Digital Video - December 2008 - (Page 23)

pod down and laterally. Not for freeway driving but just the trick once on location. We keep the counterweight end long and operate the pole from terra firma. RESOURCES Carbon fiber tubes: www.carbonfibertubeshop.com Velcro: www.joann.com Servo pan-and-tilt unit: www.servocity.com Bogen double-ball mount: www.bhphoto.com Joystick RC Hitec Eclipse 7: www.hitecrcd.com/distributor Video link MVL10: www.supercircuits.com 7" DELV 7XL monitor: www.markertek.com Manfrotto Super Clamp 2915: www.adorama.com Sand bag counterweights: www.filmtools.com MEET ROMAN Roman, now with full radio control and wireless monitoring, our pride and joy. Named in honor of Roman Pole-anski. Maximum lift (on tripod, in truck) 25'; weight with RC head, 8 lb.; breaks down to 33.5" lengths. Pole jibs are for lightweight cameras, that’s a given. At just 1 lb., my little Susie (a Samsung SC-HMX20C) is the perfect mate for Roman. Don’t let her $661 (Amazon) price fool you. Stunning HD quality that intercuts with my Sony V1U. Roman also accepts the Sony, but it’s four times heavier. Heavy camera equals more counterweight or less reach. That’s the height. Swing right. Cue the farmers. Keep going. Slowly. Keep moving right. Cut. We got it!” The shot’s spectacular. My client is delirious. THE ACID TEST: OUR FIRST PAYING JOB It’s a decent-sized-budget video about sulfate of potash (SOP in the business). Here we are in Chico, California, where the almond trees are fertilized with guess what? While I’m shooting interviews, Tricia sets up Roman and Susie in 10 minutes flat. I come back, switch on the servos, power up the video link and roll camera. My own up-and-over shot: inside almond tree, up and over, jib across the dirt track and farmers. (Go Roman!) Hey, it’s all working. Tricia’s behind the tripod, controlling pole movements. I’m inside the cab, fingers on the joysticks. “Camera up. Slowly. THE PAYOFF Excluding the tripod and camera, Roman, complete with full RC, Mars’ wiring and Ron’s engineering, cost under $3K: a tenth of what I might have paid for the real McCoy. Roman and Susie, my two new babies, make a great team. We now take them on every shoot and charge extra. DV You’ll find an extended version of this article on our site. Visit DV online. http://www.carbonfibertubeshop.com http://www.joann.com http://www.servocity.com http://www.bhphoto.com http://www.hitecrcd.com/distributor http://www.supercircuits.com http://www.markertek.com http://www.adorama.com http://www.filmtools.com http://www.dv.com http://www.audio-technica.com http://www.audio-technica.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Digital Video - December 2008

Digital Video - December 2008 Contents DV Expo Gallery First Look: Ultimate 35MM Lens Adapter Vidock GFX Pro Videostudio Pro X2 Instant Expert The Making of Roman Close-up: Dave Ruddick Crypto Camerawork Click To Play DV101 Production Diary

Digital Video - December 2008

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