Directors: Don't let the toys in get in your way of telling the story.

I’ve seen filmmakers spend 45 minutes balancing a gimbal while their actor is standing there in tears, in the moment, waiting…
By the time the gear is ready, the magic is gone.

It’s not that gimbals aren’t cool. They totally are! But don’t let the toys get in the way of:

1. telling your story

2. killing your budget

I’ve worked on sets where camera operators had to be in some pretty tight spaces to get the shot. The team wanted to move fast to capture the action, but be able to be below the actors. And a $2,500 dolly plus the two hours needed to lay the track wasn’t a great option.

So they built a little roller board – couple pieces of plywood and attached some wheels. Bam! The Butt Roller Dolly was created.

I’ve been on some sets where they’ve used shopping carts. Those are not my favorite because there’s always a wheel getting stuck.

But the point here is find a creative way to move and stabilize the camera that doesn’t take all your money.

Your stabilization toolkit should be simple:

• Tripod

• Monopod

• Handheld

A director’s job is to protect the moment. Don’t get so lost in the toys and the tech that you miss it.

Tomorrow, we talk about the number 1 piece of gear that you CANNOT go without.

Hint: It’s not what you think.

Rooting for you,

Nicki Micheaux