2007General Discussion forum
Managing downtime and staying productive during Steadicam work with minimal shooting
19 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Operators can reduce the mental burden of waiting time by learning from the director and cinematographer when they have the opportunity to observe them working
- Building models as a hobby during downtime provides a portable activity that can be stored easily and potentially displayed on the rig
- Sometimes it is strategically better to stay out of sight during slow periods so producers do not pressure the director to use Steadicam unnecessarily, which could result in poor creative decisions
- Knowing when to make yourself unavailable rather than forcing your presence onto scenes that do not require Steadicam work is an important professional skill
Depends on
- The discussion is from 2007 and may not reflect current production practices
- Advice is specific to traditional film and television production environments
- Some suggestions like live television work require continuous use of equipment and may not allow for downtime activities