Jessica Bennett

Looks like a larger source

Shooting on F700, we used 2 - 10K projectors and it looked great. Perhaps anything less would not have had this richness in color.

I am shooting in a studio with some soft HMI lighting, using only a 1.2K and a 2.5K, both with diffusion or bounced for a gently-lit daylight look. Shooting against a 35' white cyc, with the subject 15' away from the cyc. We want to light the cyc and subject separately with projected color fx images. Any idea on how much lumens we should be looking for in a projector?

Too low budget to get the right location? Your key grip or dolly grip should be able to make something perfect for the situation using channel wheels. I do it all of the time. Then, use a short jib arm for booming up and down. As for a specific tiny dolly with a booming arm, I don't know.

Just to mention about specs on grip equipment... If companies offered true specs to polecats and spreaders, I'm sure they'd have a big insurance issue. Its different when the rigging depends on itself, like truss. Safety first, know what you're doing before you attempt do it. Gripping is common sense, just everybody doesn't have a simple like that.

I prefer Avenger because the riser tubes are thick and the stand weighs itself down pretty well. Even though Modern stands are for the Matthews lovers, the knuckles are aren't easy to grab and the stand doesn't feel any more sturdy than the Matthews. One thing I don't understand about the Avenger is how to repair it.

Speedrail keeps things extremely versatile. For example, you can make a nice little boom to arm out in a quickie. But if you'd like a nice frame-only kit, look up square tube frames with Matthews hollywood corners and quick reversing ears. Square tubing, I recommend, is the best quality for 6'/8'/12' frames for a rigid frame. MSE catalog site http://www.msegrip.com/mse.php?show=email

Also check out Modern's suction cups and speedrail hood mounts/door mounts. for the mounting hardware, I recommend you'll need a real grip. But the suction cups are great for small DV cams and small lights. http://www.modernstudio.com/pages/1/index.htm

This may sound excessive, but its good to know: If you need more power, you can put a boat battery with a bigger power inverter in the trunk of the car. These can go up to 3000 watts. Its expensive, but a gem to own. If you need this, get someone who knows how to do it to rig it properly. There are marine inverters too, with salt/air/water protection. Then, you can rig lights inside or outside the car without a camera insert/process trailer.

Got it! I despise luann... but we got the sintra, thanks!

Anybody know where I can buy Sintra 4'x8' sheets in NYC? Maybe someone can recommend something else that's cheaper than sintra, but just as good. The cheapest stuff I use is masonite. Any ideas? Thanks...

It seems to me that it could be more appropriate to shoot the whole thing on greenscreen. But if you must have the 10' light tube, you'll have to build a frame and wrap it with some diffusion. Or get the perfect thin, frosted/white plastic. Weigh it down on a doorway dolly or similar and push it on dolly track. If you build a tube like this for just a few shots, you'll have to keep the light rigging light-weight, or just not top heavy. We've built many strips of lights that are globes on battin, but the halogens can cause fires rigged on wood, and electric shock on metal. Do that one safely.

I've been a grip for six years. I did a lot of free b's at first. You're going to have to work for free, independently. Also, working in a BIG rental shop helps you get the equipment skills and work hook-ups too. But you'll have to earn the knowledge. Some unions allow apprentices. You should read the grip handbook and maybe the set technician's handbook, too. Good luck.

Thank you Michael. And, no pictures of that sunroof rig. But, any key grip can make it happen. I'd say there are several possibilities for a easy and safe rig on the roof of a car. Low Budget option would be to ratchet strap a light on a pancake onto the roof. As far as the tape thing goes- i can't stand it. But generally, we'll start shoving shims or camera wedges into the crevices and tape or clip to those. Rigging upwards off of a pigeon on a pancake on the floor works wonders too.

Low Budget? For a two shot, Step by Step: Get a car with a sunroof. Diffuse the roof. Bang some rigged light in from above if needed. Use 3/4 or 1 inch clear double-stick tape on the outside of the windshield. First, apply tape along edge of glass - out of sight. Then, lay out major ND over windshield without sticking. Put a finger in the center and stretch the ND out and stick it. Trim. Works every time. Tape Flos - size of your choice - to trimmed white show-card - called a Dan Flavin. Tape Dan Flavins frontal/overhead. Use some duvetine, blackwrap, or tape to flag off reflections. And throw some bleached white muslin over the actors' laps and/or dashboard. You can use that for day and night by adjusting color and direction.

A good photo, if you haven't seen it yet... http://www.crewpix.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=15339

Gas Powered Foggers are perfect for huge outdoor settings. Its worth the rental because it will never fail you, and you get it smoked up very fast. If you want low settling fog, dry ice in scattered little containers of course will do it. Its a pain though, it never lasts. And burning stuff to make smoke really kills the atmosphere for actors, if they will be out there huffing it in. Otherwise, I agree that its a cheap alternative, but very tedious.

I'm from Miami Beach and now live in NYC. In NYC, its sometimes hard to find something to tie down to on locations, and there are never enough sand bags. Its different when there's a story about Colonel Dave in Miami holding a 12x with one hand over the ocean because the wind has picked up. All I can say is anything's possible. You have to bag and tie down tough always, but I don't give it more than 15 mph for a rag to tear at the grommits or the frame to fold. If you can minimize the strength of the wind against the rag by using it table-topped, then you can equally tie down each corner very well. Jessica Bennett Grip

First, you gotta love that Makohead. It's obviously incredible! Love at first sight! Oh My Mako! Also, you gotta love that Steadycam or Dolly. Pick one look. And don't forget Mako. But last, remember you can put your steadycam op. (if you already have one) on wheels to ride, with or without a garfield mount. Almost any wheels - without track. So what's more affordable? Steady or Mako? What is this world coming to? I Love Grip. Jessica Bennett