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Live Operating holding position for quite some time -> legs go numb


Frederic Sturm

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In live TV we all get those kind of shots. Beeing a Steadicam pedestal is a terrible waste of our abilities and energy.

 

It´s essential to talk to production BEFORE the first show. Or when the first call for "hold it" comes... If you sense at the briefing that you will be holding frames on standby for long periods without breaks - tell them that the Steadicam does not do that. The producer can always find another camera or a way around. Remember to tell and show that you can go from docking to a standby locked off frame in 5 seconds, they just need to cue you.

 

- Mikael

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Another thought.

 

I once had to do a 60 second Don Juan shot followed by a 59 minute lock-off. We were shooting 30 minute BetaCam SP loads.

QUITE painful, but there was not way around it. I'd tracked President Clinton and Leonardo DiCaprio along the flagstone path past the Rose Garden, turned and walked along the covered walkway outside of the West Wing of the White House and then boomed down and locked as they sat in white wrought iron chairs just outside of the French doors leading into the Oval Office.

 

Both single shot cameras were in place and waiting for me to walk them in. There was no stopping to remove the camera and set it onto sticks, the conversation was not allowed to be interrupted.

 

What I did to make that long time bearable is shift radically in my posture. Once a question was asked and the answer was being delivered in earnest, I knew the wide two-shot would likely not be cut to a lot. I took the opportunity go to from Missionary to wrong-sided Missionary. The sled on the same side of my body as the arm socket block.

 

Then I'd quickly turn around into Don Juan and stand that way for a while. All to try to control the cramping that was creeping up on me. If you are in this kind of situation, at the very least make sure you're remarkably GOOD at locking off in Don Juan ( something everyone should be good at anyway..... sorry, Charles. :P ). It absolutely helped make the day for me.

 

It was unpleasant but unavoidable and they got their clean lock-offs from me.

 

Used: Master Series Elite sled, MS arm, Model I vest.

 

Best to all,

 

Peter Abraham, S.O.C.

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