News from Canada
Neither ice nor snow nor ... CSC Assistants 1 Course & Operators Workshop
derful 'goodies' in those equipment cases. And in truth it is likely there has never before been such a collection of professional motion picture equipment gathered in Winnipeg.
JANUARY, 1997- WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA. The enthusiasm was high, the hospitality was warm and the Hands-on Goodies weather was diabolical. A disused warehouse on Sherbrook, Over the next few days we were joined by Greame most recently the site for studio work on The Adventures of Weston from ARRI Canada, Helmut Cramer of PanaShirley Holm es was the locale for the first ever Assistants 1 vision, and Hans Gahr from William F White Ltd, all SOC Course in Canada' s heartland. Corporate Affiliates. Enrollment was limited so each day Sponsored by the Manitoba Motion Picture Industries students divided into manageable groups of 3-4 rotating Association (MMPIA) and the CSC with assistance from among 4 work stations spending up to 2 hours hands-on members of IA TSE Locals 669 & 667 and several corporate with each camera package. sponsors, the course was the culmination of weeks of Each session was overseen by Lance Carlson, CSC who preparation ... and then Murphy's Law set in. had been the driving force (along with Sandra Moore) in Instructor Ernie Kestler and 106 cases of equipment bringing the elements of the course together. Everyone was valued at nearly $4 million lay stranded in Toronto by an ice exposed to the Arri III, SRII, SRIII, BL-IV, 435 & 535, the and snow storm that paralyzed the airport. Jay Kohne & I, Platinum and Gil, CANADA CONTINUED ~> Panavision instructors who were already in Winnipeg did some fast rearranging as Sandra Moore of the MMPIA burned enough current on the phone lines to Toronto to raise the temperature noticeably. So ... the first day and a half of nine were devoted to detailed discussions of set protocol, job duty descriptions, motion picture theory, general film handling and the construction of a working assistant's kit. Handouts pertinent to all of these skills were distributed. But of all the handouts that we provided, The Operating Cameraman magazine was the first to be colECONOMY WITHOUT COMPROMISE • Precision engineered for the professional cameraman • smooth, lected by eager students. The magazine is a finger-tip control with return to center variable balance spring • wonderful learning tool and as a member I'm Advanced 3-step drag system with o freewheel setting. darned proud of it. To the whole editorial • For cameras from 8.8 to 19 lbs. • Features 100mm ball, QR plate, and production staff, job well done! levelling bubble, and much more. Meanwhile 'back at the ranch,' we scrounged an Arri SRII package locally, while student Cliff Hokanson brought in his Steadicam TM rig. On a last minute whim I'd brought along my reflexed Eyemo and its associated toys. (Sometimes it pays to listen to see your dealer or contact: those nagging little voices ... ) With that Bogen Photo corp., material and the flood of questions from the 565 E. crescent Ave. Ramsey, NJ 07446 students we were able to easily exceed the !201) 818-9500. scheduled instruction time. Ernie arrived midway through Day 2 looking as if he had traveled via blender. Much of the equipment we wouldn't buy ourselves. finally appeared, making a very impressive showing in the warehouse loading area. It is always a treat to see grown adults get the look of 'childlike rapture' at the sight of the won-
510 FLUID HEAD
W~hing
July-December 1997
The Operating Cameraman
Page 19