Premium Members Charles Papert Posted February 6, 2006 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted February 6, 2006 Smart idea Peter. Most of my issues seem to come from the part of the move where I had to spin around in place while the actress "danced" with the Steadicam--it always left me a little disoriented for the next cue, but indeed an overhead bulb may have done the trick. I now have an even greater appreciation for the scenes in Titanic where Jimmy M. did the same thing during the dance sequence in steerage--but I'm sure they went around many more times than I did! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Charles Papert Posted March 29, 2006 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 If anyone is interested in seeing the results of all this, it's the opening of the HBO series "Big Love" which shows on Sunday nights and repeats through the week. It's another beautiful HBO title sequence (interesting that as the network shows move to shorter and shorter opens, HBO goes the other direction). I could have been more delighted with the choice of takes for the crane stepoff at the beginning, wasn't my best, but what can you do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Marc Abernathy Posted March 29, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 hmm gives new meaning to ring around the rosie... nice photo of you Chas... curious, how many takes did you guys do on this shot? also did you use a 235? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Peter Abraham Posted March 29, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 No kidding !!! GREAT haircut. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Charles Papert Posted March 29, 2006 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 Oh jeez you guys, it's not about me! But this pic will at least answer the question about the camera--it was a 435 (and since Bill Paxton and Jeanne Tripplehorn got their faces in the first shot, now Chloe Sevigny and Ginnifer Goodwin get their chance too). As seen here we needed to open up the circle a bit to get more distance to the actors and Paxton came up with the brilliant idea of separating them with a length of rope. Coming off directing "The Greatest Game Ever Played" last year, looks like he can't quite resist taking a peek at my monitor during the shot! I don't remember how many takes we did of this shot but there were about 10 of the crane step-offs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Afton Grant Posted March 29, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 I've always been a big fan of the HBO title sequences - and the shows too, of course. I'm just starting to warm up to "Big Love" now. I had no idea it was you on the camera, Charles. I think I remember checking the credits for the Steadicam Op and it wasn't anyone I recognized. Did you work on any of the episodes? Best, Afton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Peter Abraham Posted March 29, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 Oh, he frequently works under the name Alan Smithee. :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Charles Papert Posted March 30, 2006 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted March 30, 2006 Nope, the title sequence was an entirely separate shoot as is often the case. Different crew and creative team. I believe Gavin Ames operated the last episode I saw. Some tricky fast-moving stuff through the house set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members JensSchroeder Posted November 5, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted November 5, 2006 Hi, I am wondering if anybody has experience operating the Steadicam on Ice Skates. Cheers, Jens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Dan Coplan Posted November 5, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted November 5, 2006 As an avid hockey fan and player I've thought about this quite a bit and have been very tempted to try it but I haven't because I think it's both a mistake and unnecessary. I can only imagine that the momentum of the sled will be a completely different experience on skates. All you need is one crash to lead to equipment carnage and bodily harm and I don't think having a spotter would do much good. I've shot handheld on skates and it may as well be a Steadicam so why bother with all the extra gear and potential for disaster? Not to mention you're not fighting the pendulum effect and can manipulate the camera much easier. But if anybody has done this, I'd sure like to hear about it. Dan "Not In My 5-Hole!" Coplan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert_kunz Posted November 5, 2006 Report Share Posted November 5, 2006 As an avid hockey fan and player I've thought about this quite a bit and have been very tempted to try it but I haven't because I think it's both a mistake and unnecessary. I can only imagine that the momentum of the sled will be a completely different experience on skates. All you need is one crash to lead to equipment carnage and bodily harm and I don't think having a spotter would do much good. I've shot handheld on skates and it may as well be a Steadicam so why bother with all the extra gear and potential for disaster? Not to mention you're not fighting the pendulum effect and can manipulate the camera much easier. But if anybody has done this, I'd sure like to hear about it. Dan "Not In My 5-Hole!" Coplan hello iceaficionados, i think i saw joerg widmer a few years ago in a rental house in berlin.on roller blades,in his rig! he did pretty good as i remember.seems to be quite similar to ice skates.but i don`t know if he ever did this on a job,although i know he did same strange setups,like riding on a horses back shooting steadicam etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Eric Fletcher S.O.C. Posted November 5, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted November 5, 2006 I am wondering if anybody has experience operating the Steadicam on Ice Skates. I have operated on ice but that was using crampons and I know that Garrett is fond of javelin shoes. Don't know if I'd like to be operating on skates for all the reason's that Dan mentioned Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Charles Papert Posted November 5, 2006 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted November 5, 2006 Here's a thread about working on ice in the way Eric describes, again not on skates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members geoff shotz Posted November 6, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted November 6, 2006 jens- i used to play hockey, strangely for 'die Haie' in cologne, and i wouldn't think about skating with my rig on. i have done some roller blading with my rig and that's doable, but not recommended. rollerblades seem much more forgiving for some reason. i think handheld or with a doggy cam is the way to go for ice. on ice or pavement, get a 'puller' if you can. someone who skates really well and that you trust should do all the pulling or pushing to maintain speed and let you do the operating. that works the best. also, wear a helmet. good luck. geoff 'i'm only missing a few teeth' shotz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members chris fawcett Posted November 6, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted November 6, 2006 I'm amazed and impressed by you folks. i'm an ex-circus acrobat that just about manages to operate in shoes. Good luck, and be sure to post the results! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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