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Poll: Don Juan vs. walking backwards


Dan Coplan

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I never bother about moving the monitor to the other side. I think you should practise and use DJ as you would have to at a moments notice. I would consider however re jigging the monitor if I was doing lots of stairs where the extra angle makes it tricky looking backwards.

 

In DJ I think it is important to be in good dynamic balance and quite neutrally static balance as its trickier to muscle trim the frame and DJ shots tend to be quite fast.

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One trick to make DJ a bit more bearable is this:

 

I use a short extension rod, about 12-15cm (5"-6") rod with a hole in one side and a stud for the gimbal pickup on the other. This makes my arm a bit longer, it gives more clearance when switching from Regular to DJ

 

I also use this with low mode, to get more clearance.

post-130-1145846301_thumb.jpg

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I don't mind DJ, it can be useful for faster paced moves, although I would always prefer to do it with the Marell electronic bubble for some extra confidence in my horizon!

 

I much prefer walking backwards, helps with composition and control (and for video, easier to control zoom movements). I will only walk backwards if I'm working with one of my usual guys to have behind me, just in case. Even in DJ it is useful to have your assistant at your side or somewhere in front of you to clear the path / guide you through.

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I'm a walk backwards-er, I'm not keen on DJ, I tried a shot last year and it was a slow jog, subject in front, and tried it jogging backwards, and in DJ ... much preferred the backwards shot, but it does have it's disadvantages .....

 

I will always walk backwards where possible, I feel more in control that way.

 

Jason

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Actually, that's quite a nifty extension bracket you have there, Rob...it must be very useful for the extra clearance in DJ, gets the rig away a bit...

 

I'm assuming you use this instead of the f-bracket for low mode? Just put the arm post through the hole and stick the gimbal on the other? That way you get the gimbal the right way up for low mode, yes? I'm no fan of low mode myself, too much weight too low down for my liking!

 

Cheers

Jason

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The G50 is a great arm for DJ , due to his size you have a great angle of view and it's more easy than a III style arm .

 

I noticed that also :)

I was flying an archer with the G50 and 'DW' to any possition seemed easy and smooth. I must say I liked the new gimbol grip on the archer but it took a little getting used too.

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Yes, Jason, but it can be used upside down as well, together with a stainless steel screw that goes through the gimbal and pin (you can see the hole on the picture) This gives me a lot of clearance, specially in low mode, as because of the extension, the gimbal is usually close to the topstage, and any dutch tilt is often difficult in the normal setup.

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-Beaming- I am pleased to say that I taught Brant how to operate in D.J., as he took my Rockport Workshop approximately 2 thousand years ago.

 

Charles is right- I am a huge advocate of it. I use it frequently and since I was taught that the rig doesn't give a rat's ass which way you are standing in relation to it, as long as the operating level is clean and fine, why not D.J. ? Unless pressed to, I hesitate to do it on live t.v. events because switching with cables is a hump. I did some D.J. work for the Atlanta Olympics Opening Ceremonies- but had a minute or two between shots so that I could re-orient my cable for the position.

 

I would never argue with the fact that it is a visual compromise as well as a physical irritation. However, since I have used it for as long as any other technique, and rely upon it heavily, I can't imagine NOT thinking of D.J. as an option for many shots.

 

Different strokes- if the shot works and the work is clean, then hey! Go for it.

 

Best to all,

 

Peter Abraham

p.s. Charles Papert is just as fun as always to hang with.

p.p.s. His girlfriend is staggeringly lovely. Bastahd. :P

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I use a lot of DJ, especially when I do TV shows. Sometimes, if I don't switch to DJ, it would take a ethernety to get of the stage, and if you walk backwards you need an assitent and sometimes, production don't want to pay for it, or somtimes is just inconvinient to have one more man in the midlle of the show (on the stage)! Of course if I have to walk backwards only a few meters, and there is no obstacls I walk backwards!

 

I few yers ago, I was an asistent to a German operator, who was doing a show here in Croatia, and he NEVER, EVER switched to DJ!! He was doing the show with triax attached, and he looked so redicules always runnig backwards, and sometimes the hosts had to slow down becuase he wasn't fast enough. That is definetly no way to do that kind of shot!!

 

A few weeks a ago I was doing a running shot in DJ with 85mm lens on. We didnt have a dolly or a rickshaw, and director wanted a runing shot on long lens of Special Police Force (I thnik that this are SWAT teams in US) through a narrow coridor in a hotel. OK the shot was a "litlle Bit" jerky, but that the way they wanted it! I'm telling this because there is no chance to make this kind of shot just walking (or runing??) backwards, so I think it's very important to be able to work comfortable in Don Juan!! You never know what kind of shot is wanted from you!!

 

regards, igor

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post-1681-1147458606.jpgI am working with steadicam about 10 years and last 5 years I use DJ in 50% of shootings even to 50mm lens (35 mm format) in high and in low mode.Of course in hard conditions I am walking backwards.

Best regads.

 

Andrey Yazydzhi,DP&steadicam operator

 

yazydzhi@mail.ru

yazydzhifilms.com

post-1681-1147458530.jpg

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