Are there Merlin Workshops? at DVinfo.net

Ronald Lee · December 18th, 2006, 06:15 PM

I'm in Vancouver, Canada. Are the actually workshops for the Merlin? In Canada?

What do these cover and how much do they cost?

Mike Brown · December 28th, 2006, 07:45 AM

The 43-page manual for the Merlin explains its operation very clearly for beginning users. It's also supplemented by a DVD. The intention seems to be that with an understanding of the basic principles, new users will learn on their own through practice.

As far as I know, the workshops are only for the full-sized Steadicam units, and usually have experience qualifications, such that you have to be working in the industry already before taking the class.

Tom Wills · December 28th, 2006, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Brown

As far as I know, the workshops are only for the full-sized Steadicam units, and usually have experience qualifications, such that you have to be working in the industry already before taking the class.

Well, close, but not quite, at least in terms of the "qualifications". In truth, you need no special qualifications to go to any of the big workshops (Thank goodness!), you just need the money to do it (Thus, you need to be committed to learning it - a bit of a "qualification", but not anything like "you have to be in the industry")

Also, while I'm pretty sure there are no Steadicam workshops in Canada, I wouldn't place money on the fact that there are no Merlin workshops. It sure seems like it'd be a good idea to have them, and maybe somebody out there agrees with me, and started a workshop!

Nick Tsamandanis · December 28th, 2006, 09:40 PM

I did a Flyer workshop in October with Phil Balsdon and found that a lot of the great stuff that you learn in a workshop can be applied to the Merlin as well. Probably even more when the Merlin vest wil be released.

Mike Brown · January 3rd, 2007, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Wills

In truth, you need no special qualifications to go to any of the big workshops (Thank goodness!), you just need the money to do it (Thus, you need to be committed to learning it - a bit of a "qualification", but not anything like "you have to be in the industry")

The first sentence in the Rockport, Maine Steadicam workshop page says,

Quote:

This course is for working film and video camera professionals with at least a year of camera operating experience.

http://www.theworkshops.com/catalog/...27&SchoolID=21

Being an amateur, not a "working professional," I don't meet this qualification. But ... I don't doubt you that if I showed up in Rockport and waved 15 fresh hundred-dollah bills in their face, the qualifications perhaps could be "waived" just this once. ;-)

Tom Wills · January 3rd, 2007, 10:23 PM

Well, apparently I don't know much about the Maine workshop. It's the one I always forget about. (Maybe I'm spoiled, being only around 50 miles from the SOA one) The SOA workshop doesn't requre those qualifications though. I also am not entirely sure whether by "working professional" that they mean you know what you're doing, or whether they actually mean it litterally.

Mikko Wilson · January 4th, 2007, 04:50 PM

Well the "qualifications", as most in this business, aren't rock solid.

What the "requirements" for the workshops generally mean is that you should be a competent camera operator. This is the case for anyone planning on learning Steadicam anyway.

And generally speaking, normally anyone ready to drop $2k+ for a week's Steadicam workshop is someone who is already experienced in camera operating.

- Mikko

Greg Quinn · January 4th, 2007, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Tsamandanis

Probably even more when the Merlin vest wil be released.

There's going to be a Merlin vest? Is that definite?

Nick Tsamandanis · January 5th, 2007, 03:11 AM

Mikko replied a while back to my same question. Apparently it's in development.

December 18th, 2006, 06:15 PM	#1
Ronald Lee Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 435	Are there Merlin Workshops? I'm in Vancouver, Canada. Are the actually workshops for the Merlin? In Canada? What do these cover and how much do they cost?

December 28th, 2006, 09:40 PM	#4
Nick Tsamandanis Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 318	I did a Flyer workshop in October with Phil Balsdon and found that a lot of the great stuff that you learn in a workshop can be applied to the Merlin as well. Probably even more when the Merlin vest wil be released. __________________ Nick

January 4th, 2007, 04:50 PM	#7
Mikko Wilson Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Juneau, Alaska, USA Posts: 624	Well the "qualifications", as most in this business, aren't rock solid. What the "requirements" for the workshops generally mean is that you should be a competent camera operator. This is the case for anyone planning on learning Steadicam anyway. And generally speaking, normally anyone ready to drop $2k+ for a week's Steadicam workshop is someone who is already experienced in camera operating. - Mikko __________________ Mikko Wilson - Steadicam Owner / Operator - Juneau, Alaska, USA +1 (907) 321-8387 - mikkowilson@hotmail.com - www.mikkowilson.com

January 5th, 2007, 03:11 AM	#9
Nick Tsamandanis Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 318	Mikko replied a while back to my same question. Apparently it's in development. __________________ Nick

December 28th, 2006, 07:45 AM	#2
Mike Brown Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Nanuet NY Posts: 74	The 43-page manual for the Merlin explains its operation very clearly for beginning users. It's also supplemented by a DVD. The intention seems to be that with an understanding of the basic principles, new users will learn on their own through practice. As far as I know, the workshops are only for the full-sized Steadicam units, and usually have experience qualifications, such that you have to be working in the industry already before taking the class.

January 3rd, 2007, 10:23 PM	#6
Tom Wills Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 326	Well, apparently I don't know much about the Maine workshop. It's the one I always forget about. (Maybe I'm spoiled, being only around 50 miles from the SOA one) The SOA workshop doesn't requre those qualifications though. I also am not entirely sure whether by "working professional" that they mean you know what you're doing, or whether they actually mean it litterally.