Dragon STHL + Kowas + MoVI M15 + Steadicam oner

[Brett Harrison]

iOS link: https://vimeo.com/156126288

The operating was split between myself and Liam Myles Gilmour using the MoVI controller on a fluid head in 'Mimic' mode - a very responsive setup.

It's still in need of some workshopping (I need more Steadicam training and the cage went around so far that it hit the pan motor - I have a few modifications in mind to solve this) but I think you'll agree it's a viable approach and a continuation of the benefits of the MoVI system. Garrett Brown talks about the Steadicam as an instrument which is exactly what it is; you can't play the same tones on any other device -- but you can add to it.

photo credit: Shannon Glowacki

 

[Daniel Pearson]

Nice work Brett, great feel to the movement and a nice overall tone.

 

[Paramon Ivanovich]

i love this setup and 9 times out of 10 i fly stedicam i put Ronin on it;
the closing shot setup looks fantastic!
what FF did you use?

 

[Brett Harrison]

i love this setup and 9 times out of 10 i fly stedicam i put Ronin on it;
the closing shot setup looks fantastic!
what FF did you use?

We used Hedén motors with an fStop 2.1 box from PLC and the BFD handset.

I think in single user mode the gimbal-Steadicam setup is of limited but notable value.

An AR rig is a single axis horizon leveler: single user replicates this (albeit not to the same degree) with the added benefit of high-to-low transitions (at least with MoVI, not sure about possibility of this with other gimbals) that can be performed 'in-line', i.e. without having to roll the Steadicam gimbal sideways as with the AR rig -- this all sacrifices tilt (you can't go hight-to-low because the tilt follow would invert the camera) - pretty limited/specific.

In general I feel the delay imparted by the various follow modes can be helpful for some reasons but really it merely substitutes Steadicam skill - getting rid of that and handing the framing over is a better idea.

The benefits of MoVI-Steadicam dual user are greater. Like with regular MoVI, you can focus on the follow camera duties as the Steadicam operator while the camera operator frames, but it also transforms the sled into a jib - like the AR but isolated in 3 axes. Some will argue that going high-to-low is a rare occurrence but really this liberates the operator from having to boom the arm or build around the mid-range of Steadicam by simply tilting the sled forward (keeping a low lateral profile): midrange is accessible without having to boom the arm out of its ideal midrange. Also when new ways of shooting come up, new shots come up; it's not a one-way street.

The chief benefit though is the inclusion of another camera operator in the shot. There's a weird alchemy that happens - every shift of perspective influences framing, every framing choice influences perspective, frame by frame almost. If you don't know better you can think you're doing the framing the whole time only to learn that it was in dual user. 'Mind meld' is the appropriate term. It doesn't always work if you have different ideas about framing! It's very comparable to having a garage jam - you might need a few bars to fall into sync.

The specific benefit of the Freefly system is that you can put the Mimic sensor on any traditional support system like a fluid head or geared head, and get the benefits of those systems on top of the beauty of the arm and sled. It's just like a dolly setup with the operator on board!