Do you use a Steadicam Assistant?

[Justin R Goff]

Quite an old post I see. It isn't too uncommon for ops to pull their on focus on some productions, where others they would most definitely have a focus puller. If you're gunna be doing some fast moves, or running around corners, I would try to grab a spotter

[Juan M.Ramos SOC]

Wow 1st AC's get a bump for dealing with complicated kit? Nice...

 

I think this is a really interesting question but really I would not consider a Spotter (Grip) or Focus puller (1st AC) as a Steadicam assistant. I define a steadicam assistant as:

 

Someone that comes in and catches your rig (some grips moan about that but almost all will do it if they need to)

Knows how to set up your wireless video link

Humps your flight cases and magliner

Finds out the costume and make-up girls name and finds out if they are single

 

I think someone like James Puli that actually knows how to set up your rig properly and balance it would be defined as a super-assistant. I know the Mumbai guys all have super-assistants. They don't even balance their sleds; they just mooch in, do the shot and go and chill.

 

There is also some Steadicam ops that recommend and get such regular 1st AC's, their focus pullers know their sleds backwards. These guys often give their focus pullers their first opportunities at operating Steadicam.

 

I go through phases of if I see a good runner I bump them to Steadicam assist for that day and steal them from their menial production walkie talkie jobs and I'll try take them onto the more grueling jobs that come up. They make other contacts in the camera department and start getting work as a trainee or video village and I move on. I wouldn't pay a Steadicam assistant any more than a runners rate and I expect them to meet people, move on and find better work.

 

Often I prefer to work alone and just have the DoP s choice of 1st AC and the grip spotting me.

 

Thomas... YOU´RE ON THE WAY!. You have reason-

 

This is all I need about my assistant.

In my professional life, I ever had long time assistants. Mr. David "The Viking" for 7 years,Mr. Nacho "Granaino" for 5 years,Mr. Luis "smiling-boy" for 2 years..

And THEY ARE ON THE CAMERA CREW, WITH ITS CREDITS AT IMDb and the scroll film.

I can´t understand my friend Juan Ramos SOC in his post. May be, or perhaps we are living in different countries.

All my assistants are ready to transport, balance, doing focus puller, assist my back, take care about me, drive when I´m tired bring me a water bottle... All I, or we needs to be confortable and enjoy on set ...

My assistant it is not only this... Is the man whom I travel, work, is my partner in the car, is partner with all problems with clients, producers,... He is a guild.

Of course, I´m the op. and his boss and sometimes can be discussions, but all my assistants was for long time with me (they grow up and goes to camera op or... Time to fly away).

It´s my way.

Best for all

 

Amando,we are saying the same,I always have an assistant......but he is coming with me,no with the camera crew.

[Juan M.Ramos SOC]

Sorry but we live in The same country but in different markets....

[Jessica Lopez]

all my focus pullers could set up and dynamically balance a rig because they were shown how and they were interested.

 

i'd assume this would be the steadi assistant's main concern, in addition to pulling remote focus. my plan is to join the union this year (as an assistant) and find a steadi operator to attach myself to while i learn to fly in my off-time.

 

iain

 

Hello Iain,

 

It comes down to the operator's preference whether or not they need to bring their own assistants. Since my business partner and I are working our way up the ladder we have decided that it is more convenient and efficient to assist each other on jobs. That way we can always guarantee Steadi is always ready, safety is secure, and we have the support needed. Since my business partner is another Steadicam Operator I know she will always protect the equipment, scout the layout of location's safety risks, prep the rig, spot me, keep the water coming, force me out of rig when I'm in it too long, suggest certain moves, and pull focus if needed too.

 

Now there are sometimes when we are both working and will require us to call on other people to assist if needed. We keep in contact with a few 1st AC's that know how to work with a Steadicam. My first AC that I work with a lot is very camera savvy. He is a DIT and AC. He is a human massive camera manual. He can navigate the camera menus and settings fast and is very important when time is running out. He can set up focus, make his marks quickly, and pull great focus. When I am getting tired he bears the weight on his leg if no time to dock. One day while pulling focus he saved me from loosing my balance on some stairs. He knows a lot about the Stabilizers and how they balance. He has even tried a few on to see what it's like.

 

I suggest making friends with other ops. Volunteer some time and assist. Attend events where you can try on a rig and ask questions about their features. Take a workshop. Try to work with different remote follow focus devices. Learn as many cameras as you can. Know where in the menus you can flip and mirror the image, frame rates, quality, etc... Learn what functions of the cameras will benefit Steadicam.

[RonBaldwin]

I think we should all pull our own focus, self-spot and undercut as much as we can.

[Fabrizio Sciarra SOC ACO]

I think we should all pull our own focus, self-spot and undercut as much as we can.

 

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