Cinegear Steadicam Op. Get Together @ Gladstones

[David Allen Grove]

How about Dalts? We would have that big place to ourselves! since it's closed. Just kidding.

 

Another Minor consideration for the limit was the free apetizers and free soda. (I know it's a very minor consideration but.. still it was a nice jesture on Michael and his wife's part).

 

All Steadicam Guild members would automatically be included. Just so you know Jay.. : - )

 

Let me check with Michael and see what we can come up with. Perhaps we can see how many folks RSVP and then maybe we can invite others, if not a lot RSVP.

 

Or if everyone likes they can figure out a different place to meet all together.. Just not too close to Cinegear. I think it will be too congested near there.

 

No hard feelings.. I hope.

[Marc Abernathy]

hell worse case we just crash the sheraton hotel where ill be staying! its by LAX :P

[RonBaldwin]

BJ and I will be at the Rhino

 

rb

[BJMcDonnell SOC]

I totally agree with Erwin also. This is getting a little too segregated. I was looking forward to meeting more people from this forum. Be it a newbie or a seasoned Pro, I am just looking for a good time with drinks and good company. As for experience level, who cares! Everybody starts somewhere and what better place to meet people and ask questions. Of course ask questions before people get too crunked out and give crazy answers. I don't get to see you guys much and it is always nice when EVERYBODY can kick back and talk. I could care less what background you came from be it camera dept. or not. If you are passionate about the craft of steadicam / camera operating, then that is all that matters. See you all somewhere on the Cinegear day where ever we all decide to go. Lets just have a good time.

 

 

 

BJ "Can't we all just get along" McDonnell

 

P.S. I guess Ron answers my question, see you all at the RHINO. Newbies will love it!

[Tom Janetzke]

75% sure of attending. and I'm only an operator 75% of the time. I hope that's all right.

 

-Tom Janetzke

 

"People are like slinkys, not much use for them, but fun to watch fall down stairs."

[David Allen Grove]

hell worse case we just crash the sheraton hotel where ill be staying! its by LAX :P

 

That's it we're meeting in Marc's room.. no RSVP required. I hope everyone that shows is really skinny and puts on lots of deoderant. I have to apologize to the non skinny people for my last remark. :(

(this is because it is going to be crowded). This is a joke by the way.. please don't show up at Marc's room. (unless of course you get the ok from Marc.)

 

I'm going to stop apologizing now! Darn it! :(

[Michael Stumpf]

Wow, first let me say, Erwin, I didn't think you'd be the one to unleash the

shitstorm over this, as in my first post I clearly stated the reasons behind this.

 

I agree with you all, and mostly BJ here. I would like more than anything to get together with

as many people as possible and just talk, drink and have a good time.

HOWEVER, as I stated before, we are LIMITED in size by space!

 

Could we shut down 1/2 of Gladstone's for a couple hours for 200 people to show up and we have a gigantic

party? Sure, but it's going to cost ten thousand dollars or more. Who'se paying?

 

My wife tells me that comfortably, so we have space to walk, mingle and have fun, the

PCH deck will seat about 50-60 people.

It'll fit 100 if everybody wants to stand the whole time.

 

My wife is going to be taking good care of us.

The tables will be dressed for a banquet. She'll have all kinds of appetizers set out consisting of

shrimp, calamari, and and other kinds of treats on a stick as well as non alcoholic drinks....for FREE.

She's going to have extra wait staff and bartenders come in for us.

We will also get some tasty desserts for FREE as well.

Am I to ask her to give all this for free to 100+ people??

Then there's parking to consider. There will be a wedding going on at Gladstone's as well as

the usual packed Saturday night crowd. If 150 people show up, they'll be parking 1/2 mile down PCH and walking.

 

The get together wasn't meant to be segregation or elitist (if that was the case, there would be many operators who've only been OPERATING under 3 years who wouldn't be able to mingle with operators who've been operating 3-8 years, who wouldn't be able to mingle with the veterans!

The 3 or 4 of us who talked and decided the fairest thing would be to do a "senority" type thing.

What are our choices?

Unfortunately in life, tough decisions need to be made from time to time and this WAS one of them.

And since my wife opened up the busiest restaurant in all of California to us, I became the spokesperson

about limiting the size because she asked how many people would be coming, and I had to give her

a reasonable number!

 

If somebody has a better idea please speak up.

Newer and aspiring operators will have plenty of opportunity to mingle, ask questions of us, as

well and check out the gear we use AT CINEGEAR.

 

There are dozens and dozens of seasoned steadicam operators who'll be AT Cinegear and

will hear about the get together for the first time there because they don't frequent this board. How fair and nice would it be to tell them, "sorry you can't come because we've filled up the 50-60 slots already, 1/2 of those people don't even own a steadicam and there's 50 or more who just bought a rig standing at Gladstone's entrance already too."

 

So, I'm (and we're) terribly sorry that we had to limit the size of the get together and decided the

fairest way was to allow actual steadicam operators the space to attend a STEADICAM OPERATOR

get together first and foremost.

Personally, I'd love to be a professional car driver and would love to attend one of their

get togethers and ask questions and mingle as well, but do you think they'll kick

out Danika Patrick or Michael Schumacher to make sure there's room for me?

The closest I get is going to Willow Springs, California Speedway or other race tracks from

time to time flogging a cart, a rental or my own car.

 

So, if you all are pissed off by the unfortunate and tough decision we had to make because of

realistic space limitations, please suggest something better. I'll cancel our reservations with

my wife and Gladstone's and we can all get together somewhere else.

Maybe David's idea of meeting in the park and having a gigantic picnic will work.

We'll look like a homosexual convention, but hey it's all good.

 

Please no hard feelings all, I suddenly feel like I have a bullseye on my back or am

the hated messenger/co-decision maker here. I'm not Gary Dunham or Steve Byro.

I just want love ya all. :D

 

Let me know what you all want to do.

Sorry so long.

 

 

(On a side note Erwin since you brought experience up...

True, 6 1/2 years ago after taking the Malibu Classic Workshop in January 2000

I was new to steadicam and steadicam ownership then. I'd operated a steadicam several times

prior to that and I worked with Jimmy Muro and others as far back as 1995 and spent the following

4 years saving for and occasionally flying a steadicam before I took the workshop and bought my first rig practically in the same week.

I also didn't have a bunch of operators giving me jobs like several of the

newer operators in the past couple years seem to have now as there are many more steadicam operators now than there was back in the late 90's and 2000. Nor did we have "get togethers" in

the late 90's and even into 2000 for me...as an AC and aspiring and occasional operator...to even meet other operators much less the veterans.

I had ONE guy who recommended me for a handful of lower budgeted jobs and for that I've always been extremely appreciative of him and he knows that, the rest I got through faxing resumes and interviews. The get togethers aren't about "networking" for newer operators so they can find jobs anyway. They are suppose to be and always have been about enjoying each others company. No offense Erwin, you know

we've been in strong contact and friends for over 6 years, I just felt like you attacked me, a friend, out of the blue on this international forum. No hard feelings.)

[Alec Jarnagin SOC]

Oh dear. Just when things were looking up and I thought we were all getting along. Between this and the "don't let anybody new post" topic, I'm a bit saddened.

 

One of my personal highlights of the NAB gathering was that a relatively new and unknown op from Asia, Wei Pun, tagged along with us. She didn't say all that much - just watched and learned. Now, she has just moved to NYC and has been calling me with questions. I'm honored that she has chosen to do so. If she hadn't been allowed in, she probably would never have called me, etc. We all start somewhere.

 

In 1992, I met Charles Papert while I was working as an electrician for him on a project he was shooting. After we wrapped, we went back to my place and I got him stinking drunk until the sun came up. Then I spent the next two years training with him and using his rig on small projects before buying my own. Again, we all start somewhere.

 

It IS very important to be shown the ropes by people who care.

[David Allen Grove]

I guess the majority? has spoken. :unsure:

 

I think out of respect to Michaels wife we should plan on having it somewhere else since it seems

like there are going to be a LOT of other groups there anyway.

I hadn't even considered that till now. A wedding party and other groups on a Saturday?

 

Lets plan on having it at a park where anyone and everyone can come.

 

Come to think of it perhaps we should also make it a swap meet! Bring your steadi-junk and sell it to the new guys/gals!

 

As far as food who is bringing the charcoal? Meat? beverage? who is cooking this stuff? I'll bring Doritos as usual.. More than one bag this time..(people love doritos even though they won't admit it!)

 

Griffith Park is good and big with plenty of free parking. Do we need to make reservations? Anyone know?

 

Let just not have it next to the Greek Theater huh? those guys will call the film office on us and we'll get shut down! Remember that guys?!?!? "What does PRACTICE mean?" :blink: Crazy times..

 

What say ye oh steadicam forum people? Picnic at a park?

[Michael Stumpf]

Well, David say the word.

You are the boss and the "organizer" of this post Cinegear get together.

We offered up Gladstone's but apparently it's not right.

 

On another side note, don't worry about the fact there will be other events and

the wedding going on.

The movie room is as far on the other side of the restaurant as you can get from

the PCH deck.

And, Gladstones is used to having large amounts of people and many banquets.

As stated, they are the busiest restaurant in California, and the second most money making

one after some fancy high end steak house along the coast.

 

I'm not sure if you were joking or not about Griffith Park but if not, that's WAY too far away.

What is close though is the Veteran's Hospital.

We could crash their cafeteria, and if necessary take over a floor.

I know a nurse there so she might be able to hook us up and everyone could come! :D

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

Michael,

 

I'm still coming to Gladstones, thanks for the work that you are doing to organize it. I'm not sure that people realize that Cinegear weekend happens to be the opening weekend of the LA Film Festival and this year it's being hosted in Westwood, right next door to Cinegear.

 

David,

 

Thanks for the suggestion of having a steadicam Picnic, but I'll pass. There is something nice about doing the get together at a restaurant where Food and drinks are but a waitress away.

 

Alec,

 

I agree with what you said, and I too think that it was great that Wei Pun came out with us, and it's what is great about the steadicam community. The NAB Steadicam Gathering will always be one of my Steadicam Activity highlights.

 

 

 

Well, David say the word.

You are the boss and the "organizer" of this post Cinegear get together.

We offered up Gladstone's but apparently it's not right.

 

 

I wouldn't go that far Michael. If people don't want to join us at Gladstones they don't need to, doesn't mean that there are plenty of us that do.

[Michael Stumpf]

LOL, Eric, thanks, my wife just walked into the room and I was showing her

all the posts that have just come up.

 

She said, if you are the only one who comes to Gladstone's she'll treat you like a king! :D

[David Allen Grove]

I'm not sure if you were joking or not about Griffith Park but if not, that's WAY too far away.

What is close though is the Veteran's Hospital.

We could crash their cafeteria, and if necessary take over a floor.

I know a nurse there so she might be able to hook us up and everyone could come!

 

Why not try to the VA Hospital then. If you are serious and are reasonably sure you can get us a floor! good idea!

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

LOL, Eric, thanks, my wife just walked into the room and I was showing her

all the posts that have just come up.

 

She said, if you are the only one who comes to Gladstone's she'll treat you like a king! :D

 

 

I'll be there, and thank her for all of us that are heading over.... Does she really know what she's in for?

 

:)

[David Allen Grove]

I'll be at the VA hospital on whatever empty floor I find.

I'm bringing my bag of doritos, a portable DVD player and a bunch of steadicam

movies.

 

Who is with me? :lol:

 

-crickets chirping

 

No really I'm serious about meeting at the VA hopsital.. hook us up Michael!