Keith Bronsdon

Wanted: Shark fin with Anton Bauer Gold Mount and P Tap outlets. Also looking for Anton Bauer Gold Mount Plates in various configurations, and long as it has P Tap/D Tap outlets. I"m in LA.

Anyone know what happened to this nifty device? The company's website is still up, but it seems impossible to buy one. I would think this thing would be a near necessity for automatically recording video.

Be sure to hold the thing steady when banging the sticks--it's easy to wobble the slate once the stick goes down. They need to see the frame where the sticks close--if it's moving it could be blurred. It's hard to keep it perfectly still, but don't dip it 6"!! Also, don't rush the whole process to save film--be efficient, but get it right by speaking slow enough to be properly heard and seen. The cost of a second of film is less than totally screwing up a take and needing second sticks or (**gasp**) third sticks. You look more professional if you're under control and get it right even if it takes a hair longer. Slate fast, but not TOO fast. Lastly, for you 1sts, operators, dps, whomever, please don't humiliate a second assistant who needs to work on his slating skills!! This post started with someone who didn't know what they were doing wrong--obviously they got yelled at, but didn't know why. What did yelling at them accomplish? If you want to solve a problem with your crew, present a solution instead of inflating your ego. I think it's best to have the 1st quietly tell their second how to do it better (or correctly). Humiliating them only makes you look like an ass to the rest of the crew (and them!!).

Can anyone compare these two systems from experience? If cost is not an issue, which system would you prefer? I understand that the Modulus has far more channels to transmit on and from this forum I have heard that their customer service is pretty bad. I have a clamshell, and I HATE having to connect and reconnect the stupid cable all the time. Any thoughts or recommendations on buying one over the other? WHat accessories should I look for??

You can get sheets of neoprene at fabric stores that carry "outdoor fabrics". Here in Seattle I bought some from Seattle Fabrics, which specialized in materials that they use to make backpacks, outdoor stuff, etc. They carry neoprene in various thicknesses--also with nylon backing and even with the soft side of velcro on one side of the neoprene. There must be a similar store where you live.

I'm considering moving to LA this spring. I know very few folks down there, so I'd be scrambling for work. With the big SAG strike threat, what's the volume of production like at the moment?? :blink: