proper training for steadicam

[Peter Abraham]

Mr. Cao, let's talk by email off-boards. I think I can help you with this.

[Janice Arthur]

Hi all;

 

I've been doing Steadicam for as long an Jerry and Neal and I can say without hesitation I have a really strong and healthy back because of it.

 

I too do extremely long days with heavy gear and besides being tired at the end I have no pain or problems.

(Unloading the gear at the end of a long day is the biggest drama.)

 

Like Neal I feel my legs/knees sometimes after a shoot and I may be stiff the next day from the amount of work but I don't have back problems. (Doctors do say that "crunchy, noisy" knees are not bad as long as they don't hurt.)

 

Also like everyone, I need to stretch out more and work on better core strength as I get older but in many ways I've never been better.

 

Its all about the posture. I never, never, never pull the rig out of that sweet spot of the "float" and I have an old 3A vest that fits very tightly and is very rigid.

 

I see a day when I could stop because its just too physically demanding but not because of the back problems.

 

Thanks guys.

 

JA

[Peter Abraham]

Excellent- Janice mentions something that we all should do, and I wish to heck I'd done from Day 1. Proper stretching and work on core muscles. In the roughest days of shooting 20 hour music videos, I'd take time away, leave the room, lay down on my back and slooooowly do stretches to release out some of the tension and get the blood flowing to move the lactic acid along.

 

For those of you reading this who are fairly new, or are real newbies, read Janice's post again. Find a set of quick and basic stretching and core work that will serve the parts of your body you need the most.

[Andrey Yazydzhi]

Carlo

I'd like to add for All:

when You are not working with Your rig , You must try to train like in Big Sports - every day.I have some problems with my back lasts long from my youth , but I began to work with steadicam when I was about 40 years old (10 years ago).Just be carefuly and attentive!

 

Best regards.

 

Andrey Yazydzhi ,Russian Steadicam operator & instructor ,

yazydzhifilms.com;

yazydzhi@mail.ru;

mob.tel +7 903 7406481.

[Chris Haarhoff]

I didn't realize when I was in high school, that competitive rowing was really just preparing me for my future career. I also wasn't aware of the benifits, balance and strengthening that I would reap in the early days of windsurfing.......but 20 years later I think I owe much to the best advice passed onto me by Steve St. John.

Always bend your legs when picking up or loading your cases.

[Charles Papert]

Ah yes. The two most vulnerable moments of Steadicam, I think, are hoisting the cases around and doing vehicle mount work over uneven terrain (where that sudden lurch, pothole or hump that sends the rig flying away from you can do a serious wrench job on the upper back)

[Peter Abraham]

Painful moments, those.

 

I use some lengths of that plastic-coated steel cable found in Home Depot in the hardware aisle. I make loops on both ends, using those smash-on crimpers and a hammer. Pass the same safety wire through both the dog-bone at the end of the arm AND through the yoke of the gimbal.

 

Heresay, you say? You don't say ! :D Seriously, that wire does not in any way impeded the float and movement of a good gimbal and safeties the sled and arm at a set disance to the vehicle. If one hits an evil bounce and is momentarily flailing to save one's life, the rig cannot fly away, nor can the sled be vaulted up and off of the arm because the ATV/ vehicl has hit a pothole or rut in the field.

 

Tried and true. I run a climbing carabiner through the loops, and safety that with ratchet straps to the vehicle. Woiks like a chahm.

 

Peter Abraham

 

New York

[Amando Crespo]

Can I damage my back if I´m :wub: :wub: jus´t married?.

:blink: