Robert Rodriguez shooting music video on badass Canon 7D rig at DVinfo.net

Danny Dale · March 2nd, 2010, 07:18 AM

This past Saturday I took my wife and daughters to the playground at Zilker Park here in Austin and was shooting some pics/footage of them with my GH1 when I noticed a small crew shooting what appeared to be a music video. I walked into the area where they were filming and immediately was drawn to the HDSLR rig they were using. I pulled up my GH1 and starting shooting some pictures of it when a guy walked over to me and politely said "we are trying to keep a closed set" - there were no cops or security. I said I was only interested in the rig, not the music artist being filmed (which I then realized was local favorite Bob Schneider). The guy was cool and let me take a few more and I walked away. When I told my wife that one of her favorite musicians was filming a video, she went up to the fence and started to watch and then turned and said "hey, isn't that Robert Rodriguez?"... it was.

Here are some pics of the rig (also sent some to Philip Bloom to post on his site):

Mike Peterson · March 2nd, 2010, 08:30 AM

I think I see a 7D way in there

Chris Hurd · March 2nd, 2010, 09:17 AM

Awesome. Thanks Danny!

Cristian Derois · March 2nd, 2010, 09:34 AM

This is aweasome. Everybody are using DSLR.

More than ever, what separetes pros to amateurs will not be the equipment, but proficiency and creativity.

It is not a mere tech revolution that took place, it is a creative revolution arising.

Chris Barcellos · March 2nd, 2010, 10:48 AM

I find it interesting that the matte box is not present on the set up. I have questioned the need for one on these rigs, and wonder if they came to a conclusion that screw in filters and NDs are all that are needed.

Danny Dale · March 2nd, 2010, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Barcellos

I find it interesting that the matte box is not present on the set up. I have questioned the need for one on these rigs, and wonder if they came to a conclusion that screw in filters and NDs are all that are needed.

Exactly...

James Strange · March 2nd, 2010, 11:14 AM

Imagine my delight that 2 hours after I get my first 7D, I see this post.

One word....COOL

Another word... AWESOME!

James Strange · March 2nd, 2010, 11:19 AM

I wonder if someone more knowlegable than me could identify the parts in that set up?

All I can name is the 7D body and the Rode video mic!

Nathanael Iversen · March 2nd, 2010, 11:20 AM

Well, the rig is Zacuto. Mine is very similar. I haven't added an external monitor yet, though that is coming. It also looks like he has some kind of remote/motorized follow focus and some video distribution stuff. I am wondering if the focus pull is happening at the table with the monitor.

It appears to be:

7D
70-200
Zacuto Marksmen as a base with additions for the monitor
external monitor
battery pack
I'm guessing a video distro box of some sort to split the HDMI signal out to the field monitor and desktop station
audio (I'm sure dual system, given the rest of the rig)

B-cam is using Zacuto Z-finder

Chad Nickle · March 2nd, 2010, 11:33 AM

Awesome! how come I never run into RR?

Burk Webb · March 2nd, 2010, 11:39 AM

o.k. - that is pretty cool. Thanks for the heads up.

Ryan Mitchell · March 2nd, 2010, 11:40 AM

This is interesting - it's part of the reason I went with an HDMI monitor instead of SDI because I need to feed both my 7D and EX1. However, he appears to be using a HDMI->SDI converter to feed his monitor and an external monitor. I've seen the HDMI->SDI converter from AJA but what isn't clear to me is how to power the thing without being tethered to a wall socket - and apparently in these shots he's got it figured out. Can anyone comment on that?

Danny Dale · March 2nd, 2010, 12:57 PM

The big rig is using (I believe) a Preston wireless follow focus and was tethered to the production cart where they were monitoring and pulling focus, and both cams were shooting to cards.

Jonanthan Carr · March 2nd, 2010, 01:03 PM

I like the fact that the smallest thing on that rig was the camera. Very interesting on how big of a rig you can go with on one of these DSLR's.

Cristian Derois · March 2nd, 2010, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Strange

I wonder if someone more knowlegable than me could identify the parts in that set up?

All I can name is the 7D body and the Rode video mic!

Actually,the rig is based on a Zacutto's sharp shooter.

Oh God, Zacutto's stuff is already bloody expensive. With this hype, god knows...

March 2nd, 2010, 07:18 AM	#1
Danny Dale Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 56	Robert Rodriguez shooting music video on badass Canon 7D rig This past Saturday I took my wife and daughters to the playground at Zilker Park here in Austin and was shooting some pics/footage of them with my GH1 when I noticed a small crew shooting what appeared to be a music video. I walked into the area where they were filming and immediately was drawn to the HDSLR rig they were using. I pulled up my GH1 and starting shooting some pictures of it when a guy walked over to me and politely said "we are trying to keep a closed set" - there were no cops or security. I said I was only interested in the rig, not the music artist being filmed (which I then realized was local favorite Bob Schneider). The guy was cool and let me take a few more and I walked away. When I told my wife that one of her favorite musicians was filming a video, she went up to the fence and started to watch and then turned and said "hey, isn't that Robert Rodriguez?"... it was. Here are some pics of the rig (also sent some to Philip Bloom to post on his site):

March 2nd, 2010, 08:30 AM	#2
Mike Peterson Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: White Bear Lake, Minnesota Posts: 85	I think I see a 7D way in there __________________ www.insectula.com

March 2nd, 2010, 09:17 AM	#3
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Awesome. Thanks Danny! __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

March 2nd, 2010, 10:48 AM	#5
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	I find it interesting that the matte box is not present on the set up. I have questioned the need for one on these rigs, and wonder if they came to a conclusion that screw in filters and NDs are all that are needed. __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

March 2nd, 2010, 01:03 PM	#14
Jonanthan Carr Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: United States Posts: 50	I like the fact that the smallest thing on that rig was the camera. Very interesting on how big of a rig you can go with on one of these DSLR's. __________________ Dp Reel http://www.visualcinema.com/reels/ Rentals in NYC http://www.visualcinema.com/rentals/cameras/ Scarlet-X SN#634 "HEXTALL"

March 2nd, 2010, 09:34 AM	#4
Cristian Derois Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Porto Alegre, Brazil Posts: 28	This is aweasome. Everybody are using DSLR. More than ever, what separetes pros to amateurs will not be the equipment, but proficiency and creativity. It is not a mere tech revolution that took place, it is a creative revolution arising.

March 2nd, 2010, 11:14 AM	#7
James Strange Major Player Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Glasgow, Scotland, UK Posts: 309	Imagine my delight that 2 hours after I get my first 7D, I see this post. One word....COOL Another word... AWESOME!

March 2nd, 2010, 11:19 AM	#8
James Strange Major Player Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Glasgow, Scotland, UK Posts: 309	I wonder if someone more knowlegable than me could identify the parts in that set up? All I can name is the 7D body and the Rode video mic!

March 2nd, 2010, 11:20 AM	#9
Nathanael Iversen Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Santa Rosa, CA Posts: 34	Well, the rig is Zacuto. Mine is very similar. I haven't added an external monitor yet, though that is coming. It also looks like he has some kind of remote/motorized follow focus and some video distribution stuff. I am wondering if the focus pull is happening at the table with the monitor. It appears to be: 7D 70-200 Zacuto Marksmen as a base with additions for the monitor external monitor battery pack I'm guessing a video distro box of some sort to split the HDMI signal out to the field monitor and desktop station audio (I'm sure dual system, given the rest of the rig) B-cam is using Zacuto Z-finder

March 2nd, 2010, 11:33 AM	#10
Chad Nickle Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 84	Awesome! how come I never run into RR?

March 2nd, 2010, 11:39 AM	#11
Burk Webb Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 249	o.k. - that is pretty cool. Thanks for the heads up.

March 2nd, 2010, 11:40 AM	#12
Ryan Mitchell Regular Crew Join Date: May 2008 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 120	This is interesting - it's part of the reason I went with an HDMI monitor instead of SDI because I need to feed both my 7D and EX1. However, he appears to be using a HDMI->SDI converter to feed his monitor and an external monitor. I've seen the HDMI->SDI converter from AJA but what isn't clear to me is how to power the thing without being tethered to a wall socket - and apparently in these shots he's got it figured out. Can anyone comment on that?

March 2nd, 2010, 12:57 PM	#13
Danny Dale Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 56	The big rig is using (I believe) a Preston wireless follow focus and was tethered to the production cart where they were monitoring and pulling focus, and both cams were shooting to cards.