Sanjay Sami

I have looked at all of the measurements, and it looks like I could get away with using the square tube... Clearance, width, height... All look good based on schematics/measurements that I've found/made (using our dolly, Uva's "The Grip Book" and some internet stuff)... Is there something I'm missing? Hi Daryn, If I understand correctly, you plan to run an elemack cricket on fisher square track? Do you plan to rest the studio wheels on the track? If so, what prevents the dolly from falling right off the track immediately? Especially on curved track? Without Fishers irritating drop down bogie wheels to prevent derailment , I cannot imagine how your dolly will stay up. Maybe I understood you wrong. Sanjay Sami www.thegripworks.com

Whether you add weight to the top or bottom will depend on the weight distribution / inertial response you want from the sled. The EFP is designed to take pretty heavy camera packages, and I have a feeling your problem maybe that you do not have enough weight on the rig as a whole. You would need to add a weight plate to the top stage dovetail to mimic the weight of a heavier camera that the EFP is used to. once you do that and you find the arm is being "challenged" by the weight a little, then you look at your drop time and adjust your sled length / Gimbal position to suit your operating needs. Do not use a sandbag. It will create huge problems, slopping its weight around. Do not add weight to the bottom of your sled, if the camera is already too light. You will compound your problem by getting an incredibly bottom heavy sled. If you have an operator with the rig, he will already know everything I have already said here. Good luck Sanjay Sami www.thegripworks.com

Hi Dan, David Erlichman's advice is spot on. If you are in America, go with any Chapman dolly and their vibration isolator. Get the soft compound wheels (high percent silicone), these are soft, but do not get flat spots. You will get the shot as long as the bumps are not terrible. You will be surprised how good the vibration isolator is. Good luck Sanjay Sami www.thegripworks.com

Hi Jon, Yes there is a union, but they do not get involved in deals. They have a preset minimum wage for grips, (we call it scale), but you charge scale only as a relatively inexperienced grip. Scale in Mumbai is really low. I charge several times more than scale. This means you have to work out your deal everytime. I also do a lot of films (about 80%) that are not Indian . With each of these, the deal gets worked out slightly different. Sanjay Sami www.thegripworks.com

What I normally do is put it in as part of my contract. I usually do a weekly deal, based on a 12 hour day, 5 day week. I normally get paid weekly. sometimes it gets delayed a day or 2 but usually I get paid at the end of the week for the week gone by. 30 days sounds alright, but 72 is plain ridiculous. Make these terms clear before you take the job, or you may have no option but to take what you get. Sanjay Sami www.thegripworks.com thegripworks@yahoo.com

Well said Wick !! Having dealt with that one , lets move onto 'Bullpricks' and 'Mickey Rooneys' ;) Sanjay Sami

Hi Marc, This is doable. I have done it , rigged on a taxi being driven on a really busy road with a platform rigged on the taxi for a steadicam operator to ride on and do a 360 degree pan. The DoP was Russell Boyd. I cut holes into the bottom of the doors of the taxi, because you need to have the support for the platform riding above the chassis of the car. You also have to counterbalance the platform. I would not advise trying this on roads that you do not have a lock off on. Get someone who knows what they are doing. A good grip is the best way to save money. Sanjay Sami www.thegripworks.com

Onno my man , you make way too much money. I cannot even dream of breaking down a remote head to make a turntable !!! Thats got to be the most expensive turntable ever made ! On the plus side ... very smooth as Onno says. :lol: Sanjay Sami www.thegripworks.com P.S. If you are in Europe ask Onno to buid you one. Great engineering quality.

Towing is a simple, easy solution. However, the subtle horizon shifts, even when going straight, and massive horizon shifts on turns are what sell the motorcycle part of the shot. IMHO towed motorcycles always look towed. Sanjay Sami Key Grip www.thegripworks.com

Was going to post a few more pictures, but it will not allow me to get any more. Basically , we can get any position you might need, and it is very solid. Sanjay Sami Key Grip www.thegripworks.com

This is the rig I use. That is a 235 camera with a 200 foot load. No shake. For a Yamaha commercial. Sanjay Sami Key Grip www.thegripworks.com

Looking at the picture closer , it looks like there is a female mitchell reciever on one end. It could be this is an offset to undersling a Lambda head. That would also explain the pan built into it. The extension on the other side may just be to add ballast such as sandbags as couterbalance. Maybe. Sanjay Sami Key Grip www.thegripworks.com

Does any part of it slide? It does not look like any kind of slider I have ever seen. Can you post a picture of whats on the other side of the male mitchell mount? It maybe some kind of home made rig your grip came up with for another job and he offloaded it from his truck and it just stayed there. Its probably completely useless judging by the fact that no one has stepped forward to claim it. If I left my slider behind you can be sure I will be back to get it !! Sanjay Sami Key Grip www.thegripworks.com

Most experienced grips will tell you that they would rather have an eager inexperienced grip working with them, than a lazy experienced grip who knows everything but has a bad attitude. I think Darryl sums it up really well. No Key Grip expects a trainee to know everything. These things will unfold as you spend more time on set. The best thing you can do is keep your ears open and your mouth shut. Impress people with your focus on set . Your key grip will very quickly be able to assess exactly how much you know. If you are focussed on set it will be your best tool for picking up knowledge, All the best Sanjay Sami Key Grip

By round track do you mean a circle? If so, all the major manufacturers including Panther, GFM, Filmair etc all make them. They are all good. I have never used Norms or American. There is also a manufacturer called Solid Grip Systems, based in Amsterdam. The owner Onno visits this site, maybe he could suggest something. David, do you know where I could get a picture of Cadillac track? Cheers Sanjay Sami Key Grip

Never used Cadillac track. I have never used GI track either, but heard very good things about them. Filmair track is good, but may not be in great shape if it has been handled badly in the past. I use Panther or GFM Precision stainless steel track and find them to be very good although a LOT heavier than the filmair track. I am not a fan of Matthews track. Cheers Sanjay Sami Key Grip

Hi Audrius, I think Jarons advice is really good. As a Key Grip over the last 18 years, I have worked with great steadicam operators, and occasionally the mediocre ar bad operators. It is not easy to get good on steadicam, and anything less than good is best avoided. I cannot recount the number of times we have replaced steadicam moves with crane-on-track or dancefloor dolly, because the operator was not upto it. Apart from not getting the shot, it will certainly impact your reputation. Think carefully before investing. Sanjay Sami Key Grip

Hi Keith, I have my own version, but I am based in Mumbai, India. I built it a couple of years ago, and have used it often, with fantastic results. Most of the time with the Arri 235 with a 200ft Mag. I could send you pictures if you put you email address on the post. Regards Sanjay Sami Key Grip

Strap a bazooka into the back seat. Put an offset on, put the head and camera on. Ready to go. Fast , easy, very very stable. You should find pictures on my website http://www.thegripworks.com/rigging.html regards Sanjay Sami Key Grip

Hi Dave, I have been using the Ronford-Baker slider for a while now, and I'm really happy with it. check it out on their website. http://www.ronfordbaker.co.uk/slider.html Fantastic engineering and finish. Hope that helps Sanjay Sami

If you are serious. we can discuss it. No pay (maybe a pittance as an intern stipend) and you will have to find your own accomodation if we are filming in Bombay. If we are elsewhere in India, production will organise it. If nothing else, it will be an adventure ! And you get the experience as a grip. Think ... Sanjay Sami Key Grip www.thegripworks.com

By working smart, I hope you aren't referring to the "executive grips" who watch others do the heavy lifting? Whichever way you look at it, as a grip you are going to have to do some heavy lifting. Unfortunately there is no easy way to carry a fisher 10 upstairs. However, my wish for a strong back was a way of saying that I hope you are prepared for the work that goes into being a grip. I get a lot of guys coming to work with me out of film school, who have great intentions, but have no idea how hard the work can be physically. sincerely Sanjay Sami Key Grip www.thegripworks.com

And as everyone (and those resources above will tell you in greater detail), it's all about just jumping in. It's all about getting on sets, meeting people, and learning as you go. Work hard, be pleasant, and remain passionate and resilient and you'll likely be able to make a living as a Grip eventually. Good luck! Could not have summed it up better. Where do you live? If you were in India I could organise something . Most people in this country who want to be grips start off by emailing me :lol: I think Bryan and Dans advice is very good. Good luck and hope you have a very strong back !! Sanjay Sami Key Grip www.thegripworks.com

Contact me on - thegripworks@yahoo.com