Mike and Nancy Flynn Posted June 26, 2008 Report Share Posted June 26, 2008 Today, we have servo-remote follow focus devices - But how was this handled before these devices were available or did these devices exist in 1977 when Bound for Glory was shot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Charles Papert Posted June 26, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 26, 2008 Hopefully GB will chime in on this, but my memory from the historical pix is that no remote focus was used on Bound for Glory, and there is a follow focus knob visible on the 2C as used on Marathon Man. GB's article on "The Shining" refers to them using the brand-new WRC3 wireless system from CP (which was my first focus unit too, not that I have any fond memories of that!). I would imagine somewhere inbetween there was a wired system in use--the Panaglide was equipped with one--but barring that, they just set the focus for the hyperfocal and used depth of field to carry a given shot. Still possible today with 2/3" video and 16mm for certain shots, and a no-brainer for the little 1/3 cameras. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike and Nancy Flynn Posted June 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 Thanks, Charles! Very helpful! I have since checked over at SteadiShots and looked at GB's comments on the Bound for Glory shot and he mentioned there that he stayed on the set for a few weeks after his crane step-off shot but that they could not use the "contraption" very much because of a lack of focus pulling ability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members JimBartell Posted June 27, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 In my days of prowling the storage spaces of Cinema Products in order to avoid work I stumbled across an early photo of a focus puller using a wired focus control that was cabled to the back of the operator's vest. I have no info on when or where this was, but it looked like it was in the very early pre-WRC3 days. I do remember the rig was a very early model, probably a model 1. BTW, I have a non-functional WRC-3 handset I use to wow newbies and induce PTSD in old timers. Jim "pardon me while I whip this out" Bartell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike and Nancy Flynn Posted June 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 In my days of prowling the storage spaces of Cinema Products in order to avoid work I stumbled across an early photo of a focus puller using a wired focus control that was cabled to the back of the operator's vest. I have no info on when or where this was, but it looked like it was in the very early pre-WRC3 days. I do remember the rig was a very early model, probably a model 1. BTW, I have a non-functional WRC-3 handset I use to wow newbies and induce PTSD in old timers. Jim "pardon me while I whip this out" Bartell You worked at CP years ago? You probably knew my ex-wife then - around 1980 or so... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members JimBartell Posted June 28, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 Sorry, off by a decade. I didn't start until 1990. Jim "missed it by that much" Bartell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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