2011Operating forum
Operating a camera on a Steadicam during elevator travel in an office building
15 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Pre-production preparation should include walking through the planned path with a stand-in during downtime and taking multiple elevator rides to understand acceleration and deceleration patterns
- A balanced stance is critical before the elevator begins moving, as the device will experience significant forces during acceleration and deceleration
- Grip the arm support firmly with your non-operating hand to maintain stability, while keeping your operating hand light and responsive
- Do not attempt to predict when the elevator will stop and start, as this creates distraction rather than improving control
- The elevator's acceleration and deceleration will push the handle into your hand, requiring you to actively push back against these forces as they occur
- Wearing thick gloves or unfamiliar hand protection makes maintaining precise frame control and arm pressure more challenging during elevator work
Depends on
- Advice is based on experience with anamorphic 35mm format in an industrial elevator with hard acceleration and deceleration
- The original poster's planned shot was ultimately not executed due to production changes
- Specific reference materials mentioned are from various films and television productions that may not be freely available for review