HOW TO TEST A “STEADICAM” ?
Check out my feature webpage that includes:
—- comparing Steadicam arms using “Lift Performance Curves”
—- what is iso-elasticity?
—- the top ten training drills for Steadicam operators
—- how to make a Steadicam demo video that actually shows off your operating skills
This is just the start of a conversation …
Email any suggestions to: chris.poynton@gmail.com
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ACTORS WANTED
I am putting feelers out for actors who may be available for Steadicam test shots leading to a short drama project in Bendigo for 2013.
The video clip above (on Vimeo and YouTube) is an example shot by Sam G Images, showing off beautifully the sort of opportunities that can be created for a dedicated actor willing to create a performance especially with the Steadicam.
Our script/s will be devised for the strengths of actors who are passionate about their craft and ready to rock!
Experimental, emotional, “socially real” and open to any direction.
Email chris.poynton@gmail.com or Facebook via www.YesYesMovies.com
SECOND MUSIC VIDEO LAUNCHED
Camera and lighting by Chris Poynton of YesYesMovies.com on the song “Monsters” by Bendigo band GrandPerceptor.com … shot September 2012.
The second video collaboration with the band, continuing the lyrical theme of human destiny and spiritual evolution. A wild animal is captured by men in suits … the monsters of the world.
A pacy edit by Neil Goulding of A Clockwork Dog which added slow motion and “peripheral de-focus” effects, giving smoothness and texture to the jagged cutting. Also added in post were various “crash zoom” effects.
Shot on Soundstage 19 at the secret farm HQ of Grand Perceptor. Mostly hand-held and tripod, some DIY steadicam. Shot in 1080/25p with the hacked Panasonic GH2 (Firmware Cake) with low-light Rainbow HX68 8-42mm CCTV lens.
Studio lighting setup used a mix of a dozen lights … LED, Redheads, Parcans and mirrors. Lighting plan is here.
Exterior “hunting and capture scene” lit with practical hunting spotlight, LED and car headlights.
NOTE ON ASPECT RATIO AND CROPPING:
The clip was shot for the original full frame HD aspect ratio of 1:1.77 but was letter-boxed in post-production to 1:2.01 which I feel altered a lot of the compositional energy and headroom in the shots.
When I looked at the clip for the first time it took me a while to realise what had been done, because I felt the shots were cramped and out of balance. So a layman may not notice anything, but for the camera operator, the aspect ratio is a critical component of the artwork that should be protected.
For a very educational explanation about the different Aspect Ratios used in TV and movies, and how they can be used and abused, see the following explanatory video by Brian Way http://youtu.be/gNcp49OdUao
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Here is a GREAT STEADICAM VIDEO showing the magic of floating handheld shots from a full-size professional Steadicam … a rig like this might cost you $30-50,000.
I have studied Steadicam in depth and I have designed and built a small DIY prototype version called “Bowheart” which is purely handheld (no vest or mechanical arm) and is suitable for small DSLR cameras with payloads of up to 1.7kg.
Demo images from the Bowheart camera stabiliser are available at: www.YesYesMovies.com
Download my “Film Bio” 1 page PDF
FIRST MUSIC VIDEO LAUNCHED
Camera work by Chris Poynton on the rock band clip - “We Are the Future” by Grand Perceptor (Shot: July 2012, launched Sep 2012)
Features floating camera system (Bowheart prototype DIY Steadicam) designed and operated by Chris Poynton www.YesYesMovies.com
Editing and colour post-production was carried out by the band (and I reckon it looks too dark!) … but I hope you will enjoy the spirit of the piece! Some minor shuddering in the Steadicam work due to a slightly loose camera mount, but not bad.
See my blog for “Behind the Scenes Commentary” including technical details at www.YesYesMovies.com
by Camera Operator Chris Poynton www.YesYesMovies.com (5 Sep 2012)
This band video clip I shot for Grand Perceptor’s song “We Are the Future” came unexpectedly from a portal of improvisation and magical alignment. It was initially just going to be a technical camera test, but then it kind of **grew** on the night … and voila!
Result: Three minutes of prototype DIY Steadicam footage (slightly rough with some very minor shuddering!) and a chameleonic lead singer … strutting and rocking his way to a grand climax in the eery light of the steam-punk, caged ambiance of the Bendigo railway station. (Camera and Tech details of the GH2 DSLR and Bowheart stabiliser are at the bottom of this post).
[We have since shot a second clip for the song “Monsters” … but that is another story!]
THE GENESIS
Lead-singer Old World Sparrow initially approached me with an idea for a band clip to be shot in a busy street with a lot of extras. I suggested we first go into the Bendigo CBD very late at night
BENDIGO MOVIE COLLABORATORS WANTED
This clip demonstrates the “Bowheart” Camera Stabiliser built by Chris Poynton.
Shot at the Chinese Museum Precinct and Kuan Yin temple in Bendigo, VIC.
Actors, writers, directors, stylists, musicians, models, sound technicians, etc …
… are all wanted to JAM in spaces like this around Bendigo
See text description on YouTube video for further information
FULL CONTACT DETAILS AT: www.cp.org.au/movies
