rig breakdown
rig breakdown
Title:
Title:
Interior Bus Camera Rig
Feature Film
Feature Film
Feature Film
Feature Film
about the rig
Indoor bus rig. The DP requested a slow push-in for the intro of the scene, starting at the front of the bus and moving to the middle, ending with a medium shot of our three characters. I wanted to build a rig that would be invisible from the camera's perspective, but more importantly, I wanted to give the DP the ability to easily position the camera and adjust angles. We all know how challenging it can be to set up cameras in the confined spaces of an indoor bus scene.
A few days before the shoot, I took all the measurements of the bus. However, at the last minute, the production decided to use a different bus, which I only discovered on the morning of the shoot. I had to adapt several elements of the rig that didn’t fit as planned, but we managed to make it work. It was an extremely tight fit, with some parts of the rig just millimeters away from scratching the bus ceiling.
The rig consisted of two traveling track rails mounted in the luggage compartment and secured with ratchet clamps. I used two sets of skate wheels linked with two 50mm pipes cut to length. A standard Euromount plate was attached to the pipes to mount a 120cm Proaim slider and a Cartoni Lambda 25.
This rig worked very well on smooth roads, but when the bus hit bumps, the camera began to shake fairly quickly. I think it would be perfect with a gimbal and a vibration isolator but that wasn't an option for us at the time.
Camera Movement
Camera Rigging
Vehicle Rigging
key grip
Clément Aubert
the crew
DP:
Julien Hirsch
Grip Crew:
Alex Charles
built with
Proaim 120cm Slider. Cartoni Lambda 25
by:
Clément Aubert
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My standard swatter built. Triangle truss with 1 steel. 8’ verticals for the goalpost with a 5’ horizontal. Wigs from the bucket to the tri truss. Kickers on the goalpost. 20’ kickers from the goalpost to the 20x20 frame. 2x belly lines to finish it off.
rig breakdown
20x20 Flyswatter
by:
Brendan Riel
My standard swatter built. Triangle truss with 1 steel. 8’ verticals for the goalpost with a 5’ horizontal. Wigs from the bucket to the tri truss. Kickers on the goalpost. 20’ kickers from the goalpost to the 20x20 frame. 2x belly lines to finish it off.
rig breakdown
20x20 Flyswatter
by:
Brendan Riel
My standard swatter built. Triangle truss with 1 steel. 8’ verticals for the goalpost with a 5’ horizontal. Wigs from the bucket to the tri truss. Kickers on the goalpost. 20’ kickers from the goalpost to the 20x20 frame. 2x belly lines to finish it off.
rig breakdown
20x20 Flyswatter
by:
Brendan Riel
My standard swatter built. Triangle truss with 1 steel. 8’ verticals for the goalpost with a 5’ horizontal. Wigs from the bucket to the tri truss. Kickers on the goalpost. 20’ kickers from the goalpost to the 20x20 frame. 2x belly lines to finish it off.
Case Study
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LED walls used to be this big scary new tech. In the early days things like hertz and frame rates would be either a mystery or a guessing game, lighting was a challenge, and camera tracking was a nightmare. The playbook had not yet been created. Just like with the advent of LED lighting, things take time to adjust and integrate into workflows. You realize what systems need improving, understand your base standards for execution, and figure out all the little quirks and tips that come with new technology.
We put the virtual production workflow to the test during our shoot for Cadillac.
With one combined prelight / tech rehearsal day, and two shoot days, this set of Cadillac TVCs featured 5 different vehicles in 6 different virtual environments. All of the vehicle interiors for the spots were captured with ICVFX (in camera vfx) on Nant Studio’s LED Volume 1 in El Segundo. With the help of some extensive prep & previz, Brendan, Vince, and I were able to move at record pace for a commercial with intricate technical requirements.
Case Study
Tight Moves & Virtual Roads: A Cadillac Case Study
by:
Luc Delamare
LED walls used to be this big scary new tech. In the early days things like hertz and frame rates would be either a mystery or a guessing game, lighting was a challenge, and camera tracking was a nightmare. The playbook had not yet been created. Just like with the advent of LED lighting, things take time to adjust and integrate into workflows. You realize what systems need improving, understand your base standards for execution, and figure out all the little quirks and tips that come with new technology.
We put the virtual production workflow to the test during our shoot for Cadillac.
With one combined prelight / tech rehearsal day, and two shoot days, this set of Cadillac TVCs featured 5 different vehicles in 6 different virtual environments. All of the vehicle interiors for the spots were captured with ICVFX (in camera vfx) on Nant Studio’s LED Volume 1 in El Segundo. With the help of some extensive prep & previz, Brendan, Vince, and I were able to move at record pace for a commercial with intricate technical requirements.
Case Study
Tight Moves & Virtual Roads: A Cadillac Case Study
by:
Luc Delamare
LED walls used to be this big scary new tech. In the early days things like hertz and frame rates would be either a mystery or a guessing game, lighting was a challenge, and camera tracking was a nightmare. The playbook had not yet been created. Just like with the advent of LED lighting, things take time to adjust and integrate into workflows. You realize what systems need improving, understand your base standards for execution, and figure out all the little quirks and tips that come with new technology.
We put the virtual production workflow to the test during our shoot for Cadillac.
With one combined prelight / tech rehearsal day, and two shoot days, this set of Cadillac TVCs featured 5 different vehicles in 6 different virtual environments. All of the vehicle interiors for the spots were captured with ICVFX (in camera vfx) on Nant Studio’s LED Volume 1 in El Segundo. With the help of some extensive prep & previz, Brendan, Vince, and I were able to move at record pace for a commercial with intricate technical requirements.
Case Study
Tight Moves & Virtual Roads: A Cadillac Case Study
by:
Luc Delamare
LED walls used to be this big scary new tech. In the early days things like hertz and frame rates would be either a mystery or a guessing game, lighting was a challenge, and camera tracking was a nightmare. The playbook had not yet been created. Just like with the advent of LED lighting, things take time to adjust and integrate into workflows. You realize what systems need improving, understand your base standards for execution, and figure out all the little quirks and tips that come with new technology.
We put the virtual production workflow to the test during our shoot for Cadillac.
With one combined prelight / tech rehearsal day, and two shoot days, this set of Cadillac TVCs featured 5 different vehicles in 6 different virtual environments. All of the vehicle interiors for the spots were captured with ICVFX (in camera vfx) on Nant Studio’s LED Volume 1 in El Segundo. With the help of some extensive prep & previz, Brendan, Vince, and I were able to move at record pace for a commercial with intricate technical requirements.
rig breakdown
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The structure measured 14’x14’ OD and held two 12x12 frames: one with 1/2 grid and one with bleached muslin. The bleached muz was rigged with a pulley system, allowing us to raise or drop the rag when we needed to bring it into the scene as a ceiling element. We punched LiteTile through both rags for soft, consistent coverage.
For mobility, we mounted the whole rig on C&C Studio Services tri-casters.
rig breakdown
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by:
Brendan Riel
We built this mobile toplight softbox using 6" ModX truss to serve four different sets inside a tight studio space with limited overhead clearance. The goal was to keep costs down and avoid building duplicate overhead rigs or ground units for each set. So, we designed a rolling, double-layered softbox that could easily move from set to set—and double as an in-frame ceiling piece when needed.
The structure measured 14’x14’ OD and held two 12x12 frames: one with 1/2 grid and one with bleached muslin. The bleached muz was rigged with a pulley system, allowing us to raise or drop the rag when we needed to bring it into the scene as a ceiling element. We punched LiteTile through both rags for soft, consistent coverage.
For mobility, we mounted the whole rig on C&C Studio Services tri-casters.
rig breakdown
ModX Rolling Soft Toplight
by:
Brendan Riel
We built this mobile toplight softbox using 6" ModX truss to serve four different sets inside a tight studio space with limited overhead clearance. The goal was to keep costs down and avoid building duplicate overhead rigs or ground units for each set. So, we designed a rolling, double-layered softbox that could easily move from set to set—and double as an in-frame ceiling piece when needed.
The structure measured 14’x14’ OD and held two 12x12 frames: one with 1/2 grid and one with bleached muslin. The bleached muz was rigged with a pulley system, allowing us to raise or drop the rag when we needed to bring it into the scene as a ceiling element. We punched LiteTile through both rags for soft, consistent coverage.
For mobility, we mounted the whole rig on C&C Studio Services tri-casters.
rig breakdown
ModX Rolling Soft Toplight
by:
Brendan Riel
We built this mobile toplight softbox using 6" ModX truss to serve four different sets inside a tight studio space with limited overhead clearance. The goal was to keep costs down and avoid building duplicate overhead rigs or ground units for each set. So, we designed a rolling, double-layered softbox that could easily move from set to set—and double as an in-frame ceiling piece when needed.
The structure measured 14’x14’ OD and held two 12x12 frames: one with 1/2 grid and one with bleached muslin. The bleached muz was rigged with a pulley system, allowing us to raise or drop the rag when we needed to bring it into the scene as a ceiling element. We punched LiteTile through both rags for soft, consistent coverage.
For mobility, we mounted the whole rig on C&C Studio Services tri-casters.
project BTS
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We planned on doing everything with truss and motors but had to cut some because of budgetary reasons. So we went old fashioned with 2 runs of ladder truss, pipe and pulleys for more lighting points. The pulleys just served as line redirects and provided no mechanical advantage.
project BTS
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by:
Brendan Riel
8’x25’x4’ seamless bleached muslin softbox provided most of our soft top daylight ambiance for this spot. ModX top frame with pipe bottom frame. We wrapped the bottom pipe with plastic to protect the muslin from dirt. Seamless was important for car reflections. We baffled the inside of the box with 1/4 grid for added softness.
We helped art hang an 18’ tall 60’ length translight with some truss and motors. Went motors down so we wouldn’t have to run too much cable and picked to beams above with beam clamps.
We planned on doing everything with truss and motors but had to cut some because of budgetary reasons. So we went old fashioned with 2 runs of ladder truss, pipe and pulleys for more lighting points. The pulleys just served as line redirects and provided no mechanical advantage.
project BTS
Seamless Muslin Softbox
by:
Brendan Riel
8’x25’x4’ seamless bleached muslin softbox provided most of our soft top daylight ambiance for this spot. ModX top frame with pipe bottom frame. We wrapped the bottom pipe with plastic to protect the muslin from dirt. Seamless was important for car reflections. We baffled the inside of the box with 1/4 grid for added softness.
We helped art hang an 18’ tall 60’ length translight with some truss and motors. Went motors down so we wouldn’t have to run too much cable and picked to beams above with beam clamps.
We planned on doing everything with truss and motors but had to cut some because of budgetary reasons. So we went old fashioned with 2 runs of ladder truss, pipe and pulleys for more lighting points. The pulleys just served as line redirects and provided no mechanical advantage.
project BTS
Seamless Muslin Softbox
by:
Brendan Riel
8’x25’x4’ seamless bleached muslin softbox provided most of our soft top daylight ambiance for this spot. ModX top frame with pipe bottom frame. We wrapped the bottom pipe with plastic to protect the muslin from dirt. Seamless was important for car reflections. We baffled the inside of the box with 1/4 grid for added softness.
We helped art hang an 18’ tall 60’ length translight with some truss and motors. Went motors down so we wouldn’t have to run too much cable and picked to beams above with beam clamps.
We planned on doing everything with truss and motors but had to cut some because of budgetary reasons. So we went old fashioned with 2 runs of ladder truss, pipe and pulleys for more lighting points. The pulleys just served as line redirects and provided no mechanical advantage.
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Legacy Grip 2025 All Rights Reserved
By subscribing you agree to with our privacy policy and provide consent to receive updates from our company.
Legacy Grip 2025 All Rights Reserved
By subscribing you agree to with our privacy policy and provide consent to receive updates from our company.
Legacy Grip 2025 All Rights Reserved
By subscribing you agree to with our privacy policy and provide consent to receive updates from our company.
Legacy Grip 2025 All Rights Reserved