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1st Major Feature Flyin the Rig


Nikk Hearn-Sutton SOC

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I just finished my 1st indepentdent film called "Drip" that was shot on a Panasonic Varicam that hopefully will be submitted to Sundance this year that is if everything goes good in post.

My first shot was a ext. tracking shot of about 100 or more feet going thru turns and a hallway while keeping a 2 shot and nailed it in 2 takes while going backwards. 1st take was a rehearsal, 2nd stuck it, 3rd for a safety. After the director said cut I got around of applause cause it was a very difficult shot to pull off. It felt so good to have my peers give me thanks on a job well done.

After that came a night club scene where I tracked them thru the club. Caught them coming in then lost them in the crowd then picked them back up behind them and stuck it with the 1st take and a safety. Then the DP let me go getting random shots of the crowd and the club. The shot that made the crew go ape shit was when I did an orbit around a couple dancing. they were going one way and I another. Then did the same thing when another couple was static.

My final scene was in in a bar that wasn't to be a steadi shot but the 1st AC forgot a mounting plate for the camera and we had to get this shot so we could get the abby and martini and hit it on the 2nd take. So as soon as the 1st AD said "And thats a wrap for steadicam" I got a huge applause from the cast and crew and it made me feel honored and blessed to be apart of this cause the director said that if it wasn't for me the film couldn't be completed on time and we had to be out of that lo-cal by 3am and we were out by 12:30.

This was a fine time for me and recieved allot of respect for my craft and wanted to cry of happiness to be looked upon as one of the fortunate to be a steadi op. This was the first step on being a good operator to a great operator all in due time but I can't wait to see the shots and see the web site for the film with promo photos from the photag. As soon as the the site is up I'll let you know and I'm still amped about it. That was one of the best experiences of my life besides the birth of my 2 boys.

 

Nikk "Straightin up and Fly Right" Sutton

 

Nikk

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right on, right on!

 

sounds like a very rewarding experience; can sense the how stoked you were from your post. i'm particularly impressed with how quickly you were able to nail each shot. being fast and helping production save money are two great assets to have, especially with so much talk about productions skimping out on steadicam rates.

 

jake pollock

taipei, taiwan

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congrats nik!!

 

re: out early... thats what steadicam can do for a production... increase production while decreasing setup time... thats one of the big advantages of using steadicam...

 

im sure your name is written down in ink with the UPM, director, etc.. etc...

 

again congrats!!!!

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I never knew on how big of an impact that I would make on that production and most of all to my fellow ops around the world. I feels good. I guess it''s just my modesty coming out. Again thank you to all. And especially to my wife who told me to go for it. Thank you!!!!!

 

Nikk "I'm blushing :wub:" Sutton

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Man, there is nothing like that high from nailing an exceptionally complex shot, its one of those chest pounding, let me do it again, yeah I'm the man moments, anyways thats what I feel on the inside, outside I just look bored. By the way Nikk I know that you were looking to upgrade your arm before, what do you have now?

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