Minority Operators

[Alec Jarnagin SOC]

Ron,

 

"will do! I want to give Walter a visit. Jennifer promised a drunken tour of the city and local bars. Sweet!"

 

You should go. Last time I was up there, Jennifer was on her honeymoon, which is a pretty good excuse to miss drinks, but Walter and I managed a pretty good stumbling act around town. The roof deck at the shop has a great view and is a great place to have cocktails too.

[Bryan Trieb]

Ron, let me know when you're coming! We'll show you some fun : ) Cool bunch of Toronto Steadi-Bretheren here. Matt, you joker, we both know there's nothing you'd like more than to NOT drink your favourite imported beers and assume responsibility for our guests behind the wheel, don't be in denial dude, just admit you want to be the DD.

 

 

Cheers!!!

[JimBartell]

BJ and I will most likely be a minority at the Rhino...we'll be the only steadicam ops there after cine-gear!

 

You keep saying "Rhino" but everyone knows you really mean "Jumbo's Clown Room".

 

Let your freak flag fly, bro!

 

Jim "no shame amongst friends" Bartell

[mattmarek]

what is the rhino?

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

what is the rhino?

 

 

Strip club

[Alfeo Dixon SOC]

Hi Nikk,

 

Alfeo here in Atlanta and I'm a minority operator, African-American to be exact and it's a pleasure to meet another.

 

Sorry your original thread was highjacked. I'm literally appalled at the lightheartedness of our comrades and the insensitive towards someone reaching out to connect with others.

 

-Alfeo "Local 600 Diversity Member" Dixon

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

Sorry your original thread was highjacked. I'm literally appalled at the lightheartedness of our comrades and the insensitive towards someone reaching out to connect with others.

 

-Alfeo "Local 600 Diversity Member" Dixon

 

 

Wow way to dig up a three year old thread that honestly was inane from the start. You are either a steadicam operator or you're not. That's it.

[Alfeo Dixon SOC]

a three year old thread that honestly was inane from the start. You are either a steadicam operator or you're not. That's it.

And exactly what makes asking if there are any other operators that are black so inane? Is it also silly for a female to ask if their are any other female operates? How about operators that are over 65?

 

Yes, I'm a steadicam operator and I'm also a Black American and that does make me different, especially in a profession (camera dept) that has been and is still traditionally staffed by white males.... well over 80%

 

What I even find more disturbing, is when ever the topic of diversity is even mentioned, it is meet with a bitter discourse usually followed by a slighted comment about equal opportunity or affirmative action. This industry has traditionally been one plagued with nepotism and frankly most of us don't run in the same circles as you. It's a fact.

 

Rob made the jest of he being the only white guy in Thailand... I guess it still holds internationally that the majority of camera personnel is white males. (I jest back)

 

But seriously, I'm tired of the negativity when posed with a question such as Nikk's. Why can't people just offer the information requested without it being a hugh F'n deal?

[Colin Donahue]

Alfeo,

I did not think the topic was inane. I think that someone seeking out people that they may have something in common with is pretty normal. I was suprised so many seemed to question Nikk's motives.

I worked with a black steadicam op back in 1997, but I cannot remember his name. I was looking through old invoices trying to find it. I will post his name when I locate it.

 

Colin Donahue

[David George Ellis]

Nikk, black operator here. 3 years late as well. I'm based out of NY and you can see my list of work on imdb and my website noted in my signature.

 

Man, do I love you guys. So supportive of all people being seen as equals. It makes my heart heavy knowing you guys feel inclusive this way.

 

A minority may include any group that is subnormal with respect to a dominant group in terms of social status, education, EMPLOYMENT, wealth and political power. - Wikipedia

 

It makes me giggle reading the divergence this thread took. I don't even think it was meant to be a discussion. This is the greatest forum to get answers in ALL THINGS STEADICAM, so why can't a colored operator seek the existence of other colored operators here? Where else is he gonna look, Facebook? Twitter?

 

Talking about race amongst various ethnicities is like men talking about sex with girls. Sometimes it's gets a little awkward, but in the end, everybody learns.

 

With respect to Alfeo's original post, I am not appalled. It's the avoidance game people play with race. It's so taboo. Even here in New York, the "Melting Pot of the World", where racism is hidden until you cut someone off coming down 62nd Street after crossing the Queensboro Bridge.

 

I remember being hired for a job sight unseen, introducing myself to the directors (who were black), tell me, "You're David Ellis? I thought you were white!" To which I replied, "I'm not. I was raised by a man who taught 7 languages and happened to be black. Just like you but, even blacker."

 

Blacks in this industry are very aware of the uncommonness of blacks who operate Steadicam. I'm pretty sure everyone else is also.

 

As inane as it may seem, it's still an issue. Blacks are a part of an American minority where chances of distinction are seldom given. In the past, a woman, Alice Guy-Blaché, beat Oscar Micheax, a black man, to the Director's chair by 23 years! What it means to this thread, I don't know.

 

Why do you ask "Why?" if Nikk already stated that he'd just like to know. It seems that you guys clicked on the thread just to reply, and not to answer. He wrote it was personal. Now if he was trying to compile a list to kill all the black operators to become the only black operator, you sons of bitches better trace his ISP in the case of my untimely demise...

 

Sometimes, if not most times, I am the only black person on set. To me, it's great. In actuality, it's stranger when I get to set and it's full of blacks.

 

I get the whole, "You're either are an operator, or not" gag, but the man had a question, asked it, and had a sh*t taken on him. When Obama was inaugurated, he wasn't credited as being just the 44th President, but the 1st African American President. Nobody said, "You're either a President or not, doesn't matter what color you are."

 

BTW, I don't like "African American". I'm not from Africa. I'm from Brooklyn. I prefer "Black", or even better, "Negro". Sounds so much cooler than the application-approved subcategory term you find on questionnaires and, it takes less time to say and write.

 

Maybe it would have made a difference if a white person posed this question. What if a person from yellow Thailand asked? Would it be inane if Rob, Eric or Matt asked, "Who are the white operators out there?" I wonder why that was never asked.

 

And while we are on the topic of race, who was the first negro Steadicam Operator? May not matter to the majority of you, but it matters to me.

[Michael Stumpf]

I get the whole, "You're either are an operator, or not" gag, but the man had a question, asked it, and had a sh*t taken on him. When Obama was inaugurated, he wasn't credited as being just the 44th President, but the 1st African American President. Nobody said, "You're either a President or not, doesn't matter what color you are."

 

BTW, I don't like "African American". I'm not from Africa. I'm from Brooklyn. I prefer "Black", or even better, "Negro". Sounds so much cooler than the application-approved subcategory term you find on questionnaires and, it takes less time to say and write.

 

Just to point out some things here. I agree with the "African American" term.

There are people with white skin born in Africa and then moved to America and became citizens. THAT ACTUALLY makes them African American. Charlize Theron is an actual African American too.

Further, there are black people born in other countries other than Africa that come to America. That does not make them African American either.

 

Also, regarding the Obama point. Though he has skin is a light shade of brown he is technically not the first black president. He's just as much white as he is black. And in fact he was raised by his white mother and her parents (and later an Indonesian man) so may in fact some could argue he's more white than black.

But whatever the view, he's technically the first mixed race President we've had.

We have not yet had our first black President. That day will come to be sure, but that fact will be when we have a President born of parents that are both of black race (or majority black). Then technically he can be referred to as the first black President. Until then, Obama is every bit as white as he is black. And that's a beautiful thing.

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

I get the whole, "You're either are an operator, or not" gag, but the man had a question, asked it, and had a sh*t taken on him. When Obama was inaugurated, he wasn't credited as being just the 44th President, but the 1st African American President. Nobody said, "You're either a President or not, doesn't matter what color you are."

 

BTW, I don't like "African American". I'm not from Africa. I'm from Brooklyn. I prefer "Black", or even better, "Negro". Sounds so much cooler than the application-approved subcategory term you find on questionnaires and, it takes less time to say and write.

 

Maybe it would have made a difference if a white person posed this question. What if a person from yellow Thailand asked? Would it be inane if Rob, Eric or Matt asked, "Who are the white operators out there?" I wonder why that was never asked.

 

And while we are on the topic of race, who was the first negro Steadicam Operator? May not matter to the majority of you, but it matters to me.

 

 

There is but ONE race, The Human race.

 

Two videos to make you think.

Video one

 

 

That's my point, if you choose to isolate yourself because of your skin color then that's your loss, I couldn't care less what "Color" you are

[Martin Stacey]

There is but ONE race, The Human race.

 

Two videos to make you think.

Video one

 

 

That's my point, if you choose to isolate yourself because of your skin color then that's your loss, I couldn't care less what "Color" you are

 

 

Well said Eric and David. Can't help but think that the question "How many ...." should be no more controversial if it was asked by some young lady about female operators. Nobody bats an eyelid at that one and generally tries to answer it.

 

Cheers,

 

Martin "the pale skinned Maori" Stacey

[David George Ellis]

First things first, I have no animosity, no vitriol, nor spite. It's hard to translate sincerity on a social networking site. I am in no way trying to be a sh*t-stirrer. We're all beautiful, baby, and I thank you Michael and Eric for being beautiful.

 

Mike, I agree with you saying Obama's just as black as he is white. Just as he is neither/either. Splitting c-hairs, he would be considered mulatto. AKA, mixed-race, biracial, multi-racial, oreo and so on. But when that dude filled out his college application, I'm willing to bet the farm he didn't check off "Caucasian".

 

I also agree with you on the Theron Factor. That's why I take such umbrage with the term being categorized for Black Americans. We all know that when we trace the ancestry of the entire world, we all end up being of African descent.

 

I hope you don't think I'm trying to isolate myself, Eric. Some of my friends are white (I've always wanted to say that). I was just replying to let Nikk know there are ebony (ebony, another word I like) operators around. Now I want you to understand my my point.

 

Yes, we are all human, a species. Scientifically, we are broken down into subcategories based on characteristics that physically differentiate us. Caucasoid, Negroid and Mongoloid, which have now been broken down even further. Just like the pigeon and the dove. They are both birds, which are very similar, but have differences which are sufficient to classify them as such.

 

Admiral Adama was very commendable and ideal, just as yourself, to believe we are one race, but we are not. Through disambiguation, our species has evolved into ethnicities, cultures and races. You can't hide from the fact that we are different despite being similar. I know, we share 99.99% of the same DNA, but just like fighting terrorism, it's that .01% we all worry so much about instead of celebrate.

 

The only way we collectively will be considered one entire race is when there is a known and vigilant enemy we can all share hatred for. That is a comet, the Yellowstone caldera or, an alien invasion

 

I find it laughable that Morgan Freeman wants to do away with Black History Month. Black History is American History. Right, because the only blacks making history are American. If that's the case, American History is World History. World History is Solar System History. We can expand this concept ad-infinitum.

 

In order to make racism go away, we shouldn't discuss it? That's ridiculous! We need to discuss it, bring it out in the open. But do it in a scientific, educational way, with pop quizzes. This should be taught in schools, and not left up to ignorant parents.

 

I lavish in the variety of skin tones and colors we share. My last girlfriend was a very pale Scotch-Irish girl. Before her, an olive-skinned Spaniard. Before that, Ghetto Brooklyn Booty Brown. Hell, my family photo is a Benetton poster!

 

We're all a shade of brown, even you, Erwin. You're like a pinkish-brown. I bet you crisp up real nice in the SoCal sun...