Jump to content

Preparing to attend a workshop


Brenton Lee

Recommended Posts

So I'm doing a workshop in April next year and being that I haven't operated a steadicam before, I feel like I'll probably be the class handbrake and was wondering if there's anything I can do so I know as much as possible before the workshop starts?

Any particularly good things to check out, habits to form, books or films to study? Any advice from people who did one and wish they'd have known something before they'd done it etc?

I'm already 30, have done a bit of camera operation on student and short films but feel like I'm a bit behind everyone else in this day and age so I like to prep as much as I can ...

 

Thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Members

Brenton,

 

It won't be as meaningful without a Steadicam rig to try out, but the Steadicam EFP training video will give you a good look at what to expect from flying a Steadicam. Also, there are useful, time-tested training exercises and pointers that I keep going back to again and again.

 

http://www.tiffen.com/steadicam_efp_dvd.html

And, available elsewhere.

 

Welcome, and Good Luck!

 

Regards,

Scott

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Members

Watch some of the videos that Chris Fawcett has posted. He breaks down some concepts in a technical yet simple manner. He often instructs at the workshops.

the majority of attendees have never used steadicam before, so dont worry.

youre taking a good step towards your steadi future!

 

brett.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I went through the same thoughts before going to my steadicam class as i hadn't done ANYthing with a steadicam before.

 

Honestly the classes are extremely useful if you are thinking about getting in to it as you can try the big rigs out and get a feel for them. Don't worry about the nerves they will disappear within minutes. go enjoy it!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey Brenton are you located in L.A.? Maybe you can come hang out on set with me I'll let you put the rig on so you can get a feel for it. The book and the videos that were mentioned are excellent place to start.

 

 

Robert

 

Hey man! I'd love the chance to check out how it's done. I live in Australia but fiancée lives in Portland, OR so I'm literally transiting through LA 20 times a year. I can easily put aside a day to come check it out, I'll send you a PM, thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey Brenton are you located in L.A.? Maybe you can come hang out on set with me I'll let you put the rig on so you can get a feel for it. The book and the videos that were mentioned are excellent place to start.

 

 

Robert

 

I hope Brenton doesn't mind me cutting in, but I'm new to LA and I'd really love the opportunity to come out with you. I've only ever flown a Pilot in my workshop and my own personal Flyer.

 

Thanks in advance, and my email is craig@otisprod.com.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

I'm in Atlanta and looking into starting to fly a steadicam. I'm glad I found this post and will be looking into the books and videos as well. guess I need to look for a workshop in town and get my feet wet.

Thanks for the great info everyone.

 

 

I just got a message today from an operator who highly recommended this video:

 

https://youtu.be/-HkmzpQ2cHw

 

It looks the goods.

  • Upvote 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Members

All those references are definitely good to real/watch over and over. For the workshop, the instructors are aware that some people have never touched a rig and it doesn't matter that much because everyone will start from the start. The good thing is that you have not learned any bad habits and will start on fresh ground. One thing that will be more necessary than Steadicam experience is camera operating skills, and a critical eye for framing. Learning the tool is only 1/2 the battle (or maybe even 1/3 of it). Knowing how to apply it is something else. I'll take the analogy of a guitar player. You can learn guitar and play really well but if you have no rhythm or no groove you won't make anything good.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Hi Brenton,

 

I found that watching the instructors and other students operate was very helpful during the workshop; you will pick up on how moving your body and moving the rig in different ways affects the shot. It's very helpful to ask someone to take pictures or video of you operating so you can check your own operating form. More often than not, problem spots during a shot boil down to improper form, and they are much easier to see from an outside perspective.

 

I'm an avid note-taker, and filled almost an entire notebook during my workshop. Since then I refer back to it and add to it when I learn something new. If writing works for you, I highly recommend it!

 

Have fun at the workshop!

 

Lisa

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You already have the most important skill to take to any new adventure -- you know how so say that you DON'T know.

 

You might be surprised how many folks just don't seem to competent in admitting that they came to learn from the beginning. I watched a self-proclaimed expert dump a $45,000 camcorder right on the lens because he didn't know that he needed to latch it into the "shoe" on the tripod, and his ego wouldn't allow him to ask. I also had a TRUE world-class expert shooter ask me for some minor detail on the camera he had borrowed, because I was using the same model and he figured that I knew more about it that he did.

 

When you go to the workshop, watch what other people do and whether it works or not. Don't claim a moment of experience that you haven't got, because if they assume that your skill is at a certain level, they won't mention something that they figure you already know, and they may use jargon that you don't understand, leaving you lost while they move on.

 

Most of all, HAVE FUN and PRACTICE. I'm having a blast playing with my Pilot and EX1R, a highly-capable, complete system that weighs less than the Sony shoulder rigs that I used when I got started (so far back that we logged our shots on stone tablets). Don't worry if something doesn't sing to you the first time you try it, keep going and eventually it will be as second-nature to you as it is to the instructors.

 

Kaze

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...