2006Operating forum
Techniques for operating a Steadicam while entering and exiting a vehicle
20 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- A wooden bench with a slick surface can be built inside a vehicle to allow a Steadicam operator to sit and slide in smoothly.
- An assistant can provide crucial physical assistance by pushing the operator into the vehicle when momentum stops during entry.
- The operator may need to bend and lower their head to fit through a vehicle doorway while wearing a full rig.
- Long production days with heavy Steadicam work can cause significant fatigue that levels off after the first few days of shooting.
- Editing can strategically conceal vehicle entry points and transitions through cuts during camera pans or at scene boundaries.
Depends on
- This account describes one specific solution used for a VW Bus, which has limited interior space.
- The effectiveness of the sliding bench technique depends on the vehicle's interior layout and available space.
- The situation required a two-person coordinated effort and may not be applicable to all vehicle types or shooting scenarios.
- The technique involved physical strain and carried risk of collision with actors in close quarters.