the film book . com - Building a Freestyle Stereo 3DRig for Steadicam


3D tools: Building a Freestyle Rig for Steadicam

In the Showme Video below, Steadicam operator Philippe Bordelais shows us the Freestyle rig that he invented and then developed in collaboration with P+S Technik. In this video he builds the Freestyle into a Steadicam configuration with 2 Sony EX3 cameras.

Philippe then aligns the 2 cameras using an onboard Transvideo 3DView CineMonitor.

this chapter
is the first
installment of
the filmbook
volume
about stereo 3D

-- aka 2-eyed
filmmaking --

The rig in the video demonstration including the camera and many accessories were provided by Andrew Steele from Emit in Paris, who also operates the wireless inter-axial control at the end.

	Transvideo CineMonitorHD8 3DView Evolution

P+S Technik Freestyle rig specs (PDF)

cmotion lens control systems

Philippe tells us that the Freestyle used to be called 3style, to indicate its uses for Steadicam, handheld and tripod.

The components of the Freestyle Rig in the video (click on image for a closer look)


The Freestyle rig assembled (click image for closer look)	Philippe told us that designing the rig for Steadicam use allowed for a unit that will work well in other configurations like handheld or crane work. He notes 4 key design concepts of the Freestyle rig: 1. Having the 2 cameras move in opposite directions when changing the inter-axial distance, thereby preserving the balance of the weight. 2. The deceptive simplicity of the tapered L-shaped support. 3. The use of carbon sandwich fiber to keep the unit light and vibration-resistant. 4. Using a light-weight, removable mirror assembly that can be put back precisely in the same position.

I had the opportunity to shoot with the Freestyle Rig handheld (with 2 SI 2ks) during a 3D workshop I attended held by Geoff Boyle at the Gothenburg studios.

I was very impressed with the rig.

No video is complete without a Making Of ;-)

Andrew Steele took comparison photos of the rigs of the filmer and filmee:
Phillipe B at work on the relatively small Freestyle rig he invented	Benjamin B on a chair with an even smaller 2D rig he didn't invent

Phillipe's recent credits include Steadicam work (along with Jörg Widmer) on Pina, Wim Wenders' 3D hommage to choreographer Pina Bausch

Some other photos of Philippe in action with the Freestyle:

Philippe prepared the first prototype over 7 weeks time with Alain Derobe's help for Le Grand Oeuvre de Gille in september 2008	The second prototype October 2008

On the Pina set at Operhhaus Wuppertal in November 2008