Q&A with BJ McDonnell, SOC

Do you remember the first time you saw or heard of the Steadicam?
The first time was watching Aliens and seeing the arms used to mount Vasquez rifle. I was so intrigued by this and I couldn't stop drawing them in art class. I then found out what it was after watching behind the scenes of movies growing up.

What was it about the Steadicam that made you want to pursue it as a career?
I love framing shots and telling a story thru movement of the camera. I started my film career as a grip / dolly grip. I loved working with the operators and really felt as though I was a big part of the filming process as a dolly grip. I needed more. I decided to pursue a career as a camera operator and the rest is history.

What were you doing prior to Steadicam?
I toured with a punk band for 6 years of my life, then became a grip.

What were some of the biggest challenges you remember about becoming a Steadicam operator?
Getting the D.P.s who knew me as a grip to take me seriously as a camera operator. Also climbing the ladder to be taken seriously as a camera operator. There are alot of people trying to do this as a career.

What are some of the biggest challenges now?
I think the biggest challenges now are with HD shooting. It seems as though when with film there was a art to the film process. With HD nobody wants to cut cameras and as a steadicam operator it calls for more endurance for longer takes.
Also the fact that more people are lowballing and making it harder for steadicam rates to stay up.

Did you ever have a "big break' moment? A career event that clearly changed or paved the way for everything to follow?
My big break in Features came from my friend and D.P. Phil Parmet. He always believed in me and he brought me on to be the B operator / Steadicam on Halloween. He is a true bad ass and great friend.
My T.V. break came from D.P. Charlie Lieberman. He hired me to do a T.V. show called Standoff which later took me to do season 2&3 of Heroes

From whom do you take your inspiration? Has that changed over the course of your career?
My Grandfather has always been my inspiration for the film industry. He was a actor and I was so amazed by the whole process of storytelling thru film. He paved the way.

Is there a shot, film, or moment in your career that you can think of as your most proud?
I did a shot in a film called Shrink a very long steadicam ONe take shot. Loved that shot. It timed out longer than the infamous goodfellas shot lol.

Is there a shot or film you can recall as being your most challenging? Why?
Battle: Los Angeles has got to be the most challenging film I've done. It was physically brutal. Steadicam was always comprimised by flying under helicopters etc... It was mostly handheld and it was just a really tough film. Im proud of it. Watching it you can easily say, "That was a bitch to make" lol.

What work of your peers do you admire?
Jimmy Muro, Charles Papert, Dave Emmerichs, Larry McConkey, etc....and I could name so many people. Honestly I admire almost all steadicam ops out there because there is a certain passion we all share for the craft.

Many people will say they've tried on a Steadicam once, and immediately thought, "absolutely not." What do you think is different about those of us that say "absolutely"?
When I first put on a rig I almost said "Absolutely not". I loved it so much I trained myself and muscles to be able to handle it. I say for those who say "Absolutely not" to not give up that easily. Like anything it takes practice. Learn the tool, love the art, know framing for the story you are telling because they can all range in different looks, and last just have fun because you are making a movie.


BJ's website can bew viewed here: www.mcdonnellsteadicam.com

The "Big" Rig Dilemma

In the few years since I decided that I wanted to pursue Steadicam as a career, I’ve spent a lot of time trying to figure out what direction I wanted to go in, gear-wise. I’ve poured over countless rigs, new and used, read every review I could get my hands on, looked through pages upon pages of posts over on the Steadicam Forum, and done more business planning and financial hand-wringing as is probably sane for a person of my age. This is a struggle that I’ve seen many new operators go through recently – there’s a plethora of gear out there right now, and much of it is coming down in price. Also, with changes in modern production (lighter cameras, new video technology), it’s become increasingly tempting to pick up lighter-weight rigs, which cost significantly less.

So, how did I pick what range of rig to buy? It’s a long story, but it boils down to a simple point - I never wanted to turn down a job because my rig couldn’t do it.

I had owned a lightweight rig for a few years, and not only was I not taken terribly seriously by anyone who knew their equipment, but I also had to be very careful before applying for jobs. I never knew when a DP would ask me to put an extra accessory on the rig that would take me over my meager weight capacity. It’s not a good situation to be in!

Additionally, I found a big bonus to buying bigger, and it’s something I never would have believed until I got the rig. The bigger a rig is, the more stable it is. It’s a simple point of inertia – the formula for the inertia of an object is its mass times the velocity it is traveling at – thus a heavier rig has more inertia than a lighter one, assuming both are doing the same shot. More inertia means that the rig requires much less “babysitting” from the operator, allowing more focus on fine control. It’s a big, big improvement.

Finally, I had to work out what age of gear I was comfortable with. In my situation, it made much more sense to buy a bit older, and get a rig that could actually do everything I wanted. After looking at it, and realizing that I had a lot left to spend outside of the rig, I decided to go for the rig I have now, a PRO I, which allowed me to focus more budget on accessories. Even something as small as cables can add up quickly, when for every cable, you need a spare. On a set, I know I’d rather have a whole bag of spare cables (like when a PA dropped the monitor off my rig a few weeks ago and tore a cable in half) than a flasher, newer rig.

Finally, the dilemma is solved – big rig it is. Now to get back to practicing for the next shoot!

Q&A with Christopher TJ McGuire

Do you remember the first time you saw or heard of the Steadicam?
'Rocky'! .... The inspirational film that motivated most of my Teenager years - I first spied Mr Garrett Brown ringside with the Rig that would change my life!

What was it about the Steadicam that made you want to pursue it as a career?
I was an Athlete at school following on from my Dad - I trained pretty much most of the time and loved the 800m and High Jump - so it was either a job in the Royal Marines or a career pursuing my dream of working in the movies. Steadicam, ultimately allows me to offer up creativity while physically pushed.

What were you doing prior to Steadicam?
I was shooting documentaries for television in the UK - things like; World in Action, Cutting Edge, Dispatches and Panorama.

What were some of the biggest challenges you remember about becoming a Steadicam operator?
Being taken seriously!! I ended up buying my own rig, a SK2 and training myself. At the time I was shooting a lot of performances for a music show, so I was able to earn a decent amount and get paid flying time in the rig.

What are some of the biggest challenges now?
Finding work!!

Did you ever have a "big break" moment? A career event that clearly changed or paved the way for everything to follow?
I ended up shooting a major scene in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" with the Revolution - 4 major characters, 3 minute scene, continual 360's and assorted Lens sizes on each Character! - it knocked the stuffing out of me, but I did it!

From whom do you take your inspiration? Has that changed over the course of your career?
My Inspiration goes back to my Teenage years from my Dad. He used all the 'Rocky' movies and 'Chariots of Fire' to instill physical motivation. It's he who pushed me into the world of movies.


Is there a shot, film, or moment in your career that you can think of as your most proud?
I'm probably most proud of the demo films I shot for MK-V for the Revolution. They we're tough both physically and mentally as I was using a piece of equipment that was completely new to the industry.
On a paid Steadicam gig!!! - I would say I'm most happiest with the opening shot in 'Conan the Barbarian'. It's a huge 360 degree move around a battlefield with lots of Warriors fighting with swords and axes, lots of choreography with stunts and our hero Ron Perlman!

Is there a shot or film you can recall as being your most challenging? Why?
All the Steadicam shots I did on 'Fright Night 3D'!!! It's the adverse conditions I've worked in that makes it all the more challenging! The Tropic heat on 'Streetfighter' in Thailand, -30 degrees / Snow and Ice on 'Whiteout' in Manitoba.
I shot 'Conan the Barbarian' last year in Bulgaria and although tough - highly satisfying!! I love a challenge!!

What work of your peers do you admire?
I have the utmost respect for Garrett Brown especially for his work on 'Rocky'! Colin Anderson is an Operator that I aspire to. He's incredibly focused and makes Steadicam look easy! More recently after seeing 'The Fighter' I have to say that Geoff Haley's work on the movie added to its authenticity, both Steadicam and hand-held!.

Many people will say they've tried on a Steadicam once, and immediately thought, "absolutely not." What do you think is different about those of us that say "absolutely"?
We like the graft!!

Photos courtesy of http://www.ar-mcguire.com/