robert duke

Freya, I am sorry but social darwinism or not it is a truth. People who cannot survive in the industry leave it. It happened in the 80's on the last writer's strike. Talk to the old timers. The number of "old timers" is few not because they all died, many left because they could not make a living. I have had dear friends who taught me about lighting, grip, and camera retire early to open bars, start Ad agencies, etc. because they had to pay the bills.

For centuries humanity has created Theater. Theater was around before the greeks, basic storytelling. It is as basic as emotions and cathartic situations. Humanity created Film as an extension of theater. Yes there is a lot of CRAP. Richard have you seen your movies? Are they worthwhile to the cause of human condition? All stories in some manner worth repeating are valued to the human condition. We strive to see someone we identify with in some way to remind us we are a collective of people feeling. Yes life could go on without filmmaking and movies. The quality of life would suffer. Man would find another avenue for story telling and sharing of the Human condition. We all have forever been altered by this which we work in. You have a favorite movie, you have a favorite story. It doesnt matter who you are. Movies are an extension of our connectivity to one another. How many dates have you take to a movie? How many hours have you "wasted" in front of a TV? Even Osama bin Laden watches TV and goes to the Movies. You can't say movies are fluff. Everyone finds something of value in movies, That is why it is a billion plus dollar industry.

Dan Cornwall uses "billy boxes" or garbage boxes. He takes a small file box or paper box and lines it with aluminum foil. installs a socket and zip cord, around the face he puts velcro and keeps some diffusion cuts with matching velcro. He mounts a baby pin to the back of it and voila. A small super cheap softbox. He used these a lot on Black Snake Moan.

Richard, TO put case to you, If you make your film and follow your own advice and beliefs as far as crew and crew rights, you may make one film, or a dozen but eventually it catches up with you. You become known as the guy NOT to work for. The guy to not return phone calls. It doesnt matter how much you pay, If you treat people the way you describe they will not work for you. Things have a way of catching up with you. I wish you luck, I hope that we as a collective of voices have had a benificial effect on you. I wish that you heard what we are saying. If you want Quality, you have to pay for it, not neccessarily with $$ but with acts of good faith as well. As for travel, I live far outside the "zone" I work as a local though. It puts me out of the running for mileage. I CHOOSE to live here. I dont choose where the work is. An Hour drive after 12-16hrs makes for a dangerous life on the road. Many accidents have happened from productions running late and people getting on the road. As far as mileage is deserved, if you call an AC out of toronto to drive an Hour each way ( 2hrs a day) he has to include that time away from his family, he has not chosen to shoot out there, production has. I once watched our boom operator wreck his motorcycle on the 101 driving home after a 20hr day, we were shooting in malibu and we lived in downtown LA. (easily an hour drive with traffic) He survived but did not finish the show due to the accident. He said he fell asleep on the bike. Production had to find a replacement. Think of the hours of production time locating a new boom op. time better spent working on fixing a schedule.

These are crap. I bought one to make a garbage box light. It worked great but the softbox was crap. the rods are too thin, the material is not heat resistant, the speed ring only fits some strobes. the speed ring melted with a 250w globe. save your money.

The point is, Annie, that most of the rest of us are doing exactly that, and your union does nothing. So stand up and say something. The union will get involved if you ask them to. If you feel you are being mistreated, call the union even if you are non union. Also you have the ability to say no to a project. you have the ability to call the NLRB ( national labor relations board) much like OSHA it deals with worker rights and labor laws. you have the ability to pull the producer aside and discuss the issues with them. I have found that when called out on issues producers will usually try to address the problems. It is up to YOU to allow yourself to be mistreated. You dont have to take the jobs from producers who habitually abuse you. you have choices.

I am not saying that corruption has not found its way into the institution of Unions, corruption has found its way into every leg of society, ENRON, Science, government, etc. For the corruption of a few the masses should not be punished. Unions are here to fight for the humanity of a job. Why can't we in the film industry have an 8hr day? why must we sacrifice the quality of our lives for someone else's ART? the IATSE fights to create a balance in the rights of its members and the needs of producers. Overtime and meal penalties are penalties for working long hours. Producers decide when they cross those lines, and they do it consciously. Overtime starts at 8hrs most of the time. producers budget for overtime and meal penalties. why?

Labor Unions assisted in the language of the laws that govern workers rights. labor unions wrote that language to fight the sweat shop mentality of mills, factories, and other industries. you should research beyond wikipedia and read about the labor disputes that followed the coal industry. Here is some history of Unions and their why. 1800s 1806 (United States) Commonwealth vs. Pullis was the first reported case arising from a labor strike in the United States. After a three day trial, the jury found the defendants guilty of "a combination to raise their wages". [edit] 1820s 27 April 1825 (United States) Carpenters in Boston were the first to stage a strike for the 10-hour work-day. [edit] 1830s 3 July 1835 (United States) Children employed in the silk mills in Paterson, New Jersey go on strike for the 11 hour d ay, 6 days a week. [edit] 1840s March 1842 (United States) Commonwealth v. Hunt was a landmark legal decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on the subject of labor unions. Chief Justice Lemuel Shaw ruled that unions were legal organizations and had the right to organize and strike. Before this decision, labor unions which attempted to 'close' or create an unionized workplace could be charged with conspiracy. See Commonwealth vs. Pullis 1847 (Scotland) The Educational Institute of Scotland, the oldest teachers' trade union in the world, was founded. [edit] 1850s July 1851 (United States) Two railroad strikers are shot dead and others injured by the state militia in Portage, New York. 21 April 1856 (Australia) Stonemasons and building workers in Melbourne achieve an Eight-hour day, the first organised workers in the world to achieve an 8 hour day, with no loss of pay. [edit] 1860s 1860 (United States) 800 women operatives and 4,000 workmen marched during a shoemaker's strike in Lynn, Massachusetts. 1866 (United States) National Labor Union formed - 1st national labor federation in the US. 1868 (Germany) The General German Federation of Trade Unions (ADGB) was founded and represented 142,000 workers.[1] 1869 (United States) Uriah Stephans organized a new union known as the Knights of Labor. [edit] 1870s 13 January 1874 (United States) The original Tompkins Square Riot. As unemployed workers demonstrated in New York City's Tompkins Square Park, a detachment of mounted police charged into the crowd, beating men, women and children indiscriminately with billy clubs and leaving hundreds of casualties in their wake. Commented Abram Duryee, the Commissioner of Police: "It was the most glorious sight I ever saw..." 12 February 1877 (United States) Great Railroad Strike -- U.S. railroad workers began strikes to protest wage cuts.[1] 21 June 1877 (United States) Ten coal-mining activists ("Molly Maguires") were hanged in Pennsylvania. 14 July 1877 (United States) A general strike halted the movement of U.S. railroads. In the following days, strike riots spread across the United States. The next week, federal troops were called out to force an end to the nationwide strike. At the "Battle of the Viaduct" in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago, between protesting members of the Chicago German Furniture Workers Union, now Local 1784 of the Carpenters Union, and federal troops (recently returned from an Indian massacre) killed 30 workers and wounded over 100. [edit] 1880s 5 September 1882 (United States) Thirty thousand workers marched in the first Labor Day parade in New York City. 1883 (Canada) The Trades and Labour Congress of Canada (TLC), a Canada-wide central federation of trade unions was formed. 1884 (United States) The Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions, forerunner of the American Federation of Labor, passed a resolution stating that "8 hours shall constitute a legal day's work from and after May 1, 1886." March 1886 (United States) The Great Southwest Railroad Strike of 1886 was a labor union strike against the Union Pacific and Missouri Pacific railroads involving more than 200,000 workers. 1 May 1886 (United States) Workers protested in the streets to demand the universal adoption of the eight hour day. Hundreds of thousands of American workers had joined the Knights of Labor. 1 May 1886 (United States) Bay View Tragedy -- About 2,000 Polish workers walked off their jobs and gathered at St. Stanislaus Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, angrily denouncing the ten hour workday. The protesters marched through the city, calling on other workers to join them. All but one factory was closed down as sixteen thousand protesters gathered at Rolling Mills. Wisconsin Governor Jeremiah Rusk called the state militia. The militia camped out at the mill while workers slept in nearby fields. On the morning of May 5th, as protesters chanted for the eight hour workday, General Treaumer ordered his men to shoot into the crowd, some of whom were carrying sticks, bricks, and scythes, leaving seven dead at the scene, including a child.[2][3] The Milwaukee Journal reported that eight more would die within twenty-four hours, adding that Governor Rusk was to be commended for his quick action in the matter. 4 May 1886 (United States) The Haymarket Riot, in Chicago, Illinois, is the origin of international May Day observances. 4 October 1887 (United States) The Louisiana Militia, aided by bands of "prominent citizens," shot 35 unarmed black sugar workers striking to gain a dollar-per-day wage, and lynched two strike leaders. June 1888 (United Kingdom) The London matchgirls strike of 1888 was a strike of the women and teenage girls working at the Bryant and May Factory in Bow, London. The strike was prompted by the poor working conditions in the match factory, including fourteen hour work days, poor pay, excessive fines, and the severe health complications of working with yellow (or white) phosphorus, such as phossy jaw. [edit] 1890s 25 July 1890 (United States) New York garment workers won the right to unionize after a seven-month strike. They secured agreements for a closed shop, and firing of all scabs. 6 July 1892 (United States) Homestead Strike -- Pinkerton Guards, trying to pave the way for the introduction of scabs, opened fire on striking Carnegie mill steel-workers in Homestead, Pennsylvania. In the ensuing battle, three Pinkertons surrendered; then, unarmed, they were set upon and beaten by a mob of townspeople, most of them women. Seven guards and eleven strikers and spectators were shot to death.[4] 11 July 1892 (United States) Coeur d'Alene miners' dispute -- Striking miners in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho dynamited the Frisco Mill, leaving it in ruins. 1894 (United Kingdom) History of Trade Unionism, the influential book by Sidney and Beatrice Webb is first published. 7 February 1894 (United States) In Cripple Creek, Colorado, miners went on strike when mine owners announced an increase from eight to ten hours per day, with no increase in wages. This strike marked perhaps the only time in American history that a state militia was called out to protect miners from sheriff's deputies. 11 May - 10 July 1894 (United States) Pullman Strike -- A nation-wide strike against the Pullman Company begins with a wildcat walkout on 11 May after wages are drastically reduced. On 5 July, the 1892 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago's Jackson Park was set ablaze, and seven buildings were burned to the ground. The mobs raged on, burning and looting railroad cars and fighting police in the streets, until 10 July, when 14,000 federal and state troops finally succeeded in putting down the strike, killing 34 American Railway Union members. Leaders of the strike, including Eugene Debs, were imprisoned for violating injunctions, causing disintegration of the union.[4] 1895 (France) The Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT), was formed. This French union is the oldest confederation still in existence. 21 September 1896 (United States) The state militia was sent to Leadville, Colorado to break a miner's strike. 10 September 1897 (United States) Lattimer Massacre -- 19 unarmed striking coal miners and mine workers were killed and 36 wounded by a posse organized by the Luzerne County sheriff for refusing to disperse near Hazleton, Pennsylvania. The strikers, most of whom were shot in the back, were originally brought in as strike-breakers, but later organized themselves. 1898 (United States) A portion of the Erdman act, which would have made it a criminal offense for railroads to dismiss employees or discriminate against prospective employees based on their union activities, was declared invalid by the United States Supreme Court. [edit] 1900s 12 October 1902 (United States) The Anthracite Coal Strike -- Fourteen miners were killed and 22 wounded by scabherders at Pana, Illinois.[2] The miner get to raise their wages 10% higher and 9-hour day. 23 November 1903 (United States) Colorado Labor Wars -- Troops were dispatched to Cripple Creek, Colorado to defeat a strike by the Western Federation of Miners, with the specific purpose of driving the union out of the district. The strike had begun in the ore mills earlier in 1903, and then spread to the mines. July 1903 (United States) Labor organizer Mary Harris ("Mother") Jones leads child workers in demanding a 55 hour work week. 23 February 1904 (United States) William Randolph Hearst's San Francisco Chronicle began publishing articles on the menace of Japanese laborers, leading to a resolution of the California Legislature that action be taken against their immigration. 8 June 1904 (United States) A battle between the Colorado Militia and striking miners at Dunnville ended with six union members dead and 15 taken prisoner. Seventy-nine of the strikers were deported to Kansas two days later. 17 April 1905 (United States) The Supreme Court held that a maximum hours law for New York bakery workers was unconstitutional under the due process clause of the 14th amendment. 1908 (United States) The Erdman Act was further weakened when Section 10 was declared unconstitutional. This section had made it illegal for railroad employers to fire employees for being involved in union activities and use "yellow dog" contracts (see 1898). 22 November 1909 (United States) The New York shirtwaist strike of 1909 (Uprising of the 20,000). Female garment workers went on strike in New York; many were arrested. A judge told those arrested: "You are on strike against God." [edit] 1910s October 1, 1910 (United States) Los Angeles Times building bombing killed twenty people and destroyed the building. Calling it "the crime of the century," the newspaper's owner Harrison Gray Otis blamed the bombing on the unions, a charge denied by unionists. 25 December 1910 (United States) A dynamite bomb destroyed a portion of the Llewellyn Iron works in Los Angeles, where a bitter strike was in progress. In April 1911 James McNamara and his brother John McNamara, secretary-treasurer of the International Association of Bridge and Structural Iron Workers, were charged with the two crimes. James McNamara pleaded guilty to murder and John McNamara pleaded guilty to conspiracy in the dynamiting of the Llewellyn Iron Works.[3] 1911 (United States) The Supreme Court in Gompers v. Buck's Stove and Range Co. (221 U.S. 418) affirmed a lower court order for the AFL to stop interfering with Buck's Stove and Range Company's business or boycotting its products or distributors. On June 24, 1912 in the second contempt trial, the defendants (Samuel Gompers, John Mitchell, and Frank Morrison) were again found guilty and sentenced to prison. The Supreme Court overturned the convictions because the new proceedings had not been instituted within the three-year statute of limitations (233 U.S. 604 1914).[5] 25 March 1911 (United States) Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire -- The Triangle Shirtwaist Company, occupying the top three floors of a ten-story building in New York City, was consumed by fire. One hundred and forty-seven people, mostly women and young girls working in sweatshop conditions, died. January-March 1912 (United States) Lawrence textile strike in Lawrence, Massachusetts, often known as the "Bread and Roses" strike. Dozens of different immigrant communities united under the leadership of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) in a largely successful strike led to a large extent by women. The strike is credited with inventing the moving picket line, a tactic devised to keep strikers from being arrested for loitering. It also adopted a tactic used before in Europe, but never in the United States, of sending children to sympathizers in other cities when they could not be cared for by strike funds. On 24 February, women attempting to put their children on a train out of town were beaten by police, shocking the nation.[4][6] 18 April 1912 (United States) The National Guard was called out against striking West Virginia coal miners. 7 July 1912 (United States) Striking members of the Brotherhood of Timber Workers and supporters are involved in an armed confrontation with the Galloway Lumber Company and supporters in the Grabow Riot, resulting in four deaths and 40 to 50 wounded. 11 June 1913 (United States) Police shot three maritime workers (one of whom was killed) who were striking against the United Fruit Company in New Orleans. 5 January 1914 (United States) The Ford Motor Company raised its basic wage from $2.40 for a nine hour day to $5 for an eight hour day. 20 April 1914 (United States) The "Ludlow Massacre." In an attempt to persuade strikers at Colorado's Ludlow Mine Field to return to work, company "guards," engaged by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and other mine operators and sworn into the State Militia just for the occasion, attacked a union tent camp with machine guns, then set it afire. Five men, two women and 12 children died as a result.[4][5]

The IATSE has a wage Minimum rate sheet. You are by all rights allowed to barter a wage that is higher than the printed minimum. This is not price fixing. It is assurance of pay for knowledge learned. The IATSE is only exclusionary in way that work volume = the volume of workers. Other wise everyone starves. I am sorry but we all can't be everything we wanted. I had to wait for someone to die before I moved up into a position. The rate at which people are graduating film school is higher than the rate of work. If the IATSE did not close its open policy there would not be enough work for its membership to survive. It would make itself contrary. If you cant find work maybe you should find another line of buisness. Darwin holds true for filmmaking too. It does not take a rich person to join the IATSE. It is frequent that on shows that "flip" free or discounted membership is Offered. In this manner MANY of my friends and I have joined the union. You can if you have not worked apply for reduced dues. The Union Members make more money because we have rate minimums, overtime rules, meal penalties, etc. We do not allow ourselves to be overrun by errant producers. If you are not happy with what you make look at why you make that much. We work just as hard as Non union members, but we stand together. If all the non union people united they would create a UNION. I have worked plenty of $100 a day jobs, flat day jobs, etc. I still do. The Union is responsible for all the labor laws all over the world. history will tell you that it is the work of the unions that have created labor laws and influenced them. People died for you to be able to have a weekend. with out the unions the weekend as we know it would not exist.

It IS the job of the Union to provide for its membership. So it is the job of the Union to provide or at least Offer health insurance. I have worked on a LOT of under 1 million movies, I have worked on UNION movies that were less than 1 million. The union has had shows as small as $250k. The Union is willing to work with budgets that small. It is about making sure people are working in safe ways, in safe conditions, and not run ragged. Yes the Union has no interest in No budget films. But the unions even in LA wont bother you on shows that small, you have to want the union there in shows with less than $500 million. So the unions arent so pesky after all. As for doing multiple jobs, it is up to the individual to allow himself to be put in those situations. It is not that safe is an issue from 1st AD to slate ( AC) to talent co-ordinate it is about quality of the job. You can t do a good job if you are strung out across different departments and responsibilities. You cant coordinate the talent if you are busy slating the scene being shot. you cant do ALL the duties of a 1st AD if you are busy working as an Electrician. you can't do a good consistent job of being a DP if you are being the AD at the sametime. I am NOT saying that it cant be done what I am saying is that Quality is sacrificed. Jack of all Trades, Master Of None. this is the reason why people specialize, they want quality. If you are willing to accept subpar quality continue this way. At some point you will want better, and you will have cheated yourself. Your Reel will look haphazzard, your knowledge will be stunted, you will not get the BIG jobs. DP's like Preito, Hall, et al studied their mistakes and polished their skill, they take the time to look at the image and sculpt it. If you are gaffing and DPing you short change yourself by not allowing your product the time and opportunity to be great. You dream of doing big shows, then practice doing it that way, Independent film is a really rich ground to learn and experience a craft. If you short change yourself and the people you work with you keep them from learning things the right way, the best way, and the way as many before me have learned to be the most effective way. Canada has a public health care system that works for most people. I have canadian friends who work in the industry and tell me that because they rig they are not allowed to use the public healthcare system. We do things in this industry that your healthcare system does not cover. Here in the USA we do NOT have public healthcare but it is Here that Hollywood is. IATSE is in Canada and offers a premium healthcare to its membership.

The voiture travelling (low rider) is close to what we use here as a Process or insert car. There is no real overall "best" way. It depends on what you are doing. You can put a small dolly on the voiture travelling and shoot from the camera dolly. Or use one of many Cheese plates and mounts. Almost any 35 mount will accomplish what you are wanting. Go to the Modern Studio web page and look at their mounts. They have a good selection of mounts that will allow you to Use your Imagination to find ways of mounting your Sony. The Crew with the voiture travelling lowrider will probably be able to do what ever you want just tell them where the camera needs to be and be realistic about it. Rely on them they are the pro's and know what their gear is capable of.

What am I supposed to do buy health insurance for a film crew for four weeks? What good will that do you? That is why the Union works for BOTH producer and crew. By being Union you are provided with a crew that is skilled, specialized, capable, safe, certified and knowledgeable. The Union provides the crew with the ability for a pension, healthcare, and support. The Union helps solve accounting errors and offers a safety net when dealing with errant producers. The Union helps the producer by providing for mediation/judification in the event of sexual harrassment, drug/alcohol abuse, job performance and other Human resources issues. The Union provides you with a list of qualified individuals upon request. I wish the government provided healthcare but they dont. I wish there were no wars. I cant do anything but vote for those things. I can utilizing the voice of the Union and its political influence try to sway our government into that. That is not a Union issue here and now though. The unions provide a healthcare plan. A plan that is one of the best in the nation. The Union provides a pension plan for its members. Without this (to bring the government in here as you would) would leave the professional film crews at the mercy of a failing Social security plan run by the government. I ask you Richard to reevaluate your view of the union. Name more than a handfull of Major motion pictures that do not carry the IATSE logo. You will find that the IATSE has helped define the look of every great modern film. The IATSE is here to assist producers. we have the Industry experience rosters. Robert Duke

So then If you are willing to support your crew and take care of them as you have said before Why not provide for them the ability to have a pension plan and Health care. These are things that the Union gives its membership. I could work all my life as a non union grip, camera, etc and live hand to mouth, not able to afford health insurance and pension funds. If you care for your crew you would provide these things. I would work for lower than scale wages If I was provided Pension and Health benefits. The IATSE has a Low budget contract that is flexible for you the producer and provides these things for the crew. It makes low budget films do able with care and respect for the crew. If you care about your crew you would do these things for them. We as union members are the Union. we as your crew are the pesky Union you refer to. So you take advantage of your crew by not providing for their future. you show to the people around you that it is simply money that motivates you. We want nothing but the ability to provide for our families future.

Richard, I work both non union and union. If you watch the credits on lucas productions you will notice the IATSE bug. Yes he may not be DGA or SAG but he uses IATSE UNION. I live and work in Right to work states. The farther you go from hollywood the more likely it is for you to come across union workers, Esp in Right to work states. We are the talent pool. We are the skilled labor. If you hire non union outside of LA, you will not get the best workers. I had worked Union shows in Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky. If your show is Non Union outside of LA you will have Union workers on it. There is really no way around that. Unions do not want to strike, it is not in our best interest. We work hard for our employer. We want our productions to succeed and be a success. We want our producers to make money and hire us again. It is hard for us to strike. It destroys our lives and the lives of our friends.

When it comes to mounting low riders and classic cars it is best to hire someone who knows the mechanics of building a mount. you can seriously get into trouble scratching paint et al. It only takes one slip to be in serious financial trouble. Hire a pro. Save your self. Speed rail is the best way to rig lights. Use a ShotMaker.

The area, the size of your kit, the size of the budget make the kit rental vary. I have a full speed rail kit and car mounts and a 4ft slider. I try to charge the slider on a 10% discount compared to a rental company. the speed rail and car mounts all are determined by haw much usage and budget size. It is something you have to really work out with the producer. Try to be reasonable but also do let the producer push you around. Remember these are things that they may be able to do without that make your life easier, not their's. Duke

I have run across rental houses doing things like this. Your best bet is to go to the rental house and talk to them in person. Ask to see the lamp. explain your situation. Meanwhile price out a replacement lamp online so you have a real price to haggle to in the event of a deadlock. unless you can prove (very unlikely) that you didn't blow the lamp/break the lamp you may need to just pony up and pay. Just remember this next time you deal with rentals. The low bidder on rentals sometimes is the low because there are hidden costs, some may not even be legit. I had a rental company charge for lights that werent even ordered, gels we never had, rags we never opened, damaged items we never loaded onto the truck. It is a PR nightmare for the rental house. Houses try not to have these things happen, but some bad apples try to stick it to low budgets. The lamp could have blown as you lowered the light turned off. It could have happened carrying a not fully cooled lamp to the truck. with out verification there is no proof of anything. It is one of the little things you do checking things back in. As you hand the light over to the rental house open it up and look at the lamp. Time consuming but covers your astrik. All part of the best boy's job.

A U boat is a great cart for appleboxes. It is thin for space in the Aisle, and hold a ton of boxes. If you replace the wheels with pnuematics they are great.

I did a still shoot with a photographer from dallas, stuart cohen, where we copied the lighting style exactly for hollywood casino billboards. We were using real people (not models) as the subjects. It was interesting copying that lighting style. looking at a print and then figuring out lamp placement and f-stop from each direction. The billboards are still used!

you can pick up a weather balloon for roughly $20 with a 11ft diameter. a nylon fishing net will give you multiple points on it for tag lines. and helium can be picked up for around $60.

This wasnt GEAR's truck was it?

Describe the shot a little more. Do you want the character in the frame? Or is it just hard mounted on the shoulder? For an Over the shoulder look you can create a doggie cam style rig using a safety harness, some grip arms and some other grip items. Bicycle starter fittings, etc.

Have you thought of a KC condor ( A 4x4 reflector top stick on a mombo)? That will get you close to the height. Not what you asked for but might get the job DONE. If you have access to a roof that is great. Alternately a balloon light might also be a consideration. this will need lots of skirting but can solve all your problems. you might also try the weather balloon gag of bouncing light from a par off a white weather balloon.

I have a couple of the figure 9's. I am impressed with them but since a trucker hitch is cheaper and harder to lose, I rarely pull them out. Its funny how sometimes things that make our lives easier just get in the way sometimes. Concrete buckets!!! must have a huge truck to haul all that around in. I once used water ballasts.