Nikk Hearn-Sutton SOC Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 Not to bring race into it but... I've seen many operators of different races but I never seen a Black operator. I know they exist (me being one) but as Mel Brooks can say with a twist of words.."WHERE DA BLACK OPERATORS AT!!!!" :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattmarek Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 i think i recall pics of marc abernathy and he sure looked black (sorry marc if i'm way off here :-) fwiw, i can shake my money maker to outkast B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Bill Powers Posted July 27, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 There's always Ron Borden. Never seen him on the forum though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalterKlassen Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 Candide Franklin here in TO -Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members David Allen Grove Posted July 27, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 marcus cole, kirk gardner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members David George Ellis Posted July 28, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 28, 2004 David Ellis... He's a new guy I know out of NY. Oh wait, he's me. Hey Nikk, I'm one of the Brown Party delegates. Pretty much hanging on the tree, still green. But ripening. I haven't met any black ops. as of yet, but that's life :D I was the only one out of a class of 16 at the workshop in Chester Springs, PA including faculty and staff. With the exception of the concierge at the hotel. It seems that being a black operator gives you, I and others out there a unique distinction when you show up to set with gear or hint hint and wink wink to people about what you do. Pretty much in the same way as one would a black hockey player. Then again, I'm sure our caucazoid (how did caucazoid become a word?) and mongloid :huh: brethren get the same or similar responses. Then again, again... Though new to this, I notice the difference in levels of respect when of I grip vs. the few times I flown. One moment, I'm schlubbing all sorts of gripology to and from the truck, drinking stale coffee and whut-not. The next moment, I'm being pampered, having warm baths drawn for me and drinking Cristal from the Holy Grail, etc. Well, maybe not as fabulous, but still notable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikk Hearn-Sutton SOC Posted July 28, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2004 It's nice to know this, even though I'm in a wacked out market of 35-40,but I believe in higher markets there's more. I knew I wasn't alone (no way possible) it's just one of those things can't explain it. Curiousity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikk Hearn-Sutton SOC Posted July 28, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2004 Candide Franklin here in TO -Jen Where's TO?? :unsure: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fosteralex Posted July 28, 2004 Report Share Posted July 28, 2004 Toronto.... Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch Gross Posted July 28, 2004 Report Share Posted July 28, 2004 Hey Dave, if they give you any odd looks as a dark-skinned Steadicam Op, use your grip background. Point to the rig and note how it is finished matte black. Then point to yourself. Note that your history as a grip is all about eliminating reflections and that you as an Op will not need as many flags set as others. Then smile as they stumble off confused. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikk Hearn-Sutton SOC Posted July 29, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2004 NICE :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members David George Ellis Posted July 30, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 30, 2004 Thanks Mitch. I know I can always count on your refreshing cynicism in opposition to turning the other cheek... It's always so, walk-off homerun-ish. So far I have been greeted with the "Oh, so there are black operators" look from production, and from the gripologist point of view it's the ,"What are you still doing here with us?" look. I gotta get my foot in someone's door ;) This is all an interesting self-perspective moment for me. Just as Mr. Sutton has brouht up the topic of black people breaking boundaries in the filmmaking process, I have begun to delve into the delightful world of the Blaxploitation era. My my, have we ALL come a long way. Most recent viewings; The Black 6; Dolomite in The Human Tornado. Both masterpieces in my mind. All other recomendations I would appreciate as a side note. One of the things I love about grips is they usually have the most knowledge on vague references to films I would watch if the movie wasn't so far under my radar. It just goes to show what immense times we as a world face, and how everything in the past takes so long to evolve away from to reach a satisfactory level of societal homeostasis. I'm not here to get on my soap box (it now comes in liquid form), but it is a beautiful thing when I am part of a predominately white male sector of the industry, and all that I have come into contact with is fraternal goodness. From my first contact with Mr. McDonnell to Alec and Mitch and the workshop, dot dot dot. All of them, white dudes. But I love them like my own. More to say, gotta work. For now, ALL YOUR WHITE WOMEN ARE BELONG TO US. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Alec Jarnagin SOC Posted July 30, 2004 Moderators Report Share Posted July 30, 2004 I remember once I was with a crew, scouting locations in Harlem. We, not surprisingly, were a group of white men - anyway, we walked into a Starbucks (that says something on its own) and this black guy looks up and with a smile says, "there goes the neighborhood." Hey, does anybody know of any black women operators? With the number of people jumping on the Steadi-wagon as of late, I'd think we'd have one by now. I'd still love to see more women operators out there. Dave, give me a call sometime and come by with your rig if you want. Next week is fairly light, but then things get crazy again. Alec Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruben Sluijter Posted July 30, 2004 Report Share Posted July 30, 2004 More to say, gotta work. For now, ALL YOUR WHITE WOMEN ARE BELONG TO US. Now now Dave, share the whealth... don't be so selfish! Peace, Ruben "Hasn't seen any color since the nightstick incident" Sluijter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Marc Abernathy Posted July 30, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 30, 2004 i think i recall pics of marc abernathy and he sure looked black (sorry marc if i'm way off here :-) B) DING! correct!! johnny, tell him what hes won... :0 yes i am black. i knew of kirk gardner back in the day (he did Steadi on 'Friday'). ron borden was also another guy i know who lives in atlanta (cant get in toucxh with him thugh... where are you ron??). he was the third OP i met after Jim mckonkey and an unknown OP on a promo shoot for a tv station (the only station who knew what steadi was at the time) back in 1995. i think i am the only brotha thats in the steadicam guild. :D what do you think dave? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.