I just use my large heavy tripod...I asked to rent a guys steady cam but he rejected me because he though my script was poor because of spelling mistakes...I mean how pompous was that...and anyway I was going to pay him to let me use it...I couldn't understand it at all.

It is simple things like format and spelling that can make a script seem unprofessional even though it can be very good. A first opinion or impresion is very important.

About the steady cam i found a few sites. Never tried these myself though. I would consider renting one localy.

?url? http://www.cs.cmu.edu/?johnny/steadycam/?/url?
?url? http://www.detonationfilms.com/tips%20and%20tricks/another_camera_stabilizer.htm?/url?

Spell check takes what, five minutes? Why not?

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/?johnny/steadycam/ This is the link that I was going to post, I havent used this model personally but I know some people who have and managed to get good results using it so I would have thought that it is your best bet. Cleary.

www.myspace.com/b31_film_productions

thanks for the tips... has anyone used any of these solutions or something similar?

Any other suggestions, advice, etc???

I've built the $14 steady cam. It's really easy to make, you just need the right tools. I haven't used it for any films yet, but I've used it a bit for practice and it's pretty good. Here's a pic, without the barbell weight: ?url? ?/url?

i made one a while back. I love it. Of course, a professional one would be much better, but it gets the job done none the less.

I did find that the pipe that sticks out of the side ended up unbalancing the camera causing it to sway side to side a bit. So i got rid of that and bolted on a small piece of plywood to the bottom using a fitting that the pipe would screw into, and was flat on the other side. I then placed a 2 1/2lb. weight on both sides. It's a bit tricky because there is some math that comes into this. You have to take into account how much the top weighs(camera and everything) and then figure out how far out the weights go. I ended up placing the center of the weights about 6 inches out and ran a bolt up through the middle to fasten them. I also put a small piece of wood at the top for the camera to rest on so it would sit more sturdy.

you really, really, really have to take the time to learn how to walk properly, but it does work great.

Does anyone have any tips on walking properly with the steady cam? I made the poor man's steady cam from above (that's supposed to cost around $14 to make).

from what i've figured out by using this type of steady-cam is you want to lock your back and arms and only move your legs. Try to move as if you are trying to balance a book on your head. It helps if you bend your knees a bit. It takes ALOT of practice to get really good at it.

Awesome. Thanks for the tip.

Anyone else have any tips?