2004Operating forum
Wire-suspended chair rigs for aerial steadicam shots
22 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- A suspended chair device on a wire can be used to fly a steadicam operator down slopes or across terrain while recording video.
- The technique was employed in professional film production to capture unique aerial perspectives that would be difficult or impossible with other methods.
- The Skyman is a commercial wire-suspended rig used at workshops to teach operators how to capture shots while suspended in motion.
- Early applications of this technique involved improvised construction from basic materials rather than purpose-built equipment.
Depends on
- The historical details about early wire rig use come from secondhand recollection rather than primary sources.
- The safety features, cost, and operational limitations of the Skyman are not detailed in this discussion.
- Weather conditions can prevent use of such equipment at outdoor workshops.