2006Operating forum
Achieving a 'floaty' aesthetic with Steadicam when directors request it despite it contradicting traditional operating technique
20 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Directors sometimes request a 'floaty' look with wandering horizon and camera lean into corners, which contradicts years of operator training focused on eliminating such movement.
- Operators can achieve floatiness by loosely balancing the gimbal and allowing it to drift, rather than gripping tightly and controlling every movement.
- Varying gimbal height smoothly contributes to the floaty aesthetic that many directors seek.
- Using a longer lens with tight floor marks can help achieve floaty movement.
- Increasing arm tension can create a springy, floaty feel in the shot.
- The Steadicam's characteristic floaty look is now accepted as a normal filming aesthetic rather than a compromise or equipment limitation.
- Some directors request handheld-like appearance from Steadicam, which operators typically accomplish by making pans whippier and dynamic rather than converting to actual handheld shooting.
- Operators experience tension between their training to eliminate floaty movement and director requests for intentionally floaty shots.
- The floaty aesthetic has become valued in music video and commercial work, with MTV Cribs popularizing the aesthetic.
Depends on
- The discussion includes anecdotal examples rather than technical specifications.
- Achieving floaty movement intentionally requires different skill than the traditional steadicam training, and execution quality varies among operators.
- What constitutes proper floatiness versus over-exaggeration appears subjective and dependent on individual director preferences.
- Some participants debate whether requesting handheld appearance from steadicam is inefficient compared to shooting actual handheld footage.