that the students came out of the workshop with a great knowolodge of pretty much all the sorts of rigs that are available out there. Because we are so far away from the USA, and with the limited amount of gear available here (getting better now) we wanted to expose students to all sorts of different equipment and as was said in a previous post a large support group within and outside Australia. Alot of the time we cant afford to fly 12000 miles to LA to check out the new rigs etc. So we try to bring them to the workshop.

 

Every year we have run the course at least 2 people have gone out and actually purchased rigs. One year we had I think 5 people get rigs. Which have ranged from Masters, Ultras, to Glidecam Golds and others.

 

Hope this gives you an idea about where we are coming from.

 

JP

Melbourne Australia

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