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April 10, 2004

Build Your Own Steadycam

Often the "cool" shots I see are cool because they capture motion in rather long sequences with no cutaways and are composed at angles and with a steadiness that is really impossible without some sort of camera stabilization. I think of some of the long flowing sequences in a Fincher film or in the television series ER (75% of the scenes were shot using the Steadicam). A Steadicam is required for this, but is also quite expensive. If you're ready to make your own steadicam for just 14 dollars, John Lee has a great how to article. There are also some short quicktime movies demonstrating the effect.

Library Resources

Motion Pictures--Production and Direction
Digital Cinematography
Digital Video
Low Budget Motion Pictures
Cinematography
Cinematography -- Handbooks, Manuals, etc.

How Steadicams Work from Howstuffworks.com

Steadicam entry from Museum.tv

Steadicam Operators Association

Posted by admin at April 10, 2004 09:13 AM