Putting heavy camera on a Jib in a safe way?

[PatrickFaith]

This is coming under the title of a stupid question, a question I should have asked long ago. But I have only walked onsets where the jibs where setup, and up to this put I have only worked with jib's where the camera is in the 5-15 pound range.

I'm now working with camera's fully rigged (i.e. 19mm rails, FF5, radio unit, master primes, etc) and I was putting the camera on the jib in my old "VDSLR" hacky way this mourning. Half way through this process, I'm like ... woa ... I am not doing this in a safe way. This is a good example of people like me, whom never had a opportunity to be a AC on a production set so didn't learn some very basic things. Anyway, how do you guys put a 30 pound camera onto a jib. i.e. camera first then weights, weights first then tied off bags on the camera side, what is a safety line for a jib (and how should that be hooked up) ... any hints and/or pointers appreciated. I'm researching this, any helpful hints are appreciated and will not follow any advice without verifying it myself. I've also verified that the jib can handle the weight for the jib distance I am using.

 

[ericyoung]

Well, first check that your jib support tripod/dolly/mount can handle the camera load, the jib and the necessary counterweights with plenty of safety margin. If it's a tripod, make sure it's rated much higher than your total load, and especially check if your leg locks are properly adjusted to take the full load if you are ever intending to extend any of the legs. Really the tripod should be one purpose built for jib use with hard leg stops. For obvious reasons, a jib should never be operated on ground or base that isn't fairly level and stable. Ie, no sandy/muddy ground, no slopes, stairs, steps, etc. Don't be tempted to use a ball mounted fluid head on the jib tripod - ball mounts were never intended to take the torque loads of a jib of any significant size.

By the way, a jib of this size that is starting to fall is usually way too heavy and moving too fast for any person to stop it - just get everybody out of the way if possible. Obviously never getting yourself into this position is the preferred option.

Also, scout your location - check for any hazards overhead such as telephone wires, power lines, trees etc. Consider worse case scenarios.

Every jib op I've seen (although I have no experience of jibs say bigger than the standard Jimmy Jib Triangle) has started with no weights, the camera end supported off the ground on a stable cradle/lighting stand/apple box. Then they rig the camera end with everything that is going to be on the camera end - hot head if applicable, camera load, all cables. Balance the camera in the hothead. Once that's done, the weights go on the other end until the the camera end is just heavier than the weight end. Then the trim weights/shotbag is moved to fine tune the balance, but usually left very slightly front heavy to facilitate docking in the aforementioned cradle when not in use, or unattended over breaks. If left unattended, secure the jib in the cradle with the tilt lock, a sandbag or other means. And consider taping off the area around the jib, or make it inaccessible too.

Anything that potentially goes over people's heads needs everything fully tightened, screwed or taped down, padded with foam where necessary. A safety line should go through a load bearing part of the camera load such as the top handle, and also anything with the slightest chance of being knocked off/coming loose, and a load bearing (stationary relative to the camera) part of the jib.

 

[Todd T]

+1 to Erics recommendations, here is a quick and simple example:

 

[Bob Gundu]

Hey Patrick, use an apple box or similar, to load camera and then the weights go on after.

https://vimeo.com/118034933

 

[Hal Long]

+1 Eric's comments. Well-thought out.

Here are a few other things to consider:

Jib specs don't always = usability. I've seen several jibs that claimed a 50 pound load, that were too bouncy with a 35-lbs rig to be of use. Same goes for heads. If you feel like you're pushing the threshold of a particular unit, it might be best to consider a beefier set up.

Cordon area – a well-balanced jib with a full camera package carries significant momentum, so allow an additional area for safety behind and in front of the jib. Working overhead of crowds requires a completely secured setup for the camera and head, but problems also occur when people crowd the operator's area.

Good luck!

H

 

[PatrickFaith]

Good suggestions thanks.

My tripod is fairly industrial and I'm only doing this for real small extensions (i.e. under 4 ft of jib extension) ... so my jib head isn't anywhere close to sitting on the floor.

Here is my "updated" process including the suggestions:

1. Make sure no one is near when I'm doing this, and the area is marked off.
2. Make sure the jib weights are not under the jib, so there is no time when i put my head under the jib when going to pick up the jib weights.
3. Pick some weight "sand" bags that are close to the camera package.
4. Connect a safety line to the jib head (making sure the safety line cannot slide).
5. Connect the safety line to the bag weights (making sure the total length puts the jib so it is in a T-Bar position).
6. put the fluid head onto the jib mount point.
7. balance the fluid head & tighten all the fluid head bolts.
8. put the first set of weights on, the safety line should get a bit tight.
9. put the camera rig on, minus lens & matte box.
10. tighten everything, double check all bolts/fasteners on the rig and jib.
11. put more weights on the jib, verify the system is neutral balanced(making sure the weights are fastened each time).
12. put the lens and matte box on.
13. verify there is minimal to no tension on the safety line to the sandbags.
14. triple check everything
15. take the safety line to the sandbag off (there should be no tension on the safety line).

(i enclosed how I hooked up my safety line to the sand bags).

 

[PatrickFaith]

+1 Eric's comments. Well-thought out.

Here are a few other things to consider:

Jib specs don't always = usability. I've seen several jibs that claimed a 50 pound load, that were too bouncy with a 35-lbs rig to be of use. Same goes for heads. If you feel like you're pushing the threshold of a particular unit, it might be best to consider a beefier set up.

Cordon area – a well-balanced jib with a full camera package carries significant momentum, so allow an additional area for safety behind and in front of the jib. Working overhead of crowds requires a completely secured setup for the camera and head, but problems also occur when people crowd the operator's area.

Good luck!

H

Good idea on cordon off the area, i have safety cones, i didn't put them up ... i will add that to my early step.

 

[PatrickFaith]

Hey Patrick, use an apple box or similar, to load camera and then the weights go on after.

I really need to get some apple box's from filmtools. I btw searched my ASC manual (version 10) it just had a small vague chapter on safety. I also skipped through "the grip book ", it kind of assumes your working on a union set with people that can explain things. I couldn't find any practical safety book (the osha stuff was for the big guys, bunch of safety stuff on entertainment chemicals, a kind of old book "Production Safety for Film" by Robin Small is the only thing close ... but it was also high level, pre digital, and also cost $74 dollars.

I btw remembered why I put the safety line on, before and after each scene ... I kind of remember 30 years ago someone saying "you don't want to make a catapult" if someone takes things off the jib with the weight on it (so the system should be designed for neutral balance even when a weight is removed). I included a shot of my little setup, nice thing of doing it this way is I can put batteries on and switch lenses quickly without worrying about things(i.e. basic safety concept is assume a screw up, so cover your self for that screwup), would be nice to have a fully certified book go through all these basic setups with exact instructions and "why".

 

[Ted Parkes]

Lots of great advice above .. or hire an experienced Grip. If you haven't used a jib much there is nothing like an experienced person helping setting up and operating the jib with a heavy camera.

 

[PatrickFaith]

Lots of great advice above .. or hire an experienced Grip. If you haven't used a jib much there is nothing like an experienced person helping setting up and operating the jib with a heavy camera.

REDUSER is a great place! I have two jibs, been using them for 3 years and did large jib systems 30 years back but was salaried then and actually couldn't touch anything(old days salaried couldn't even touch a knob or union would freak). My film is primarily animated with performance capture so goes at a glacier pace (btw in the film it's about a painter who's model has died from cancer and is surrounded by animated animals ... when I guessed your imdb i saw "Paw Prints" ... I'd really like to check that out). What I really need to do is be a coffee boy on a A level 2nd unit and just learn stuff without being too irritating.