Super slow walking

[Brian Freesh]

so what you're saying is that the sled is not moving at a constant speed? Forgetting your feet for a moment, and focusing on the effect: The sled speeds up, slows down, speeds up, slows down, etc...

 

Is that correct?

 

If so, In my not-at-all expert opinion, you might need to worry more about what you are doing with your arms, specifically your boom arm. It may be that YOU are speeding up and slowing down, which is translating because your arm is not allowing the rig to breathe in and out in compensation. Or it may be that you are trying to compensate too much for any of your own speed changes. If it's you that is changing speeds, your steps may be too big, try smaller ones to even out your pace and keep the rig close to you.

 

If you continue to struggle, try recording yourself doing the move to see what's going on.

 

Let the expert opinions commence...

[Paul Kellett]

Hi Brian, yes that's right, the sled is not moving at a constant speed, i'm not moving at a constant speed, due to me shifting weight from one foot to the other when walking, i think i need to relax my boom arm and smooth my steps.

I'll be practicing some more in a few days, i will cure this problem.

 

Thanks, Paul.

[Peter Abraham]

Paul

Thank you for the clarification on the issues you're facing. I'd say tiny steps. Isolated steps one at a time are mercilessly difficult. Smaller steps in a rhythm may pay off for you.

 

Best,

Peter Abraham

[Mike Germond SOC]

I must say, some of the advice in this thread has helped me a lot..

 

Some of the more "newsy" shows I do for the Golf Channel use me as a dolly on all the wide shots. Every day it seems like the director wants "slower, no even slower, really slow but keep steady". Granted, I'm using a Flyer LE for a job that really calls for a Clipper at the least. Tuning down the arm a little helps to mask the steps, but lifting slightly with my boom hand has helped. After all, Steadicam is all about moving the lens, moving your body just happens to be a necessary part of that. Watching back some of my shots on my 47" HDTV reveals an improvement in horizon movement. At times it looks almost mechanical!

 

 

It's probably all for nothing though, because I'm the only one that notices these little imperfections. All I know is once Peter gets those demo Clipper and Ultra2 units down here to Orlando, my life is going to get a LOT easier!

[Norbert von der Heidt]

(the "foot-tucking" was the technique common to the operators who could "slow walk" well).

 

I challenge anyone to repeat "Foot-Tucking" five times, as quickly as possible and not get the giggles! Sorry, it just sort of tickled my sense of humour when I read it.

[Paul Kellett]

I just tried saying it, what's a toot ?

Seriously though, today is slow practice day today for me for a few hours, so i taken all this advice onboard.

Thanks guys.

 

Paul.

[Simon Wyndham]

There is always a great tendency to hustle around when practicing because it seems more fun and Steadicammy to go hurling through doors and whip the camera around, but the the more time you practice holds and slow moving stuff, the easier it is to do the faster stuff (because your body will have internalized the balance that is required).

 

Just got to say that that comment turns Steadicam almost into a martial art ;) It is amazing the parallels between them in terms of being able to hold body posture and structure while in movement. I always had problems with foot transition. Does it help to visualise the feet "pulling" the body along, replacing one another like tank tracks (only way I can think to describe it), as opposed to putting the foot down then the body just passing over the foot naturally to go forward?

[Lukas Franz]

Dear slow walkers!

 

I agree that walking very slow is the most challenging art of moving a steadicam. But for me it is requested a lot, and I mean a lot. I've done so many shots which had to be super slow. The exciting side effect of those shots is that they usually become back-breaking long takes. Endless dialogues or monologues of actors and one single take. Oh, I've done so many of them, believe me.

 

My advice to a successful shot is very simple but essential: CHECK YOUR VEST SETUP!

Most of you have the same setup all the time and it's perfect as soon as you've locked your vest on your body and docked the rig. It flies properly. Everyone of you knows how to check that while standing still. But how many of you check that when you walked a little and stop then. Does your rig keep its position? I know, it sounds very basic but believe when you walk slow it has so much influence to your shot.

 

So, check it next time you're practising your super slow walk. It's very easy to just release the rig while you're walking slow.

If you see that your rig is flying away or towards you, correct it. Otherwise you're forcing your gimbal hand to pull or push the sled what definitely ends up in a bad shot.

 

Best.

Lukas

[Anthony Quesada]

Hey guys,

Thanks so much for all of the amazing advice. I feel so fortunate to have so many helpful operators sharing their experience and expertise. I have attempted to find the answer to this question in the search functions so I really hope this isn't a repeat question: Like many other new operators Im practicing all of the drills that Jerry as well as others have suggested, and as I feel more confident I zoom further and further in. What is the typical upper end of lenses that an operator should be comfortable operating with say for super slow walking or for other typical steadicam moves? I saw a thread on "whats the longest lens" but in more typical operating conditions what should I be prepared to shoot with on a day to day basis. Im trying to evaluate my progress and practice under realistic situations.

 

Thanks again everyone. I really look forward to meeting you in the future,

 

Anthony

[Matteo Quagliano]

Paul I think you've set your the sled too far away from your body and you're not letting the arm do its work properly, seems like the arm is doing good on isolating but your pushing away the sled with every steps you make. It might sound a very stupid question but did you check your threads without touching the rig?

 

maqu

Edited February 15, 2010 by Matteo Quagliano

[Paul Kellett]

Hi Matteo.

With me stood still the sled stays by my side in the correct operating position, when i walk slow in a side tracking shot it flies away from me slightly.

When i shoot missionary walking forward the sled flies very slightly away, i can walk and shoot no hands without the sled flying away by using my hips.

Since i first posted about the slow walking problem i've spent quite a bit of time experimenting with my vest fitment, my slow walking is now better, so my problem was probably vest fitment and obviously with all this experimenting i've been doing more practice, expecially foot work with the slow stuff.

 

Thanks, Paul.

[Sam Morgan Moore]

Hey I know Im only a newb operator - what do people think of this..

 

 

S

[Lukas Franz]

Hey I know Im only a newb operator - what do people think of this..

 

 

S

 

 

Interesting, Sam. Although it's not shot on a steadicam. Honestly it looks pretty nice.

[Mike Germond SOC]

While we're on the topic, I'd also like some feedback. This is on the demo Ultra2 and I've taken into account a lot of the advice here:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMZxzUqUd34

 

And this is the same show with the Flyer LE, which makes for a LOT more work:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfgCZFRtOqs

 

 

I apologize in advance that I can't find anything but Tiger footage, but that seems to be all they care about on youtube..

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

While we're on the topic, I'd also like some feedback. This is on the demo Ultra2 and I've taken into account a lot of the advice here:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMZxzUqUd34

 

And this is the same show with the Flyer LE, which makes for a LOT more work:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfgCZFRtOqs

 

 

Honestly neither of those two shots are a a "LOT" of work, more like a tedious shot that is better done with a robotic camera

 

and yeah you can see ever single step in both of those clips