Raised Platform for Videography at DVinfo.net

Maurice Covington · February 28th, 2013, 07:19 PM

Well, I'm not sure if this is the appropriate place for this posting but I am wanting to know what types of scaffolds or supports are available when shooting in a tight area. Is it something that I need to build or is it something that I can rent. This is being requested for one of my jobs. Also, what should I charge for something like this?

Peter Mykusz · December 22nd, 2013, 08:41 PM

Most of the AV companies that do staging have camera platforms. You should get 2 - about 4 feet square and about 3 feet in height. Isolate any vibrations by putting the camera on the separate platform.
You can build your own but it's easier to rent.

Don Bloom · December 22nd, 2013, 09:41 PM

AV1, PSAV, among other av companies in Chicago rent gear and one piece of gear is a Spider Pod.
I don't know their rental requirements anymore but it can't hurt to email or call them.

Chris Harding · December 22nd, 2013, 09:53 PM

I have a fold up "painters platform" that I got from the hardware store for $30!! It's about 6' x 3' and 3' off the ground and it really nice for getting over people's heads. I use it during dancing at weddings mostly but it's also a darn useful tool around the home too!!

Chris

Maurice Covington · December 23rd, 2013, 08:41 AM

Thanks Chris!

I'll check this out as I have the same yearly shoot coming around again in April.

Merry Christmas!

Don Bloom · December 23rd, 2013, 10:06 AM

Chris,
Great idea and I'm sure it's a lot lighter and easier to carry and setup than a spider pod.

Tim Lewis · December 23rd, 2013, 07:26 PM

Chris, was it Bunnings?

Warren Kawamoto · December 23rd, 2013, 08:10 PM

If you have access to a wood shop, you can make your own using this:
RISERS FOR SQUARE PLATFORMS

The stage riser folds up and is so light, you can hold it with 3 fingers! It's designed similarly to those folding picnic chairs. When opened, the platform spreads out 4ft x 4ft. Throw a piece of plywood on it, and you can put one ton of weight on it. It has 9 contact points touching the ground, so it's rock solid! On a smooth surface, there is no rocking or shaking. Best of all, you can put your tripod AND yourself on it, and you can walk around on it without disturbing the camera's shot. I built my own for about $150 total.

Don Bloom · December 23rd, 2013, 09:41 PM

Warren,
Back in August or September I did a 1/2 day seminar and the hotel had setup a riser for me to shoot from and it looked like that one. It was solid as a rock with no bounce in it at all. Of course I was the only one on it and I'm only about 165 (pounds not years) plus my camera rig which comes in at about 30 pounds with tripod and I wasn't walking around when shooting but getting on and off the floor was solid.
I liked it and for the money you can't go wrong.

Chris Harding · December 24th, 2013, 06:38 AM

Hi Tim

The very same!! Called a painter's platform and they had them for around $30.00 ..Shucks the aluminium would cost more than that if I tried to make it myself.

I have been reprimanded a few times for standing on the venues chairs and tables so I decided this was a safer option!

Chris

Josh Hayes · September 28th, 2016, 05:40 PM

Hey Chris. Do you have a picture of your 6X3 setup or a link to it on a website? When I google Bunnings 6X3 Platform I'm not seeing it.

-My first thought was to build a setup like this with benches: Make You Own 22" Camera Platform/Riser. Alternative to Spider Pod

-But then I saw Warren's setup using the "24 Stage Riser which really appeals to me because it has 9 points of contact. Sounds more stable than option 1 which is smaller, and doesn't go all the way to the edge.

-But then I saw you mentioned a setup and I was curious to research it.

Josh Hayes · September 28th, 2016, 09:57 PM

Chris, a point of clarification. Are you just just using it for you to stand on with a tall tripod, or is it functioning like a stage in the example above with the stage riser (a no shake stage for both operator and camera).?

Chris Harding · September 28th, 2016, 11:38 PM

Hi Josh

My platform doesn't have enough space for a tripod at all ... it's more like a 5 x 3 and about 3' high and I use it for dancing shots at weddings so not really suitable for an event with long run times where you need a tripod. I saw a great media platform somewhere (I think from the UK with a 6x6 platform and adjustable heights and even some steps and a safety rail all around but it cost a bomb!!

Josh Hayes · September 29th, 2016, 02:06 AM

Hi Chris, ok that's what I assumed but I just wanted to double check.

Warren's solution of buying the 24" stage riser and putting a 4X4 piece of plywood on it is perfect for me. Drape a black cloth across it and wholla. $160 later I've got a platform with 9 points of support.!

Josh Hayes · October 3rd, 2016, 02:08 PM

Warren: how thick was the plywood you purchased for it?

February 28th, 2013, 07:19 PM	#1
Maurice Covington Major Player Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Plainfield, Illinois Posts: 236	Raised Platform for Videography Well, I'm not sure if this is the appropriate place for this posting but I am wanting to know what types of scaffolds or supports are available when shooting in a tight area. Is it something that I need to build or is it something that I can rent. This is being requested for one of my jobs. Also, what should I charge for something like this?

December 22nd, 2013, 08:41 PM	#2
Peter Mykusz Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 52 Images: 8	Re: Raised Platform for Videography Most of the AV companies that do staging have camera platforms. You should get 2 - about 4 feet square and about 3 feet in height. Isolate any vibrations by putting the camera on the separate platform. You can build your own but it's easier to rent.

December 22nd, 2013, 09:41 PM	#3
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	Re: Raised Platform for Videography AV1, PSAV, among other av companies in Chicago rent gear and one piece of gear is a Spider Pod. I don't know their rental requirements anymore but it can't hurt to email or call them. __________________ What do I know? I'm just a video-O-grafer. Don

December 22nd, 2013, 09:53 PM	#4
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: Raised Platform for Videography I have a fold up "painters platform" that I got from the hardware store for $30!! It's about 6' x 3' and 3' off the ground and it really nice for getting over people's heads. I use it during dancing at weddings mostly but it's also a darn useful tool around the home too!! Chris

December 23rd, 2013, 08:41 AM	#5
Maurice Covington Major Player Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Plainfield, Illinois Posts: 236	Re: Raised Platform for Videography Thanks Chris! I'll check this out as I have the same yearly shoot coming around again in April. Merry Christmas!

December 23rd, 2013, 10:06 AM	#6
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	Re: Raised Platform for Videography Chris, Great idea and I'm sure it's a lot lighter and easier to carry and setup than a spider pod. __________________ What do I know? I'm just a video-O-grafer. Don

December 23rd, 2013, 07:26 PM	#7
Tim Lewis Major Player Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Perth, Western Australia. Posts: 591	Re: Raised Platform for Videography Chris, was it Bunnings? __________________ Cheers Tim

December 23rd, 2013, 08:10 PM	#8
Warren Kawamoto Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,435	Re: Raised Platform for Videography If you have access to a wood shop, you can make your own using this: RISERS FOR SQUARE PLATFORMS The stage riser folds up and is so light, you can hold it with 3 fingers! It's designed similarly to those folding picnic chairs. When opened, the platform spreads out 4ft x 4ft. Throw a piece of plywood on it, and you can put one ton of weight on it. It has 9 contact points touching the ground, so it's rock solid! On a smooth surface, there is no rocking or shaking. Best of all, you can put your tripod AND yourself on it, and you can walk around on it without disturbing the camera's shot. I built my own for about $150 total.

December 23rd, 2013, 09:41 PM	#9
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	Re: Raised Platform for Videography Warren, Back in August or September I did a 1/2 day seminar and the hotel had setup a riser for me to shoot from and it looked like that one. It was solid as a rock with no bounce in it at all. Of course I was the only one on it and I'm only about 165 (pounds not years) plus my camera rig which comes in at about 30 pounds with tripod and I wasn't walking around when shooting but getting on and off the floor was solid. I liked it and for the money you can't go wrong. __________________ What do I know? I'm just a video-O-grafer. Don

December 24th, 2013, 06:38 AM	#10
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: Raised Platform for Videography Hi Tim The very same!! Called a painter's platform and they had them for around $30.00 ..Shucks the aluminium would cost more than that if I tried to make it myself. I have been reprimanded a few times for standing on the venues chairs and tables so I decided this was a safer option! Chris

September 28th, 2016, 05:40 PM	#11
Josh Hayes Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: San Francisco, Ca Posts: 264	Re: Raised Platform for Videography Hey Chris. Do you have a picture of your 6X3 setup or a link to it on a website? When I google Bunnings 6X3 Platform I'm not seeing it. -My first thought was to build a setup like this with benches: Make You Own 22" Camera Platform/Riser. Alternative to Spider Pod -But then I saw Warren's setup using the "24 Stage Riser which really appeals to me because it has 9 points of contact. Sounds more stable than option 1 which is smaller, and doesn't go all the way to the edge. -But then I saw you mentioned a setup and I was curious to research it.

September 28th, 2016, 09:57 PM	#12
Josh Hayes Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: San Francisco, Ca Posts: 264	Re: Raised Platform for Videography Chris, a point of clarification. Are you just just using it for you to stand on with a tall tripod, or is it functioning like a stage in the example above with the stage riser (a no shake stage for both operator and camera).?

September 28th, 2016, 11:38 PM	#13
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: Raised Platform for Videography Hi Josh My platform doesn't have enough space for a tripod at all ... it's more like a 5 x 3 and about 3' high and I use it for dancing shots at weddings so not really suitable for an event with long run times where you need a tripod. I saw a great media platform somewhere (I think from the UK with a 6x6 platform and adjustable heights and even some steps and a safety rail all around but it cost a bomb!!

September 29th, 2016, 02:06 AM	#14
Josh Hayes Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: San Francisco, Ca Posts: 264	Re: Raised Platform for Videography Hi Chris, ok that's what I assumed but I just wanted to double check. Warren's solution of buying the 24" stage riser and putting a 4X4 piece of plywood on it is perfect for me. Drape a black cloth across it and wholla. $160 later I've got a platform with 9 points of support.!

October 3rd, 2016, 02:08 PM	#15
Josh Hayes Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: San Francisco, Ca Posts: 264	Re: Raised Platform for Videography Warren: how thick was the plywood you purchased for it?