Sanjay Sami

 

A good DP will know better than to ask the grips to carry three 4'x4''s of everything, gels and grids (and an assortment of color); you're just slowing yourself down.

 

 

You need to have a word with Bob Richardson .... Amongst other things I have on my trucks - three 80 x 200 silent black grids.

If you go to Chapman Leonard you will get a crane, remote head and dolly. Not a Fisher 10 but a Hybrid or Hustler.

In the United Stated Sticks, High Hat, Camera Head etc are considered camera equipment, so you will get those from where ever you are getting your camera.

Hope that helps

Any one know who in Los Angeles might have all of this in one place?

 

CAMERA GRIP

 

Crane - 30' w/3-axis motion head

 

Fisher10 dolly w/ standard head, low level head, & ubangi

 

standard sticks

 

low sticks

 

hi-hat

 

(2) Sacthtler 75 head & plate

 

 

(1) AJA Ki Pro Mini external recorder

 

Ed Conley

Ed@screamingbroccoli.net

Has anyone had experience with this dolly?

 

http://www.g-f-m.net/camera/dollies/gf-quad-dolly/filmdolly.html

 

this looks very close to what Im looking for - with the jib arm attached and its lower weight - it appears to be very solid and capable... anyone use this one?

 

but it doesn't look to be for sale... just rental?

Yes, I own one of these. It is called the "Quad Dolly" from GFM. Very good.

How light are you looking for ?

The PeeWee cant be that much heavier than the Chameleon dolly or an Elemack.

Deleted - repetitive (didn't read all posts

Do you get a Spandex outfit with a cape ?

Anyone who has time on their hands to memorize that much bullshit probably spends very little time on set.

Ganesh,

Your profile says you are a DP . Are you shooting this film ? Where in SA are you shooting? Most crew is based in Cape Town or Johannesburg with some in Durban.

Onno makes great, innovative products. I have not had the opportunity to use them myself, but have only heard good things from the guys who do use his products.

Interesting rig, but I dont think it would be suitable for a heavy film camera. Regardless of what they say about an 80lbs capacity, it mounts onto a 100mm ball mount. There is no way that is going to support an Arricam ST or LT for that matter.

Try the Chapman slider from Chapman/Leonard - http://www.chapman-leonard.com/SLIDERS/CL%20AND%20JB%20SLIDERS.html

Or try the slider from Ronford/Baker - http://www.ronfordbaker.co.uk/slider.html

These are the ones that I use and can recommend for film cameras. There may be many others that are as good, but I know these work.

The Chapman slider is VERY pricey, and they may or may not sell to customers within the US, it may be only lease.

Bhagath,

www.thegripworks.com

+91 9820299407

I build marine rigs, underwater rigs and am a certified underwater welder, having been a commercial diver before becoming a grip.

I also build gyrostabilised gimbal mounts.

Shelly Johnsons suggestion of a Libra 3 is a good one. You can set an auto horizon.

Barges can be used as a platform for a crane to mount the Libra onto.

Regards

Sanjay Sami

We are going to need more details.

Are you in India ?

If you are, look me up.

First of all I'd like to say "Hello!" to all of you since I'm new here!

 

My Name is Erik and I'm a Grip from Leipzig/Germany. For some time I've been looking for a used Remote Head to buy. Right now I found an offer of a "CAMS Revolution" - Remote Head (like the one shown here http://www.innovision-optics.com/gallery/cams.shtml ). Since I don't know this head I would like to ask if anyone around here has any experience with this system? Is it strong enough to carry 35mm camera packages (like e.g. an ARRICAM ST or alike)? And if so is its performance sufficiently for the use in feature films (when looking for the system on the internet, it seems it's mostly used in the broadcast business)?

 

Thanks for your advice and merry christmas and a happy new year to all of you!

Eric,

I have used a CAMS head, and it is fine to use with film cameras such as the ARRICAM ST or Panavision Platinum.

Test before you buy.

@ Tom Guiney

Very interesting product.

Soft frost or Hilight.

If you are strapped for cash buy a regular shower curtain.

Thats what was used before guys like the Rag Place et al put a name to it and started charging big bucks.

ALL the rental houses in India use real shower curtains. They go to the manufacturer and get them made up in the sizes needed and have the grommets installed.

Find the right quality.

Works great.

Get a good grip. He should sort you out. If you want to look straight down, the arm will have to be swung out, which will prevent you going full stick. I would recommend a bazooka with a ubangi , which can be saddle strapped to the rail. This will allow you sufficient offset to look down as well as be very rigidly locked off. Bazookas strap down more rigidly than sticks, so that would be my choice.

Another question - do you need to ride ? Why not get a remote head and undersling it ?

What are you looking to deflect ? wind or sea spray ?

 

Different aspects of film attract me, and one of them happens to actually pay a day rate.

 

Thanks guys!

Which one ? The directors day rate should be better I would guess :rolleyes:

I have gripped at least twelve short films, and one music video in the last year, around 40 days total. They all have been FSU thesis films and had a fair lighting/grip package.

 

I have now been asked to Key Grip Saturday and Sunday on a professional music video with pay. There will be a gene truck, and some fairly large HMI units. If there are any Key Grips out there, or even Best Boy Grips, I would love to hear what advice you would have from unloading, to setting up a 10K hmi on a (crank)ovator. Or even any first time rookie mistakes.

 

Where not to get side tracked on a task? Where I should manage my grips? Where does the line cross when dealing with electricity? Does the key grips job end where the distrobox begins when striking the HMI units?

 

Anything I should bring in my tool belt? I have a decent amount that I usually carry with me when best boy, but if there's anything extra..

 

Thanks guys.

What are you being asked to do ?

I have never been asked to load or setup 10k's on a crankovator.

Toolbelt ? get a good walkie talkie. Get a good dolly grip. If you get a good crew, your job as key grip is to stay out of their way. Stand by the DP, try and anticipate his needs. Look for what he likes by way of shaping his light and diffusion. Try and stay one step ahead. Do not try and come across as more experienced than you are ... thats a set up for trouble.

Try and enjoy yourself, and make sure you work as a team with your grips. Without them you are f---ked !

Why does your profile say you are a director ?

A proper wall spreader will not fail if used correctly. Its important that the load is hung correctly as well. The crosspole is great. Very strong, and inspires a lot of confidence. As Robert says, always put in a safety.

A bazooka works great and will allow you to walk around comfortably. Think of rigging a slider down the length of the rail. It will allow you to quickly move from one side of the basket to the other without re - rigging. You can also rig it outside the basket so you can look straight down.

Well thanks for responding and I work as a grip right now and I completely agree with the apple box cart. My plans were for a c-stand cart,4X4 open frame/gel frame cart, (4)tweenies, (2) nook lights (6) blondes, (6) red heads (4)1K softs, (4)2K zip softs, (6)1K baby's (Mole Richardson) (6) 2K BJ's, (20) Baby Stands, (6) junior stands and a chest to store all the duck bills,gripheads,cardalinis, maffer clamps, pipe clamps, broken arms, flex arms, adapters like butt plugs(junior to baby) and nail-on's (junior and baby studs), an apple box cart with five of every size apple box.

Why all the lampheads if its a grip truck you are after. Also, do you have business lined up for your planned rental company ? I cannot imagine that people are going to flock to hire your gear just because you bought it. Think long and hard before you put your cash down.

Regards

Sanjay Sami

It's common with skates. It's got nothing to do with your camera package weight.your wheels are too soft. For this reason I bought a set of porta glides several years ago. The wheels are all slightly different diameter and flat spots are no longer a worry.

.

Darryl is spot on. Most skates will give you flat spots if you let them rest. It sounds like your wheels are particularly soft. I bought the Porta Glides some years ago (suggested by Darryl) and have been consistently amazed at how good they are. Such a simple idea, and it works flawlessly.

Hi, I'm buying a crane today from the papers.

 

It's a hand made crane but it's very well priced.

 

What things should i look for them buying a crane?

 

What things should i check?

 

It's 5 meters tall. It has a LCD monitor screen. It's been used with heavier camera's than mine too.

 

My main concern is it dropping my camera.

Hi Shidan,

There is no way anyone can help you without more details. What crane is it ? What remote head ? What camera ? Why would it drop your camera ? Are you a grip ? By hand made do you mean home made ? What papers are you buying this crane from ?

If its hand made from papers I would advise you not to buy it ;)

Hi everyone,

 

I'm currently trying to fit an upcoming shoot into it's budget and looking for places to save some money. Does anyone have any experience with a 1st AC pulling focus while the camera is on a tripod/doorway dolly? Or is a real dolly with a seat for the 1st AC an absolute necessity?

 

Thanks a lot!

Most good AC's would have absolutely no problem walking and pulling focus. Most of them do that anyway, unless there is a complication that requires them to ride.

Picture of the insert car I am shooting with right now. We have 2 cameras rigged on vibration isolators, being operated.