RED 1 in Zero G

[donovangreene@mac.com]

I'm shooting a commercial in Japan next week on plane that simulates zero gravity. We'll be shooting two cameras, and will be recording to 8GB flash cards, as RED RAM isn't available in Japan, nor are 16GB cards with the current "firmware upgrade" RED has offered. I'm looking for any tips beyond the obvious one of not using spinning disk hard drives. I'll probably shoot it with two short Angenieux zooms, and do it all handheld.

Any tips going in would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Donovan

 

[JanneJansson]

Eat good before you go up and you don't get seasick. Puke in zero g is pretty but don't smell good

 

[R. Schorman]

wouldn't freefall mean zero vibration?

 

[Harry Lipnick]

I'm green with envy. Have fun!
Peace,

-Harry

 

[Neil Larson]

wouldn't freefall mean zero vibration?

It's not the freefall that's dangerous, it's coming out of the freefall.

 

[Noah Kadner]

Wear a helmet and lots of pads- that's a heavy piece of gear to get hit in the head with.

Noah

 

[Casey Schendel]

shut the red off after the zero gravity perhaps?

 

[Chris Vrakotas]

Also, don't wear shoes, to avoid hitting others while you're spinning around...
I wish I'd be with you. Besides my involvement with Red, I own the only Greek site about space travels and space tourism, http://www.spacetravels.gr
Is there any possibility to send me some material from the shooting?:w00t::w00t:

 

[Pawel Achtel]

Actually, a hard drive is not a problem. In fact, it can be adventegous as it will stabilise your camera due to (relatively weak) gyro effect!

If you are not used to zero gravity, take sea sickness tablets an hour before you go.

 

[Peter Hodgins]

I'm shooting a commercial in Japan next week on plane that simulates zero gravity. We'll be shooting two cameras,

Tip number one ... don't kill anyone when the camera goes "floating" through the air ... make sure it is attached to you. Use a zero g steadycam. Actually I bet they velcro you to the walls, I doubt very much you'll be allowed to float around with that equipment .... Anyway to accurately film the event ... you should be "tied" down.

 

[Paul Lee]

make sure your cables are well connected and also make sure that if you are using RED batteries you have the release well protected. Gravity won't hold those babies in place. Hate to go into zero G and bump the battery release and have to reboot the cam.

 

[Christian Tanner]

as i understand - those flights do 15 parables - each approximately 30 seconds long? (i guess they're not called the "puke-bomber" for nothing...)

if it's just the firmware - i'd go back a step and try using 16gb cards i guess my advice would be. (and have the red mags handy as a back up obviously).

@peter: these flights became quite commercial these days. i saw one that was packed with scientists and their quite dangerous looking gear. i wouldn't be surprised if they let you do more then one would think these days...

 

[Chris Vrakotas]

).

@peter: these flights became quite commercial these days. i saw one that was packed with scientists and their quite dangerous looking gear. i wouldn't be surprised if they let you do more then one would think these days...

Christian you're right. A couple booked an entire flight for its marriage.

 

[donovangreene@mac.com]

Took the flight yesterday and it went great. RED One worked flawlessly in both the weightless environment and, more importantly, the 2G environment. The whole things was MUCH easier than I thought. I used two cameras, two RED RAMS, and everything went perfectly. I shot a Canon 7D as well in 24p mode which I literally threw down the center of the plane toward the talent, there was zero damage to the camera or talent, and the shot looked great. It's actually pretty difficult to damage the equipment in this situation, as our pilots provided super smooth transitions in and out of weightlessness. Great experience. I'll link to the commercial after it's on-air date has arrived, which isn't for a few months.