Building a Perfect Short Film Shoulder Rig

[@katlis]

For those pulling focus by themselves and using a Tilta Nucleus-Nano, I highly recommend getting the Tilta Nucleus-M (Left) handgrip since it has a finger wheel to drive the Nano motor. There is a rosette adapter for it too, and it runs on batteries. Even though it's labeled as "Left" you can easily use it as a right handle too.

[@mrtobycook]

Agree 100%

[@TheFilmLook]

Cool. Thanks for the suggestion. I will pass it over to our 1st AC.

[@damiensantillan6125]

How do you use it right handed?

[@katlis]

@@damiensantillan6125 Look up Tilta part # WLC-T03-RS. You can orientate the adapter any direction you want as it mounts from the top.

[@damiensantillan6125]

@@katlis gotcha, read that wrong, thought you were referring to the nano np handles

[@sabrod92]

All the other videos of people making their own rigs come off not likeable. You guys are awesome. You make me feel i can get it but over time.

[@TheFilmLook]

Thanks Sabastian that means a lot. We are just indie filmmakers too, and everyone has to start somewhere. Just get what you can when you can, and continue to make stuff.

[@sabrod92]

@@TheFilmLook your channel helps me a lot. I am writing a script to my 1st short. I study your vids and d4d whose in my town and other.

[@TheFilmLook]

d4darious is without a doubt the best filmmaking youtube channel on youtube

[@sabrod92]

@@TheFilmLook next you guys.

[@TheFilmLook]

Naaaaa Corridor Digital is next! Maybe third haha

[@studiomangordon2933]

gotta applaud u guys for still using the OG A7S , i have and loooove the 4k out of it .. lenses, lighting and liquor on set are way more important -- cheers

[@TheFilmLook]

lenses, lighting, and liquor! too right haha

[@MobileFilmmaking]

great video. I'm no where near needing (or can afford) something like this but for some strange reason I love watching videos about gear I can't afford. lol

[@TheFilmLook]

It took us a while to get all of this stuff, so just get what you need, when you can. We like watching videos about equipment we can't afford too.

[@constantinosstylianou]

Amazing content as per usual lads!

[@TheFilmLook]

Much appreciated!

[@StephenHildreth]

pending the $150 on the VCT tripod receiver works great. Comes on and off the tripod even faster, balances on the tripod well, and doesn't have the extra base plate sticking off or digging into your shoulder

[@TheFilmLook]

Thanks for the suggestion, that maybe the next thing we buy for the rig.

[@JWS1968]

Stumbled across this video by accident today. Great vid lads. Coincidently just bought the smallrig multi tool this afternoon. Buzzing. HAHAhA little things eh. 😂😂😂😂

[@dutchvideoshooter]

I have Zacuto gear myself and they have knobs on the arms so you can adjust it yourself. Also the Zacuto monitor arm has friction joints so you can adjust without screws. I had those smallrig arms for the handles and mine didn't lock enough. I could just extend them by pushing my handle forward while on my shoulder. But nice video!

[@TheFilmLook]

Yeah the Zacuto gear looks great, but the price is next level. After using this rig a bunch more I can adjust it a lot easier now.

[@unimog404]

@@TheFilmLook yes if you have the opportunity try zacuto. Or maybe better not then you will realize that smallrig has alot of flaws. The biggest issue with smallrig imho is that they are just a manufacturer and they lack the experience of shooting and ergonomics. And the other thing that I dont like about smallrig. People send pictures of products already on the market and ask smallrig to copy it. Yes maybe you noticed im not the biggest fan of smallrig ha ha. For the price it is ok. But it is just not the best gear on the market. And smallrig warranty forget it. Zacuto replaced my follow focus that I bought used and swapped it for the newer model under warranty.

[@LunarlightCinema]

Great stuff, as always!

[@TheFilmLook]

Cheers!

[@marioguerra1222]

Perfect!!!!

[@mrtobycook]

This is great!

[@TheFilmLook]

Thanks!

[@AttilaTevi]

Amazing content.

[@ToastedSynapseGaming]

I know you posted an alternative in the comments for the double NPF to V-Mount in the description, but while looking at this video at 19:10 I came up with a potential solution. You see how your 15mm rod is sticking out above the batteries and slightly to one side? What if you add a final attachment to that rod that goes down and secures the batteries from behind. Something like a 15mm to 15mm 90-degree angle adapter and then have a rod like push on the back of the batteries to hold them in place. You can also visualize this if you go to 13:54 and see that the end of the rod's diameter there is in line with the back of the batteries. And when you need to change batteries, you just slightly untighten the 15mm rod screw, swing the new securing rod open exactly like a door, change the batteries, then close the 'door'.

[@TheFilmLook]

Oh right aye like the way you get strapped into a rollercoaster? That'd be nifty. We might have a part we can use to make that. Cheers!

[@AndyBui]

What baseplate is shown here? Love the drop in feature.

[@alexandeok]

How did you connect from camera to the screen of focus puller?

[@TheFilmLook]

Just a big HDMI cable! The camera monitor has an HDMI in as well as out so we were able to daisy chain the signal.

[@alexandeok]

@@TheFilmLook wow thank you for the answer

[@dotdotdddrfrynfbfb2073]

Wow! This monitor mount would be perfect for my shoulder rig but Smallrig 1938 is sold out here in Japan. Any alternative? Thanks.

[@GenesisMoss]

Hmmm will the wood handle work with the BMPCC4/6K?

[@TheFilmLook]

Does the BMPCC has a USB Micro port? If so, I think it would work.

[@dhavalvyadav]

What 58mm lens is it?

[@TheFilmLook]

I believe it's the Helios 44m 58mm.

[@dhavalvyadav]

@@TheFilmLook Oo :P What other lenses do you mostly use?

[@TheFilmLook]

@@dhavalvyadav We have a Takumar 35mm which we use often, and also a Jupiter-9 85mm which is pretty special!

[@dhavalvyadav]

@@TheFilmLook Damn :P

[@Tater2018]

Man I wish I had bought a A7s4 I just got my A7s3. Man got his connects

[@ToastedSynapseGaming]

I'm sorry if you already answered this question in one of your previous videos, but: On what profile do you shoot with the A7S ?

[@TheFilmLook]

For episodes, standard. For films, Cine4.

[@oncameramastery]

I'd love to see a shoot out of this kind of custom build up against a cheep off the shelf option, like the Neewer £150 shoulder rig.

[@TheFilmLook]

I imagine there will be 2 big differences: the usability and the longevity. A cheaper system will be a bit more fiddly and I reckon will start to break a lot sooner. But if you aren't shooting every single day, sometimes a cheaper option will last as long as you need it.

[@dallasdandigitalproduction393]

Great looking rig. I wouldve been nice if you posted the weight and total end price at the end. Nicely photographed overall , and easy to follow.

[@TheFilmLook]

Thanks Dan. Yes we should have posted the price and weight. I will update the description when we work it all out.

[@ginotarabotto]

Love this channel. But to make sure I understand, can you not have a wheel to follow focus on the rig?

[@TheFilmLook]

Oh for sure! Our setup is more when shooting a film with a moderate crew size, so you would have a focus puller on set. If we had a wheel on the handle, we certainly would have added it though!

[@simonezuccato]

I love SmallRig stuff! It's like Lego for filmmakers :) I just have a question for you guys. Where do you store all the rig parts where it's unmounted? I'm not able to find a good solution for me :( Thanks.

[@TheFilmLook]

We store all of our go-to rig parts in a little Alex drawer from IKEA. Nothing fancy really haha

[@simonezuccato]

@@TheFilmLook amazing :D Thank you very much! I'll check that! :)

[@MojoPapiFPV]

Hey, the links to the parts are not accurate. The cage is small-rig as is the base plate and everything else.

[@TheFilmLook]

Unfortunately, they don't make the Tilta Cage and base plate we use for the A7s Mark 1 anymore. We've linked to Small-Rig alternatives for different camera cages as the rig will work with most cameras.

[@osnapproductions1962]

Could you all do cinematic filmmaking with iPhone 📱 12 pro max

[@TheFilmLook]

90% of our videos, you can apply the same knowledge for filming with an iPhone. If you check out this playlist, these will defs give your footage that FILM LOOK: kzbin.info/aero/PL4_xFfQs1s6An3nvZ248Cl0EsGSSs8nNg

[@osnapproductions1962]

@@TheFilmLook great thanks mate 👍🏻

[@joshdiditt]

Im 6'2. If I am shooting a dialogue scene and the man is 6'3 and the woman is 5'4, how do I use the shoulder rig without shooting over her head?

[@TheFilmLook]

A lot of times if actors are vastly different heights, you can ask the shorter actor to stand on an apple box. 6'3 and 5'4 is quite a difference, so unless you were going for a big difference between characters, an apple box is the way to go. But this is also something to consider when casting your actors.

[@versatile1684]

Hope you bought a gym membership with that shoulder rig..🤣🤣

[@TheFilmLook]

🤣