The Steadi-Cam the unforeseen hero of action films
Do you remember the shots of Sylvester Stallone as “Rocky” running up the stairs that seemed to never end? Do you remember the steadiness of the shots even though the actor was moving up and down running while climbing the stairs? Or the action sequences of the movie “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”? All of these along with many other seemingly impossible shots would be impossible without the steady cam. The steady cam is a rig that can be mounted onto a car, the camera man�s body or a boom rig that gives steady shots thought the use of springs, shocks and servos that allow the camera to remain focused without the excessive movement from either the camera or the placement of the camera. This has been under development for quite some time and has been perfected through years of refinement and improvements made to the system. The oldest versions or prototypes had springs and weights to balance the camera making it effortlessly move across all plains. So the next time you see an action sequence that seems utterly still and focused, remember the steady-cam and its contribution to film and the industry as a whole.
Tags: Gadgets, Movie Tech, Steady-Cam