dvcamerarigs.com at DVinfo.net

Bill Zens · May 20th, 2005, 08:06 PM

Anybody familiar with this company/book?

http://www.dvcamerarigs.com/

They offer a book that claims to have very detailed and extensive drawings and illustrations on building all sorts of rigs that accomodate and smooth out camera movement.

I am handy with tools and have no fear of drilling into and maiming wood and metal. This book looks interesting, as it purports to have detailed plans on dolly's , booms, car rigs, etc...
The guy who runs the website is somewhat affiliated with USC, which I won't hold too much against him if his stuff is any good. For 40 bucks, it looks interesting...

Any comments?

David Yuen · May 20th, 2005, 10:12 PM

If you do a search on his name, you'll pull up several threads about his projects and discussion from the author himself.

Dan Selakovich · May 21st, 2005, 08:57 AM

Thanks for not holding the USC seminars against me! I taught a camera composition and movement seminar at NAB, and one of the comments really stuck with me:

"I went to 4 years of film school and we didn't learn any of this."
Me: "Really, where did you go to film school"
"USC".

Yikes!

If it's of any help, within 2 hours of the NAB seminar on rig building ended, the NAB bookstore had sold out.

There are a few magazine reviews on the site:

http://dvcamerarigs.com/Reviews.html

And I don't edit the comments I get from builders. You can read them here:

http://dvcamerarigs.com/praise.html

You can also read what Per Holmes, the creator of the amazing "Hollywood CameraWork" series has to say:

http://www.hollywoodcamerawork.us/re...s.html#reading

His series kicks butt! Check it out!

"Killer Camera Rigs That You Can Build" is in its 2nd edition. I'm currently working on Volume 2. So people must like it!

I'm always available to answer any questions!

Dan
www.dvcamerarigs.com

Joshua Starnes · May 21st, 2005, 11:32 AM

I bought it a while back and built a dolly from it. Worth every penny just for that.

Greg Boston · May 21st, 2005, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Selakovich

Thanks for not holding the USC seminars against me! I taught a camera composition and movement seminar at NAB, and one of the comments really stuck with me:

"I went to 4 years of film school and we didn't learn any of this."
Me: "Really, where did you go to film school"
"USC".

Yikes!

If it's of any help, within 2 hours of the NAB seminar on rig building ended, the NAB bookstore had sold out.

There are a few magazine reviews on the site:

http://dvcamerarigs.com/Reviews.html

And I don't edit the comments I get from builders. You can read them here:

http://dvcamerarigs.com/praise.html

You can also read what Per Holmes, the creator of the amazing "Hollywood CameraWork" series has to say:

http://www.hollywoodcamerawork.us/re...s.html#reading

His series kicks butt! Check it out!

"Killer Camera Rigs That You Can Build" is in its 2nd edition. I'm currently working on Volume 2. So people must like it!

I'm always available to answer any questions!

Dan
www.dvcamerarigs.com

I am one of those attendees at the NAB seminar and I bought the book as well. I can recommend it to anyone who is handy with tools, although Dan does a good job of bringing the skill requirements down to the not so handyman.

regards,

-GB-

p.s. Dan, it was good to meet you at NAB. I always appreciate those who have ingenuity and put it to good use.

Jim Parks · May 21st, 2005, 12:26 PM

Dan:

Tried your website a few times today; is it down?

I too recommend the book. I built the "crawl cam" project (Dan calls it something else) which gives you great ground level shots. I actually modified it a bit so I can either use my rig as a crawl cam, or an 11 foot monopod. I will definitely be building more of his rigs in the future.

Depending on where you live, some of the materials may be somewhat hard to find. That was the only frustrating thing I found. The book is well written, with lots of photographs, and good lists of materials and tools needed for the job. Another cool thing is that you can e-mail Dan with questions, and he is glad to help out.

Buy the book!

Jim

Bill Zens · May 21st, 2005, 04:34 PM

Thanks all for the input. Realistically, this sounds like it's just what I've needed.

At the end of the day, how much space does this equipment take up? Will my wife get too mad when I store it on her side of the garage? Or will it be able to be stored in a somewhat smaller more compact fashion?

John Sandel · May 21st, 2005, 07:06 PM

I can recommend Dan's book. The most amazing thing about him is that after writing it, he has any exclamation points left.

Dan Selakovich · May 22nd, 2005, 08:02 AM

Wow you guys. Thanks for all the kind words! The site seems to be working now. My host was updating the server yesterday for about an hour, so that was probably the problem.

Like Jim, many take the plans in the book and design them to fit their own needs. Eventually, I'll finish the part of the web site with all the photos of rigs people have sent me to hopefully inspire others that have bought the book, and remind people that they don't have to stick with the plans if they have a specific shot in mind. Around here, we do tons of stuff like that. My favorite is when we took the dolly, which has the ability to hang upside-down, and ran track between two buildings in downtown L.A.. The shot followed the character 5 stories below crossing an alley.

Another shot required a boom down from a photo on the wall down to ground level, then moving under a bed all the way to the opposite side of the bed. We did that one by screwing a 5' bit of plumbing pipe to the end of the "Killer's Kiss Crane", and attaching the camera to the end of the pipe. The Killer's Kiss was on the "Dark Passage dolly" and we simply boomed down from the photo and dollied the extention under the bed. It took a few tries, but worked out great.

Thanks again you guys!

Dan
www.dvcamerarigs.com

Dan Selakovich · May 25th, 2005, 07:53 AM

Oh, as for storage Bill: Hooks from the ceiling. I'd love a garage! Luxury! I hang litterally every rig from my ceiling. It's getting crowded up there.

Dan
www.dvcamerarigs.com

Patrick Jenkins · May 25th, 2005, 09:29 AM

Just ordered! I've been wanting to for a while, finally had the cash to get around to it. Looking forward to building and using these rigs.. DIY!

Tyler Baptist · July 21st, 2005, 08:07 PM

I just ordered the book. Can't wait to start building.

Dan Selakovich · July 22nd, 2005, 07:46 AM

Thanks you guys! As usual, I'm always around to help out if you hit any snags. (Someday I plan on taking a Vacation!)

Dan
www.DVcameraRigs.com

May 20th, 2005, 08:06 PM	#1
Bill Zens Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Kirkland, WA Posts: 191	dvcamerarigs.com Anybody familiar with this company/book? http://www.dvcamerarigs.com/ They offer a book that claims to have very detailed and extensive drawings and illustrations on building all sorts of rigs that accomodate and smooth out camera movement. I am handy with tools and have no fear of drilling into and maiming wood and metal. This book looks interesting, as it purports to have detailed plans on dolly's , booms, car rigs, etc... The guy who runs the website is somewhat affiliated with USC, which I won't hold too much against him if his stuff is any good. For 40 bucks, it looks interesting... Any comments?

May 20th, 2005, 10:12 PM	#2
David Yuen Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 185	Search on his name If you do a search on his name, you'll pull up several threads about his projects and discussion from the author himself.

May 21st, 2005, 12:26 PM	#6
Jim Parks New Boot Join Date: May 2003 Location: Rogers, Arkansas Posts: 8	Re: DVcamerarigs.com Dan: Tried your website a few times today; is it down? I too recommend the book. I built the "crawl cam" project (Dan calls it something else) which gives you great ground level shots. I actually modified it a bit so I can either use my rig as a crawl cam, or an 11 foot monopod. I will definitely be building more of his rigs in the future. Depending on where you live, some of the materials may be somewhat hard to find. That was the only frustrating thing I found. The book is well written, with lots of photographs, and good lists of materials and tools needed for the job. Another cool thing is that you can e-mail Dan with questions, and he is glad to help out. Buy the book! Jim

May 25th, 2005, 09:29 AM	#11
Patrick Jenkins Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 382	Just ordered! I've been wanting to for a while, finally had the cash to get around to it. Looking forward to building and using these rigs.. DIY! __________________ PAL shooter in NTSC territory

May 21st, 2005, 08:57 AM	#3
Dan Selakovich Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 220	Thanks for not holding the USC seminars against me! I taught a camera composition and movement seminar at NAB, and one of the comments really stuck with me: "I went to 4 years of film school and we didn't learn any of this." Me: "Really, where did you go to film school" "USC". Yikes! If it's of any help, within 2 hours of the NAB seminar on rig building ended, the NAB bookstore had sold out. There are a few magazine reviews on the site: http://dvcamerarigs.com/Reviews.html And I don't edit the comments I get from builders. You can read them here: http://dvcamerarigs.com/praise.html You can also read what Per Holmes, the creator of the amazing "Hollywood CameraWork" series has to say: http://www.hollywoodcamerawork.us/re...s.html#reading His series kicks butt! Check it out! "Killer Camera Rigs That You Can Build" is in its 2nd edition. I'm currently working on Volume 2. So people must like it! I'm always available to answer any questions! Dan www.dvcamerarigs.com

May 21st, 2005, 11:32 AM	#4
Joshua Starnes Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 356	I bought it a while back and built a dolly from it. Worth every penny just for that.

May 21st, 2005, 04:34 PM	#7
Bill Zens Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Kirkland, WA Posts: 191	Thanks all for the input. Realistically, this sounds like it's just what I've needed. At the end of the day, how much space does this equipment take up? Will my wife get too mad when I store it on her side of the garage? Or will it be able to be stored in a somewhat smaller more compact fashion?

May 21st, 2005, 07:06 PM	#8
John Sandel Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: stately Eldora Road Posts: 386	I can recommend Dan's book. The most amazing thing about him is that after writing it, he has any exclamation points left.

May 22nd, 2005, 08:02 AM	#9
Dan Selakovich Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 220	Wow you guys. Thanks for all the kind words! The site seems to be working now. My host was updating the server yesterday for about an hour, so that was probably the problem. Like Jim, many take the plans in the book and design them to fit their own needs. Eventually, I'll finish the part of the web site with all the photos of rigs people have sent me to hopefully inspire others that have bought the book, and remind people that they don't have to stick with the plans if they have a specific shot in mind. Around here, we do tons of stuff like that. My favorite is when we took the dolly, which has the ability to hang upside-down, and ran track between two buildings in downtown L.A.. The shot followed the character 5 stories below crossing an alley. Another shot required a boom down from a photo on the wall down to ground level, then moving under a bed all the way to the opposite side of the bed. We did that one by screwing a 5' bit of plumbing pipe to the end of the "Killer's Kiss Crane", and attaching the camera to the end of the pipe. The Killer's Kiss was on the "Dark Passage dolly" and we simply boomed down from the photo and dollied the extention under the bed. It took a few tries, but worked out great. Thanks again you guys! Dan www.dvcamerarigs.com

May 25th, 2005, 07:53 AM	#10
Dan Selakovich Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 220	Oh, as for storage Bill: Hooks from the ceiling. I'd love a garage! Luxury! I hang litterally every rig from my ceiling. It's getting crowded up there. Dan www.dvcamerarigs.com

July 21st, 2005, 08:07 PM	#12
Tyler Baptist Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Saskatoon, SK Canada Posts: 71	I just ordered the book. Can't wait to start building.

July 22nd, 2005, 07:46 AM	#13
Dan Selakovich Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 220	Thanks you guys! As usual, I'm always around to help out if you hit any snags. (Someday I plan on taking a Vacation!) Dan www.DVcameraRigs.com