Premium Members Erik Brul Posted March 31, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 Hey all, Watched WRESTLEMANIA last night live from Orlando Florida. As saw by several trailers and teasers, Steadicam was used in the past and so i was hoping it will be used again this sunday. The opening of the show was 'America the Beautiful' by John Legend and yes, it started ok by some nice moves arround John and his Piano. After this the show continued for almost 4 hours and a total of maybe 10 short shots by Steadicam :( .. My question is besides who was the operator, why the production uses so little Steadicam ? In this scene, especially last night with a extra long entrance.. it was so sad that so little Steadicam was used.. Hope to hear, Best, Erik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Mike McGowan SOC Posted March 31, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 I'm now kicking myself for not remembering his name... I was there shooting film for WWE. I met about 20 operators last night so I confess it's kind of a blur. He was a really nice guy and although the show did not start until 6:30pm the director had him running all over the stadium (and it was a big frickin stadium) looking for shots from like 11:00am on. They used him a few times on the ramp where he would run up to the half way point and pull the wrestler down the rest of the way. Other than that, he was around the ring a bit and I think getting some audience shots. I know they were looking for something like 1.6 million pay per view purchases last night and they were super concerned about having any camera or crew in the shots. I had to get special permission every time I went on the stage and they were always super anxious to get me off. I also recall having two hand held cameras literally sprinting up the stage (I'm talking flat out sprint) to get a performer as they came out but be out of the way of the wide shot until the last second. I wonder if they were worried about the Steadicam being able to make the run in time. It was about a 50 yard sprint. So the short answer is I think they were so concerned about the wide shot of the stage that they didn't want anybody on it. On a side note, if you have never done a WRESTLEMANIA before and you get a chance, do it. I had a blast. It was a full house at 72+ thousand and it was the definition of a "big show". I don't even know what to compare it to, maybe U2 or the Stones? My A.C. took some picutres, when I get them, I'll post a few. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Erik Brul Posted March 31, 2008 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 Hey Mike, Thanks for your awesome and detailed response ! I did enjoy show a lot, i remember one particular moment the Steadi was in the Ring for some seconds and almost like a magic trick disappeared again.. :blink: That was really cool.. looking forward to some pics, thanks again, Best, Erik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Mike McGowan SOC Posted April 1, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 I'm not sure if you saw the actual steadicam in the ring or saw a steadicam shot from the ring. I actually got in the ring for the show open and did a 180 from the stage to the crowd. Once I got my shot, I put my rig through the second and top rope (while still on the arm), set it down on the edge of the ring, my AC put a hand on it, I bowed out of the rig, laid my arm flat on my chest, slid under the bottom rope, put the rig back on and took off.......... If you talking about a shot from the ring, I'm not sure I remember him actually getting in. Could it maybe have been a really tall post and just outside the ring over the ropes??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Will Eichler Posted April 14, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 14, 2008 Mike, I did last year's W'mania in Detroit. Sounds like the same gig you had. Can't wait to see you pics. Not a chance in the world my AC could have shot anything like that. When not pulling focus, he spent the rest of the time appalled at the number of people who seemed to actually still think this was all real. Glad you enjoyed. So did I. Best, Will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Erik Brul Posted April 9, 2009 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted April 9, 2009 Hey guys and gals, Wrestlemania 25th was a cool show again and once again Steadicam was present... however :( maybe only 5 to 10 shots were in the liveshow which is sadly not much at all ! .. I can imagine this is a super dooper high budget international show and it has enough budget to pay the ´extra´ crew for being there and doing like nothing.. but it must be not satisfying at all for the guys.. Mike, i saw a guy shooting film again, was this you again ?.. Best, Erik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Mike McGowan SOC Posted April 10, 2009 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 Nope, I missed out this year :( Second unit of 'Burn Notice' is jam packed full of car stunts this season so I have my DP hat on more and more... Yesterday I was shooting aireals in the keys for a Bruce Webber Chanel spot. I agree that they don't use enough steadicam. Worring about the PPV audiance seeing them is lame, they love that stuff! I still say professional wresteling is real! :P :P :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Tomas Szklarski Posted April 10, 2009 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 an op named Jonathan Labby was there, I think he was shooting film, saw his pictures on FB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Jonathan Labby Posted May 11, 2009 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 11, 2009 an op named Jonathan Labby was there, I think he was shooting film, saw his pictures on FB. Yep! That was me! It was a very interesting shoot. I briefly met the other Steadicam Operator who was shooting HD for Pay-Per-View. I trailed him during a shot from the stage, down the ramp, towards the ring, during John Cena's entrance. I was "blessed" with doing a 360 shot from the center of the ring right after Nicole from the Pussycat Dolls sang. haha It was a fun shot and I look forward to seeing it on the DVD, maybe? The Producers did have me running around the stadium getting shots of the crowds as well. Reliant Stadium is REALLY BIG! Wrestling fans are surely one of a kind :-) I had a guy propose to his wife on film (I was shooting with an SR3) My AC and I couldn't help laughing because the guy gave a mini speech and was completely unaware that I wasn't recording audio. I wonder what will make it onto the DVD release later this month. Overall, it was an entertaining and pretty physically demanding shoot for 5 hours. I just bought a vest from Walter Klassen and used it for the first time on this shoot. WOW! I was super impressed and will stand behind this vest and the quality and craftsmanship that went into making it. - Jonathan Labby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Phil Jacques Posted May 12, 2009 Premium Members Report Share Posted May 12, 2009 Hi, I did the HD PPV show WM25. Its a lot of fun. Good people to work for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Erik Brul Posted April 3, 2011 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 Hi, I did the HD PPV show WM25. Its a lot of fun. Good people to work for. Hey guys (& girls), Today its the day, wrestlemania 27.. any steadicam this year? I hope so, please try to get some more shots then last years... Enjoy :) Cheers, Erik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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