Steadicam Pilot Footage.

Charles Papert · February 29th, 2008, 10:02 PM

Yes. There are a lot of tricks that one should learn early on that then get tucked in your back pocket for later. At the workshops we create shots that purposely force students into switching sides.

Suffice to say that the majority of operators I know including myself will generally try to keep the swinging around to a minimum, and will also avoid Don Juan whenever possible. Some guys I know claim to never go into Don Juan. This means that they have mastered running up and down stairs backwards, something that makes my head hurt! I can't do that so I occasionally find myself in Don Juan. Again, something useful to practice but it's usually better to have your head pointed the same direction as the camera.

Michael Y Wong · March 21st, 2008, 01:11 PM

Nick,

any chance of reposting your video? I would absolutely LOVE to see your developement on the Pilot.

Nick Tsamandanis · March 21st, 2008, 06:50 PM

It's disappeared forever in cyberworld. Will post more footage soon.

Nick Tsamandanis · March 22nd, 2008, 10:19 PM

Found the original tape Michael, here you go: http://www.vimeo.com/814053

Cathal Hegarty · March 23rd, 2008, 06:48 AM

Hi Nick..

Good job for uploading some footage shot with the Pilot.. does anyone know of any other Pilot footage I could see on the web?

Derran Rootring · March 23rd, 2008, 08:23 AM

Here you can see a first test someone did with the Steadicam Pilot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqHV7TfduoU

Still searching for more... :)

Nick Tsamandanis · March 23rd, 2008, 09:42 AM

Ok then, here is my first go with the Pilot in low mode (camera upside down)
http://www.vimeo.com/815091

Charles Papert · March 23rd, 2008, 09:58 AM

Looking good as always Nick.

Make sure to include lots of extended holds in your practice footage (you may have done them and then cut them out for your posted video so if so, ignore this).

Also don't forget to include tilts in both directions which are more dicey than in high-mode--try starting with a person full-frame and then push in to a tight shot looking up at them, holding headroom is pretty tricky. This was a big move in the rap videos back in the 90's--I spent three nights doing this on a video that I just rediscovered on Youtube for the ever-popular New Kids on the Block (!) Then I brought that style to the infamous printer-stomping scene in "Office Space"...

I'm sorry to see it's not on Steadishots but the end titles of "After Hours" are one of the most amazing low-mode shots to date--worth a rental.

Nick Tsamandanis · March 23rd, 2008, 10:05 AM

Thanks for the input Charles, hey low mode is real fun!

Charles Papert · March 23rd, 2008, 10:10 AM

Haha, EVERYTHING's fun on a Pilot! Low-mode with a heavy camera/rig can be a real bear though, it can be downright uncomfortable due to the lower center of gravity and the way it pulls on the body. But it generally looks great!

Nick Tsamandanis · March 23rd, 2008, 10:15 AM

Yeah, I remember the hardest thing I did at the workshop was a switch with a low mode cage set up....

Charles Papert · March 23rd, 2008, 10:21 AM

Ugh--low mode cage and switch, bad combo!!

Definitely check out "After Hours", several switches in that that are just astonishing (Larry McConkey of course)

Sean Seah · March 23rd, 2008, 11:07 AM

Hi Nick. Would it be possible to post a photo of u doing the low shot? I have always wondered how it is possible to control the camera upside down and walk.. let alone keeping it steady. Thanks a million!

Nick Tsamandanis · March 23rd, 2008, 08:14 PM

Hi Sean, there are some pictures of the Pilot in low mode here: http://www.steadicam.com/images/cont...ual_112607.pdf

Sean Seah · March 23rd, 2008, 10:49 PM

Interesting! Need to have a lot of faith in the device to let the cam go upside down!

February 29th, 2008, 10:02 PM	#16
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Yes. There are a lot of tricks that one should learn early on that then get tucked in your back pocket for later. At the workshops we create shots that purposely force students into switching sides. Suffice to say that the majority of operators I know including myself will generally try to keep the swinging around to a minimum, and will also avoid Don Juan whenever possible. Some guys I know claim to never go into Don Juan. This means that they have mastered running up and down stairs backwards, something that makes my head hurt! I can't do that so I occasionally find myself in Don Juan. Again, something useful to practice but it's usually better to have your head pointed the same direction as the camera. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

March 21st, 2008, 01:11 PM	#17
Michael Y Wong Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toronto Ontario Canada! Posts: 353	Nick, any chance of reposting your video? I would absolutely LOVE to see your developement on the Pilot. __________________ dreaming hobbyist + storyteller www.michaelywong.com

March 21st, 2008, 06:50 PM	#18
Nick Tsamandanis Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 318	It's disappeared forever in cyberworld. Will post more footage soon. __________________ Nick

March 22nd, 2008, 10:19 PM	#19
Nick Tsamandanis Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 318	Found the original tape Michael, here you go: http://www.vimeo.com/814053 __________________ Nick Last edited by Nick Tsamandanis; March 23rd, 2008 at 12:02 AM.

March 23rd, 2008, 09:42 AM	#22
Nick Tsamandanis Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 318	Ok then, here is my first go with the Pilot in low mode (camera upside down) http://www.vimeo.com/815091 __________________ Nick

March 23rd, 2008, 06:48 AM	#20
Cathal Hegarty New Boot Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: UK Posts: 5	Hi Nick.. Good job for uploading some footage shot with the Pilot.. does anyone know of any other Pilot footage I could see on the web?

March 23rd, 2008, 08:23 AM	#21
Derran Rootring Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 204	Here you can see a first test someone did with the Steadicam Pilot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqHV7TfduoU Still searching for more... :)

March 23rd, 2008, 09:58 AM	#23
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Looking good as always Nick. Make sure to include lots of extended holds in your practice footage (you may have done them and then cut them out for your posted video so if so, ignore this). Also don't forget to include tilts in both directions which are more dicey than in high-mode--try starting with a person full-frame and then push in to a tight shot looking up at them, holding headroom is pretty tricky. This was a big move in the rap videos back in the 90's--I spent three nights doing this on a video that I just rediscovered on Youtube for the ever-popular New Kids on the Block (!) Then I brought that style to the infamous printer-stomping scene in "Office Space"... I'm sorry to see it's not on Steadishots but the end titles of "After Hours" are one of the most amazing low-mode shots to date--worth a rental. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

March 23rd, 2008, 10:05 AM	#24
Nick Tsamandanis Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 318	Thanks for the input Charles, hey low mode is real fun! __________________ Nick

March 23rd, 2008, 10:10 AM	#25
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Haha, EVERYTHING's fun on a Pilot! Low-mode with a heavy camera/rig can be a real bear though, it can be downright uncomfortable due to the lower center of gravity and the way it pulls on the body. But it generally looks great! __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

March 23rd, 2008, 10:15 AM	#26
Nick Tsamandanis Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 318	Yeah, I remember the hardest thing I did at the workshop was a switch with a low mode cage set up.... __________________ Nick

March 23rd, 2008, 10:21 AM	#27
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Ugh--low mode cage and switch, bad combo!! Definitely check out "After Hours", several switches in that that are just astonishing (Larry McConkey of course) __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

March 23rd, 2008, 11:07 AM	#28
Sean Seah Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,498	Hi Nick. Would it be possible to post a photo of u doing the low shot? I have always wondered how it is possible to control the camera upside down and walk.. let alone keeping it steady. Thanks a million!

March 23rd, 2008, 08:14 PM	#29
Nick Tsamandanis Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 318	Hi Sean, there are some pictures of the Pilot in low mode here: http://www.steadicam.com/images/cont...ual_112607.pdf __________________ Nick

March 23rd, 2008, 10:49 PM	#30
Sean Seah Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,498	Interesting! Need to have a lot of faith in the device to let the cam go upside down!