Premium Members Lohengrin Zapiain Posted January 11, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 11, 2006 Hi, I'm a DP/Operator and I have being doing this job for the last few years. Before that I was a Focus puller in Commercials and Features. I took the SOA Workshop with Garret five years ago as I was already thinking about upgrading (from CA to Operator) but I never had the chance of buying my own rig till now, although Steadicam was always in my mind. Recently I moved to Vancouver in search of new opportunities and I'm starting (again!!!) over here as an IATSE operator. I recently got financing to buy a rig and I bought an Ultra and I have being practicing like hell this last weeks. Although I fell I have gotten much better (comparing to the first day I flew the rig again) I really fell that it is going to take me a long time to have the same abilities with the rig as I have in conventional operating. My question for you (and I feel that a lot of you had the same question in mind at one point) is when to begin selling myself as a Steadicam operator. I know I cannot wait a long time as I don?t want to do it and I have to start getting some rentals on my rig at some point, but I also want the Steadicam to be an advantage and not a Handicap for my career. Thank you and it is a pleasure to join this forum Lohengrin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Burton Posted January 11, 2006 Report Share Posted January 11, 2006 Do you feel confident operating ? I kinda threw myself in the deep end but managed to pull it off ! Now i have five music videos to film in two weeks and my feet hurt i''m operating so much. Try to start on low end jobs, perhaps paid promos that many peeps won't see to start with. What ever your going to look back and think your old stuff is wack no matter what. Cheers -matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Lohengrin Zapiain Posted January 12, 2006 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted January 12, 2006 Hey Matt, Thanks for your answer. As for how do I feel about my operating I know that I can mange to get the easy shots within the first takes but I know I won't be able to deal with the difficult set ups in the next while or at least to get a decent shot. I'm guessing it would take me at least like a year before I get there but I want to start shooting something different than my wall and my lazy dog (anyway a rig is a waste of money to film my dog... a hi-hat would perfectly do the job) I will try to get some of these low end jobs... great tip cheers Lohengrin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeighWanstead Posted January 12, 2006 Report Share Posted January 12, 2006 Hi Lohengrin, I don't have any experience about making money. All I can suggest is to use all your available free time to practise. :) Regards Leigh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Lohengrin Zapiain Posted January 12, 2006 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted January 12, 2006 Hey Leigh, Thanks for the tip. In deed I'm using any available time to practice... a bit tired at the moment but on the other had I?M LOOSING WEIGTH!!! Can you send me some of your Steadi-videos to my mail? (My computer is broken and the only format that would reproduce is .mov so I can?t see your videos from your webpage) What kind of Steadicam do you have? lohengrinzapiain@yahoo.ca Thanks Lohengrin Hey Charles, I know about the amount of operators in town? not too much we can do but hope for the best for everybody. Unfortunately I didn't get my membership at the union till September so I missed the good times but everybody says this next 2 years are going to be really good? Rain... what rain... I don't ever notice it anymore? just got used to it.... How's been your year over here? Perhaps we would meet eventually. regards Lohengrin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeighWanstead Posted January 12, 2006 Report Share Posted January 12, 2006 Hi Lohengrin, Thanks for your interest to watching my video. Due to the file size, it is not possible to just email you the file. I will encode the file in .mov once I back to home and post the links on the same page and send you an email about new file location for you to download. Which video url you want to me to encode as .mov file? I don't have steadicam. I am using my diy one. Regards Leigh Hey Leigh, Thanks for the tip. In deed I'm using any available time to practice... a bit tired at the moment but on the other had I?M LOOSING WEIGTH!!! Can you send me some of your Steadi-videos to my mail? (My computer is broken and the only format that would reproduce is .mov so I can?t see your videos from your webpage) What kind of Steadicam do you have? lohengrinzapiain@yahoo.ca Thanks Lohengrin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeighWanstead Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 Hi Lohengrin, You have not told me which video url you want to watch in quicktime .mov. So I just guess that you want to watch this video. Click here. Scroll the page to bottom, there is a link to quicktime encoding. Regards Leigh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lohengrin Posted January 25, 2006 Report Share Posted January 25, 2006 Hey Leigh I just gave up... my computer is just not acepting any videos... maybe later And thanks for sharing ALL your experiences,, Cheers 4Mat... I really have a rough idea about where to start looking L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Lohengrin Zapiain Posted March 22, 2006 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 Hi 4Mat, Neufeld and Leigh, somehow I threw myself into the void with my rig and I'm to begin my second feature as A Cam-Steadicam Operator and I already have a thrird feature waiting for me. Somehow is working for me and I feel that my timing was right to sell myself as a Steadicam Op Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeighWanstead Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 Hi Lohengrin, That is nice. Regards Leigh Hi 4Mat, Neufeld and Leigh, somehow I threw myself into the void with my rig and I'm to begin my second feature as A Cam-Steadicam Operator and I already have a thrird feature waiting for me. Somehow is working for me and I feel that my timing was right to sell myself as a Steadicam Op Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.