upside down jib

Danny Robashkin · January 1

I know it's pretty trivial to have the camera underslung on a jib but is there any way to rig a jib upside down to be able to get up/down movement hung from the ceiling without a stand?

David Mullen ASC · January 1

Sure if you had a sturdy steel ceiling beam that can take that much weight and the beam had enough ceiling space above it, and there was a post coming down from the beam, to allow the weight bucket to move higher than the fulcrum point and swing around. An experienced grip team would have to rig it, with safety cables, especially since that's a lot of weight to suspend in midair.

Danny Robashkin · January 2

Hey David, I've done something like that before (was indeed a set up), but if I understand what you're describing it's just a way to have the jib hang from the ceiling. I'm looking to have the jib actually be upside down, but my understanding is most (all?) jibs have to sit on their base and not hang from it.

Edited January 2 by Danny Robashkin

Albion Hockney · January 2

What is the shot your trying to achieve?

I can't image a need for overhead mounting of a jib unless you are trying to do a 360 degree move around a space while the camera is booming up/down. And even then, probably better ways. It would have to all be motorized too which makes it incredibly complex.

I'd work with experienced grips or jib ops to work out what you need for your shot.

Edited January 2 by Albion Hockney

Danny Robashkin · January 2

You described it exactly. As mentioned, the only thing we were able to do was mount the jib right side up in the middle, which gave us a 300 degree shot, not 360. If we could hang it upside down we could do 360.

Danny Robashkin · January 2

Wanted to add there are a few solutions to 360 from ceiling, but not with the up/down a good jib provides or the weigh capacity. (mounting red, fluid head/ etc'. Probably 25-35 lbs

David Mullen ASC · January 2

Seems better to use a MoVI on short pole and have someone walk around with it; we did that on “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”, sort of a lower-tech version of an ARRI Trinity.

Dan Finlayson · January 2

I can't remember the name of it but there's a rafter-mounted jib system that's sometimes used in live sports in indoor arenas that's basically an upside down jib (that is also mounted on a track). Sorry this isn't the most helpful lead, if the name comes back to me I'll update!

Albion Hockney · January 2

depending on the scale and reach needed a trinity might be the right tool. You could also move the base of a jib on a dolly as the move is done to get 360.