The ALIEN / Alien Revolution - All about...

[JakePollock]

david,

 

i'm glad to hear that someone from this side of the world has seen it. for a while i was imagining that it'd take another five years before the alien got to asia. buy it, man. i'm sure there are some hong kong filmmakers who would come up with some very interesting shots for you to pull off!

 

jake pollock

taipei, taiwan

[David Lee doplee]

Jake,

 

Are you a Chinese Ops? Your name does not sound like.

 

If Howard submit his creation on the AR to Oscar, he might able to wins an Achievement Award for Oscar of the year.

 

David

[David Lee doplee]

Hi Jake,

 

Are you a Chinese in Taiwan?:huh: But your name does not sound like it.

 

The AR look great, if there is a Job for it we can rent it from MK-V.

 

Howard should submit for a Oscar Award for Achievement of the year. :D

 

He might be the Winner for the year.

 

All the Best.

 

David :P

[JakePollock]

david,

 

you're absolutely right, my name isn't chinese. i'm an american living and working in taiwan. sorry, i've heard your name a few times here and some how assumed you were over in hong kong. how's the work in singapore?

 

but more importantly, when are you going to get and AR?!

 

jake pollock

taipei, taiwan

[WillArnot]

Hi all,

I am pretty sure the latest reviews of the East coast AR session got deleted in the cyber hack. As the AR v1.0 stands poised for the first delivery, I thought I would re-post this thread. I also wanted to pass on a couple of notes per my last discussion with Howard.

 

I think we all know the potential burden that a "proprietary" approach can mean. For non-English speakers or those new to the evolution of Steadicam, I will use Sony as an example in an attempt to not open a can of worms here. If you buy a Sony camcorder, then you can only use the special Sony Info-Lithium batteries.

 

My point is that I feel this issue is very important to the introduction of the AR. Howard does too. And to his credit, he is making awesome developments in the first run of AR units to make them as compatible as possible with other sleds. This is very wise but also a testament to Howard's generous nature, and his willingness to listen to the opinion and needs of those who will be using his gear.

 

It would be very easy to make the AR solely reliant upon the MK-V Nexus sled. It would certainly save Howard alot of time and money!! Instead he has gone to great lengths to make it easier to adapt the AR as much as possible to other sleds, to make it hopefully more of a "plug & play" device. This will benefit us all ultimately. In the short term it means we just have to be a little bit more patient. I am going to be very frustrating here and not say alot more on specifics. Howard is very approachable and reachable, so simply contact him personally for further details.

 

Having said that, bear in mind that Steadicams until now have always been designed to predominantly either hang the camera (low mode) or support it underneath (normal high mode). With the AR, the mass is now being manipulated through a full circle and is designed to operate the camera at any point along that circle. Therefore Gimbal and Post strength, and top stage rigidity are absolutely critical. This cannot be over-emphasized. There are also considerable power requirements for the AR in addition to your standard list of focus, camera, monitor etc. Weight and balance obviously take on a whole new dynamic therefore. ie. how much power needed vs. weight. You will almost certainly need a lightweight LCD monitor like the 7" Panasonic, since it also has to rotate as you manipulate the sled/AR. The means to do this are obviously a big part of what the AR involves.

 

The "plug and play" aspect means electronics and sensors have to be added to the sled. So the ability to EASILY add peripherals to the sled without incurring alot of weight with bracketry etc and without altering the footprint too much or making vast modifications, is going to make using the AR quicker and simpler. Howard has done a great job of keeping the weight of the electronics and sensors to an absolute minimum. We're talking ounces here.

 

In my own humble opinion I think the sled compatibility list goes something like this:

1. Nexus MK-V - (designed bottom up for the AR)

2. XCS Ultimate - rigid as hell, huge power capacity

3. PRO 2 - there are just so many out there, silly not to make it compatible, 3 battery plates

4. Tiffen - very tricky, maybe possible. Sled configurability for AR needs? Rigidity? Power limitations?

Tiffen are obviously world-wide too, but hey, they get to be the only ones with that cool tilt head.

 

Beyond all this "talk", the real-world scenarios still wait to be realized. Before this year is out, the first reports will be in. This is nothing to fear or criticize. It is virgin territory and should be treated with due respect. I think Chad, Jamie and Larry's comments here are well worth a re-read.

 

Here is the re-post on the East coast demo.

 

It is not a myth!! The Alien Revolution Exists. It works extremely Well. IT is HERE!!

Myself, Sandy Hayes, Alec Jarnagin, and Brant Fagan, can all attest to the ground-breaking work Howard has diligently and enthusiastically exhibited with his V1 of the Alien Revolution.

 

My hat goes off to Howard and Lynn. Along their seperate paths, and different approaches, The AR has arrived at the next frontier of Steadicam. Yes... it goes from hi mode to low mode in the same shot, and is operatable at any height in between.

 

It will require years of prior Steadicam experience to approach and understand how best to apply and execute the possibilities that this new technology offers. Beyond the absolutely necessary mechanical operating abilities, it will require great experience in politics & etiquette to introduce this kind of technology to an industry that thinks it has seen all the toys already.

 

As the pioneers emerge, it will be critical to stand firm on what the AR can do and what it can't do(not much!). There will be great responsibility in teaching the industry of the financial worth and creative opportunities the AR offers, and how best to utilize this. Having real operating experience beforehand will be the only way to AR success in today's industry. Under pressure, a cool head will be paramount to the smooth integration of the fantastic abilities the AR offers.

 

It will happily accomodate several cameras including the Arricam LT, ST, Arri 435, 235, 16SR's, Panavision XL, LWll, Moviecam SL, Aaton, and HD. But there is certainly a little more to achieving optimum performance depending on the camera body, due to the fact that the camera must be mounted and balanced on a nodal point (like a 3-axis head).

 

I can just hear the retorts bristling to the 2 Paragraphs above. CHILL. You have to see it to understand. Don't be a weenie and whine about invites, or take any of this personally. If you are serious, lo & behold, Howard does use a telephone, call him. He is a real gentleman. Guys have already flown out from the West coast to visit him here, ... and bought it immediately, b/c they weren't able to catch up w/ Howard when he was on the West coast.

 

Yes it is that impressive.

I can assure you it is absolutely worth it to get with Howard personally for a demo.

 

Will Arnot

[Howard J Smith]

Hi Will

 

Hope your well.

 

Thank you for your post - and also thank you Eric for your post.

 

Just to clarify on the compatibility issue, as Will stated in his excellent posting - the post, Gimbal and topstage are critical to the performace of the AR. Hence the new Nexus and V2" systems.

 

1. Nexus MK-V - (designed bottom up for the AR) - Also the Evolution base - Older MK-V's fine, but they will need the V2" Gimbal.

 

2. XCS Ultimate - rigid as hell, huge power capacity - We are testing this, poss need V2" Gimbal for mid mode work.

 

3. PRO 2 - there are just so many out there, silly not to make it compatible, 3 battery plates - This needs the new 2" post and V2" Gimbal.

 

4. Tiffen - very tricky, maybe possible. Sled configurability for AR needs? Rigidity? Power limitations?

Tiffen are obviously world-wide too, but hey, they get to be the only ones with that cool tilt head. - This is also correct at present there are no Tiffen systems that will work with the AR. - we are looking at this.

 

I hope this helps

All the best

Howard J Smith MK-V

[ChadPersons]

Hey Howard,

 

I can't wait. I really wish I had my AR this week. We're shooting a good portion of the current episode inside Air Force One. We have been alternating between high and low mode consistently throughout the last couple of days and with most of the plane pre-lit my assistants and I had to be a pit crew to keep up with the change overs. Beyond the convenience of not having to change over there was, in my mind, the most possibility yet to create shots that only the AR could do. I would have liked to have done a shot with the camera skimming over the tops of the headrests or cruising low through the rows of reclined seats to an isle way and then rise up into a walk and talk. I would have liked having had the ability to choose which wall of a narrow corridor I could skim the camera along without going goofy-foot or Don Juan. Most of all I would have liked having had the ability to pull the post into more comfortable positions during lock-offs given many of the cramped places you find yourself in inside an airplane.

 

Anyway, I am very excited and very eager to get my AR working. And when I get mine the invitation is still open to any operator in the LA area to swing by and give it a try.

 

All the Best,

 

Chad Persons

 

PS "The Revolution" sounds cool to me and is easier to say so thats what I've been calling it. "The Alien Revolution" is kind of a mouth full to me. Maybe I'm wrong and I certainly mean no offense, just a very minor thing to consider if up for consideration at all.

[WillArnot]

I hear you Chad on the mouthful thing, but I have to agree with Eric here.

 

Someone who sinks 12 years of R & D with their own time and money, as Lynn has done to develop the Alien, and who holds the US patent, certainly deserves a tip of the hat in the name, and his due royalties. The double-barrel name is also a testament to the agreement that Lynn and Howard have come to between each other, in addition to the information that Lynn freely shares with Howard based on his priceless years of research.

 

Chad, Airplanes, perfect application. Cruising over the seats. No more overhead dollies. The grips are gonna love us. It's gonna be so cool finding out the real-world applications. You've brought up a scary point tho in the simple fact that production won't have to wait for that switch to lo-mode anymore. Normally this can be a much needed 5 min break out of the rig, or at least a reason to plan shots rationally and keep them vaguely honest to a shotlist (!).

 

Sadly such planning seems to be more scarce these days and I hope the AR doesn't become a crutch for not having to plan out things more carefully. It will be important to make clear the difference the AR brings with it as a means of leveraging a new & better pay structure, but also the value of still needing to plan things out. We have to keep the production honest to the fact that this will certainly save time (once the proper discussions and plans have taken place) but that there is a price for what we bring with the AR and how we use it. Remember, this is virgin territory, we will be responsible for setting the new standard.

 

Especially physically, the way you have to manipulate and invert the sled out in front of the body, and the added weight will add up to gruelling days even doing simple shots. Also just having the AR built correctly will incur more prep time and therefore make it harder to convince them to let you go back to regular Steadicam mode if desired. The best would seem to be to have two rigs ready to go. One AR one regular. This should'nt be seen as excessive. It should be part of why the AR is going to be worth it and therefore cost more. I think it will be alot more of creating some of the stigma of the original steadicam days where it was made very clear just how difficult and demanding this job really is. We get hired to make it look easy! Don't forget that.

 

This isn't directed at you Chad, I'm just thinking out loud. We definately all have those days when it is just hi-lo, hi-lo, hi-lo all day, and what a royal pain in the arse that is!! Let's hope this baby comes out of the box wearing a little cape, rearing to go!

 

Anticipating the arrival.

 

Will

[Howard J Smith]

Hi Will/Chad/Eric

 

Thank you for your posts and info.

 

I find the term "AR" works best, nice and simple

:D

See you soon

 

Howard J Smith MK-V

[ChadPersons]

Okay, Okay... "AR" it is.

 

Just finished another day in Air Force One. Had to go down a corridor through a door to get into the Presidents cabin and then go around his desk finishing in a catchers stance at desk level for the rest of the scene. Holding that stance was brutal compared to how comfortable I could have been with the AR. Plus I could have gone right over the desk instead of around it. I can't wait...

 

Chad Persons

[David Allen Grove]

Okay, Okay... "AR" it is. 

 

Just finished another day in Air Force One.  Had to go down a corridor through a door to get into the Presidents cabin and then go around his desk finishing in a catchers stance at desk level for the rest of the scene.  Holding that stance was brutal compared to how comfortable I could have been with the AR.  Plus I could have gone right over the desk instead of around it.  I can't wait...

 

Chad Persons

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

I like "AR" It sounds like something a pirate would say. HA!

 

 

Anyway... Chad, what vest do you own? Were you squating? Just curious.

[guillermo nespolo]

"ar"=alien revolition

"ar"=argentinian ? :P :P

[ChadPersons]

Hey David,

 

I use a Pro vest and yes I was squating. I find it easier to squat into a catchers stance or go to one knee to get low instead of having an apple box floated in.

 

Chad

[David Allen Grove]

Hi Chad,

 

For some reason I thought you had a BM vest. Will you need one for the AR when you finally receive it?

 

I JUST ordered the Traditional Deluxe yesterday and will be picking it up sometime during the first week of November. I'm really excited about it. I love my master vest but the last few Jobs I've had, the camera set ups were extremely heavy... Hawk anamorphics w/Ring Light - ug, forget about it!

 

I'm looking forward to doing more with the back mounted vest. It was just time to upgrade.

 

So I'm seriously considering selling my FM Master vest. Look under "For Sale" on my web site.

 

Although, I might keep it to use for running shots. hmm. We'll see.

[Howard J Smith]

Hi Guys

 

Yes Walters excellent backmounted vests certainly help a lot with the AR.

I would go so far to say that the Backmounted vests are also essential for comfortable shooting with the AR. (see Wills post about long shooting days)

 

David you will find a huge leap in comfort (you may ache after your first day - diffent mussels) and also in the control of you sled - the subtlety of control now is second to none.

 

See you all soon

All the best

 

Howard