Dollies at DVinfo.net

Jamison Olivieri · August 29th, 2003, 03:23 PM

I Have Looked all around and can not find a decent dolly system for under 150$ Can someone help and give me some ideas?

Brian Cupini · September 1st, 2003, 12:43 PM

I know this'll come off like I'm being a smartass, but I'm dead serious - use a skateboard or a wheelchair. Not the best solutions, but they're cheap and who'd ever know, as long as the shot looks good?

Robert Rodriguez used a wheelchair when he shot El Mariachi. He borrowed it from a doctor's office in town, and he had to schedule times when he could borrow it. =]

If you're looking for something a bit more permanent, you could probably build something from Home Depot materials for well under $100.

Jamison Olivieri · September 1st, 2003, 02:52 PM

Oh yeah i have never thought of using a skate cool thanx!

Mark Monciardini · September 1st, 2003, 04:19 PM

If you do decide to go the Home Depot route, make sure the wheels are rubber and big like wheel barrel wheels. This way you can assure a smooth ride without as many bumps.

The whole skate board idea is a little scary I think. You hit a little tity rock and the skate stops and you and your camera go flying.

Always have someone pushing the dolly and to be there incase any accidents :-)

Aaron Koolen · September 2nd, 2003, 04:01 PM

I'd forget the skateboard unless you're on totally smooth ground for the same reasons as Mark said. Also you'd have a hard time sitting a tripod on it ;)

I've just finished making a dolly and prelim tests seem good. We're using it as part of our LadyX episode, so that's when we'll find out if it's going to be any use, or totally useless. Took me about 4 hours to make as not everything I could find fit the job perfectly so I had to make adjustments. Cost me about NZ$200 all up I think. It runs on rails (PVC) which was probably the most expensive single part, costing me $70 for 2 x 4 metre pieces.

If it works out I might go down the steel rail route and have proper stabilising feet and things for them so I can run it off the ground and keep level on slopes, which it can't do at the moment.

Cheers
Aaron

Jamison Olivieri · September 2nd, 2003, 08:50 PM

Can you give me the direction on how to make one? Or is there like a site that helps to make one?

Aaron Koolen · September 3rd, 2003, 12:36 AM

Hi Jamison. I got the idea from this link

http://www.shadowgirlproject.com/dolly01.asp

It's in French but use altavista or google to translate it. There's not much in the way of specifics but you can work out what to do from the pictures.

My one is pretty much exactly like their one.

Cheers
Aaron

Jamison Olivieri · September 4th, 2003, 08:11 PM

Ok thanks alot! Big help

August 29th, 2003, 03:23 PM	#1
Jamison Olivieri Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: CA Posts: 50	Dollies I Have Looked all around and can not find a decent dolly system for under 150$ Can someone help and give me some ideas?

September 1st, 2003, 04:19 PM	#4
Mark Monciardini Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 158	If you do decide to go the Home Depot route, make sure the wheels are rubber and big like wheel barrel wheels. This way you can assure a smooth ride without as many bumps. The whole skate board idea is a little scary I think. You hit a little tity rock and the skate stops and you and your camera go flying. Always have someone pushing the dolly and to be there incase any accidents :-) __________________ Best Regards, Mark T. Monciardini Riverlight Studios www.riverlightstudios.com DVX100/Final Cut Pro 4/Mac G5 Dual 1.8

September 2nd, 2003, 04:01 PM	#5
Aaron Koolen Trustee Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,727	I'd forget the skateboard unless you're on totally smooth ground for the same reasons as Mark said. Also you'd have a hard time sitting a tripod on it ;) I've just finished making a dolly and prelim tests seem good. We're using it as part of our LadyX episode, so that's when we'll find out if it's going to be any use, or totally useless. Took me about 4 hours to make as not everything I could find fit the job perfectly so I had to make adjustments. Cost me about NZ$200 all up I think. It runs on rails (PVC) which was probably the most expensive single part, costing me $70 for 2 x 4 metre pieces. If it works out I might go down the steel rail route and have proper stabilising feet and things for them so I can run it off the ground and keep level on slopes, which it can't do at the moment. Cheers Aaron __________________ My Website Meat Free Media

September 3rd, 2003, 12:36 AM	#7
Aaron Koolen Trustee Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,727	Hi Jamison. I got the idea from this link http://www.shadowgirlproject.com/dolly01.asp It's in French but use altavista or google to translate it. There's not much in the way of specifics but you can work out what to do from the pictures. My one is pretty much exactly like their one. Cheers Aaron __________________ My Website Meat Free Media

September 1st, 2003, 12:43 PM	#2
Brian Cupini New Boot Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 12	I know this'll come off like I'm being a smartass, but I'm dead serious - use a skateboard or a wheelchair. Not the best solutions, but they're cheap and who'd ever know, as long as the shot looks good? Robert Rodriguez used a wheelchair when he shot El Mariachi. He borrowed it from a doctor's office in town, and he had to schedule times when he could borrow it. =] If you're looking for something a bit more permanent, you could probably build something from Home Depot materials for well under $100.

September 1st, 2003, 02:52 PM	#3
Jamison Olivieri Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: CA Posts: 50	Oh yeah i have never thought of using a skate cool thanx!

September 2nd, 2003, 08:50 PM	#6
Jamison Olivieri Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: CA Posts: 50	Can you give me the direction on how to make one? Or is there like a site that helps to make one?

September 4th, 2003, 08:11 PM	#8
Jamison Olivieri Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: CA Posts: 50	Ok thanks alot! Big help