Slave Cam

[Philip J. Martinez SOC]

So we have all heard about Slavecam at the workshops but has anyone used one? Any Pictures of it and any ideas on how to make one?

 

I have a low budget movie shooting on Wed. the 27th. I told the DP about this and he wants to give it a try.

 

 

I found this but I'm looking for a little more info

 

http://www.steadicamforum.com/forums/index...mp;hl=slave+cam

 

Thanks

[Jess Haas SOC]

The SOA manual that they give out at workshops has a number of pictures in it. I would probably go with speedrail and a piece of plywood for constructing one.

 

What is the shot that you think would benefit from it? Or is this more of a way to punish grips?

 

~Jess

[Philip J. Martinez SOC]

The shot is simply starting as high as possible with something in the foreground being lowered to the ground and moving into a walk and talk. They cant afford a jib and a steadicam.

 

I only saw page 41 in the SOA workbook with a picture of one with a chair.

 

I do not think production will pick up any speed rail. I think I?m going to have to make it all out of wood. Trying to think about the back rest for me so I do not fall off.

 

Just looking for a picture to show the one grip on the job (who I do not want to punish)

[Alec Jarnagin SOC]

Phillip,

 

Depending on how much of a vertical drop it truly needs to be, there is a good chance you could get away with a ramp (I use this trick all the time).

[Mike McGowan SOC]

Another one I've used is bolting a chair (any chair, school chair, desk chair, et.) to the top of a riser on a dolly.

 

You can sit comfortably with the lense at about 12'. You can wear a belt (and have a safty line go through the back of the chair and have a grip hold it) and you can do a step off or step on. It's pretty safe, easy, quick and doesn't require any equipment (save 4 bolts and a cheap chair).

 

If you want to roll over terrain that's not super smooth, you can put the dolly on a western dolly and then your uber versatile.

[Alan Mehlbrech]

Hey Philip,

 

I made a slavecam out of wood at a workshop in Maine.

2 full sheets of 3/4 ply and 10 2x4's 8' long.

 

I married the 2x4's in pairs to make 5 4x4 handles.

 

One sheet of ply on top and the other on the bottom. The 4x4's came out of the 4' side of the ply sandwich equally to make handles .

 

Then we all got together (10 people) and lifted our op and talent up about 3' in the air...

 

This lasted 20 to 30 seconds before the faces turned red and we lowered them down again.

 

One take .

 

 

 

-if you can make it though to the end that is when the slavecam comes into play. 4:00 till the end.

 

We all had fun making it and Paul was surprised at the Friday night showing even though he was in it...

 

Alan Mehlbrech

[Jess Haas SOC]

Sounds heavy. Hence the speedrail recommendation. Of course once you add the rig and operator.....

 

~Jess