How Adam Savage Films Himself in Self-Isolation

Carbon Fiber monopod: amzn.to/3aSxYzU
Monopod base: amzn.to/2wowK0e
Loc Line Hose: amzn.to/3dXq2PP
Metal spring clamps: amzn.to/2yIIPyd
Hyperlapse app: apps.apple.com...
We shot this piece last month before going into shelter-in-place, in which Adam shows his custom-assembled lightweight iPhone stand he put together to film himself during weekend builds. But now that he's alone in the cave all the time, this rig is proving essential for Adam to document his builds in isolation as well as livestream every week. Hope it helps in giving you inspiration to make your own cameraphone rigs!
Shot by Gunther Kirsch and edited by Norman Chan
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Set build by Asa Hillis www.asahillis.com
Thanks for watching!
#AdamSavage #MythBusters

[@yeeetskeeet_]

So he made an over engineered tripod, classic Adam!

[@doctordave]

As a part-time dive bar musician and full-time college prof, I've been integrating equipment from these two parts of my life in order to produce videos for my classes. One of the things I discovered was that they sell very cheap threaded adaptors that convert from the screw at the end of most mic stands (which I own a half dozen of, both straight and boom) to the standard screw size on the bottom of most cameras and lighting equipment. So I'm able to position lights and cameras very precisely now, including over my desk pointing down at things I'm writing, using boom mic stands.

[@jorisschriek236]

Hi Adam, i want to say that i fnd watching your videos very comforting in these strange times. Thank you.

[@tested]

Make your own self-filming stand! You'll need: Carbon Fiber monopod: amzn.to/3aSxYzU Monopod base: amzn.to/2wowK0e Loc Line Hose: amzn.to/3dXq2PP Metal spring clamps: amzn.to/2yIIPyd Hyperlapse app: apps.apple.com/us/app/hyperlapse-from-instagram/id740146917 Disclaimer: Tested may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through the links here.

[@DavePlaysGaming]

I love Adam. Identifies problem, buys the right piece of equipment that can do the job already, heavily modifies the equipment anyway. Never change Mr Savage 🤣

[@Toahmisae]

I feel like Spot would be the perfect camera man during these times

[@andrewrobotbuilder]

Mount an Osmo and you have some decent stabilization

must have been recorded before the great accident of 2020.

[@peterpain6625]

Already damaged fingernail though. He seems to have it out for that middle finger :/ His hands alright... But still.

[@ahandsomefridge]

It's the most extended of fingers, although one might say the thumb is also a good candidate for abuse on a regular basis

[@ImR4D]

bootdsc honestly the title reminded me of the myth busters episode where they tested cabin fever

[@edrcozonoking]

says so in description

[@tested]

It was. He was using it at first to record timelapses during the "weekend builds," and then soon after, the pandemic hit. Then it really came in handy.

[@ZippoVarga]

I've been utilizing this exact method for some time now. Very versatile and handy. One thing I do differently is I have a compact Tripod from ProMaster that when the legs are extended (similar to your selfie pole), gives me a 2 foot diameter footprint. I then attach a 48" selfie pole from the same company and it gives me the perfect base to attach my GoPro Gator Mount anywhere along the 48" mast. Also, if I need the space and can't have the make shift tri-pod within the work area, I attach another selfie pole with a clamp on the end to make a horixontal boom that extends 36" and allows me to place the camera at the work without the tripod being in my work space. So many variations and combinations available today from so many reputable camera equipment manufacturers that the possibilities are virtually endless. Cheers Adam! Oh, and LOVE your book! It's my new bible out in my shop. Zip~

[@okeverett8498]

Next video: How Adam Savage films how he films himself in self isolation

[@vara202]

Clearly with another person because that rig he showed us isn't mobile

[@FluffyKittenofMordor]

These frequent video uploads make quarantine more bearable. It's like a nice hangout.

[@omarrr3497]

More 1 day builds please, it literally the only thing to look forward to during this isolation. Also its great that you are posting a lot more on youtube these days :)

[@christopherhartsough2613]

Have you looked at the Osmo Pocket? It costs less than a smartphone. It adds a tracking, stabilised, gimble, and a WiFi/USB chargeing (accessory) base. It is 4k and has a mike input. Hooked up to a wireless mike, you can wander around your shop and the camera will track as you move around AND you can keep talking. If you want a wider angle, there is an attachment lens that hooks on to the gimble with built in magnets. I was pleased that you got the old team together for the COVID-19 info. The 'party' was illuminating and is a great teaching tool, and as a current KZbin ad (endlessly) says: "Show, don't tell." You did it masterfully!

[@aaronboyles5237]

Thank you for taking time to make this and all the other wonderful content for all your fans, I know I appreciate it. Especially in these times. Stay heathy!

[@paulpixphotos]

I built some similar units like these back in 2012, For the NY news station I work for where we shoot everything on Cell Phones (and used to be gopros as well) These were versatile for single shooters for news reporters, press conferences etc.

[@PelleKuipers]

Cool project. For my video lessons I took one of those car phone holder, took it apart, and put it on a small block of wood. Drilled a hole that fit the screw of a normal Manfrotto stand, and voila! I got myself a stand I can use for teaching. I teach music, so having both a iphone as a cam + laptop cam is great to show what I'm doing. Mine is a bit on the heavy side though. I'm glad I don't have to lug it around.

[@ianhorne8364]

If you read the small print it says it was done last month before he went into self isolation

[@secretivesquirrelstudios]

I have a bunch of bits of steel bracket and wooden planks with 1/4" x 20 bolts in them and cellphone holders bolted on. I can attach them to stuff with clamps or magnetic welding blocks, though to be fair I bought half a dozen cellphone tripod adapters when they were cheap a few years ago. I also have several proper mini tripods.

[@JoFreddieRevDr]

Phone mounts, I used to work as a courier, using my phone as my GPS, I was consistently taking it in and out of the phone mount, most mounts dying within a couple of months of heavy use, then I found the RAM X-Grip phone mount, not cheap but i have not had to replace one in over 5 years.

[@Chukijay]

That classic TV intro. Old habits die hard, I guess. We know who you are and who you’re with. We clicked it!

[@ToothMolar]

An old halegen lamp base and pole. 🤔 thanks for the idea Adam! Too heavy for travel, but in the garage 👍

[@SailingMia]

Love you man! Sending positive healing vibes to your finger.

[@aussieguy6727]

The best part of been an out of the box person is if you need a tool you have an out of the box idea to make said tool.

[@chloetv1]

Such a wonderful man.

[@lxoxrxexnx]

A coat tree might be even more useful in the shop. Hang shop coat, jacket, hat, extension cords. Well, maybe jackets are not a thing in warm climates.

[@BeforeTheDarkAge]

I see what you did there. I just need the top part because I already have a micstand. Gold thanks for the ideas.

[@tomstech4390]

"I just need the top part because..." Anyone else read that as "pop tart" and now dissapointed they don't have any?

[@dudepersonvids]

But if he's in isolation - WHO'S HOLDING THE CAMERA TO FILM HIM TALKING ABOUT IT??? *mind explodes*

[@fox_2312]

dudepersonvids look in description

[@sopcannon]

knowing Adam probably a drone

[@yoavsnake]

The boston dynamics dog

[@arcticrunning8370]

Gunther

[@PeterKJRichterIMHO]

I did something similar - the phone mount off a selfie stick, added a GoPro mount that I can screw onto my Gorilla tripods, or even my reg tripods or monopod, as the usually use the same camera screw mount ;)

[@sjmaguirepdx]

If you don’t need something to fold flat for portability then a wighted mic stand is less than $25. I also like a selfie stick that Polaroid makes. It has a detachable phone clamp with a 1/4-20 thread so you can put the clamp on a standard tripod. The trigger connects to the phone via Bluetooth so you can use the detached handle to trigger the shutter (or video record start and stop) remotely. It’s also great for stop motion because of the remote trigger. Cheers!

[@GeekyGarden]

I really like the MOVO phone mount system. It has a standard cold shoe mount on top for better mics, and a couple different tripod / clamp mounting points.

[@rootvalue]

*PLEASE ENABLE AUTO GENERATED CAPTIONS* For those of us with accessibility needs, your videos are silent.

[@sw0sh465]

Hakeem Hasworth or better yet, get someone to write captions

[@liamtwentyman7275]

@@sw0sh465 that is also really handy - I am not hard of hearing, but sometimes I just cannot understand a word or two, and written captions help immensely , turning them on for a few seconds.

[@rootvalue]

Danny Whalen manually written captions are always, always worse than auto-generated captions. I have not read a stenographer’s work on KZbin that made syntactic sense or matched actual spoken word. Google omits punctuation and is free.

[@deetoher]

@@rootvalue unless you are using technical terminology and have any accent. Then it fails miserably (unfortunately).

[@liamtwentyman7275]

@@rootvalue maybe try and go watch some of Tom Scott's videos? Those have beautifully written captions.

[@TruckerBillVlogs]

Adam Savage, the builder/inventor/engineer; "some assembly may be required, that's all I'm saying". You don't say... lol. Love it. :-)

[@MisterRorschach90]

For a short time I filmed time lapses of me doing calligraphy writing out inspirational quotes. I used Hyperlapse for it. Pretty good little app. Eventually I stopped because no one cared to watch it.

[@pest5373]

Now we need a video of how Adam savage records how Adam savage records Adam savage

[@isaacdave5603]

ADAM YOU ROCK DUDE 😎

[@Medic5175]

Thanks. Glad to see the finger is out.

[@Shiftarus]

sometimes it feels like getting new tools and improving your workspace is more fun than using them and creating things :P

[@petermot645]

Adam, I didn’t know you owned a spider head from “The Thing” WOW!

[@thetruth9803]

Heres my advice for past adam: Maybe avoid the lathe for a while

[@hairlessopossum4042]

Nah man when you injure yourself you gotta get right back on it to get used to it and make sure you don’t get scared of it. I knew a guy who cut into his thumb a bit on a band saw, nothing serious, but he was scared and I don’t think I’ve seen him use it since. When you work with tools like that, you will hurt yourself and the best thing to do if that happens in my opinion is to get right back on the saddle and overcome it.

[@iRrrmanion1]

I like one of those boom-lightstands (the ones that are like a hybrid between a standard lightstand and a c-stand with arm), they let you put all kinds of equipment in the perfect place, well out of shot of other camera equipment too

[@leelindsay5618]

I saw a comment in a previous video suggesting Adam use a bendy thing like his lights to hold the camera, and low and behold...he has been.

[@jc1982discovery]

The mother of all inventions as they say.....

[@spiercephotography]

*photographer geek mode, activate!* Thanks for the equipment show and tell- that's really neat ! I may end up doing something similar for my work since it's been hard to get shots of myself while I'm out in the field working (and i'm using my actual camera for work).

[@world_production]

Could you try to make high end traveling rails for the iPhone ? There are a few tutorials but with the tools you have it would be interesting !

[@1supermanprime]

you could also just use an artificial christmas tree minus the branches, and a lot of people probably have those around.

[@SirMorNo]

This is pretty neat, it looks a little unstable though, If your legs on your base were a little longer and/or heavier base I think you would have less of an issue of it tipping over or maybe a counter weight on the clamps themselves. I have never done time lapses before but this is neat

[@charlesm.1638]

What a great idea. When my wife and I visit the Philippines we stay at beach front hotels were we have a clear view of the ocean but I never have have the height for my Gopro to take long time lapse over night.

[@joeislas1]

Thanks for sharing Adam! Quick question: How'd you attach the loc-line to the spring clamp?

[@ramenbob4242]

I started using a 4k security camera system for b roll and time lapse it's nice to set it and just remember to download the footage needed since it can record continually

[@elchombocustomdioramas2209]

Great tips.

[@plainspirate]

I prop my phone up with what ever is laying around. Tha angle grinder video I used the grading blade on the back of the tractor. I have about 30 minutes of tractor ride (coming soon) video I shot when we were putting up barbed wire fence (social distancing is easy on the farm) used my breast pocket to hold the phone.

[@randallpetroelje3913]

You have a magnificent man cave. I wish I was there. An excellent show and commentary. Whatever happened to the rest of the crew? I just caught some of your shows ( the myth busters crew). Do you keep in touch? Thanks 👍

[@michaeld954]

How's your finger doing Adam Also I tend to get hurt alot when working on a project so my saying is it's not a project unless you get hurt (Nick's, cuts,smashed thumb) also learned when hammering a nail don't hold the nail you're self have a friend hold the nail 😋 saves your thumb

[@ihavenocluewhatoput]

I use a tripod and a rubber band around my phone when I need to be hands free. And I tilt it as needed. I don't have a lot of need for filming, but I do video call a lot. So having a rubber band wrapped around my phone around the part where a tripod camera mounts on the cork, works, and it doesn't move much. Much. I mean, it's a rubber band, so it has some play.

[@ApatheticGod0]

Is that the spider-head model from carpenter’s the Thing? That’s awesome!

[@MikesFoggyIdea]

I absolutely love these show and tells!!!

[@tkskagen]

For the BASE, I'd see about using a longer leg, using a "Reverse Umbrella Technique" that would be collapsible, lightweight, and more stable! Insert Head Scratch here. It is doable, but would Adam Savage be up to the challenge of building this!? Take care ya'll, 🤓 -Thomas Port Orchard, Washington (Just West of Seattle)

[@NDeck]

You might want to add a spirit level on top of the phone holder. That way you're certain that your footage is horizontally shot.

[@allluckyseven]

1:31 - Tested, the name of that company is Manfrotto.

[@OIOcellOIO]

Hi Adam. Solid idea. Do you think you would get better support in the base by using a microphone stand?

[@StephanieLondon]

absolutely love the tripod bottom. looking for something just like it

[@Sandwich420]

I really wish these celebrities would run their own social accounts..

[@TheMsLourdes]

If some assembly isn't required, where's the fun in that ? :D Thanks Adam. Hope your finger heals up soon!

[@SakthiT800]

Nice one

[@diegofranco-barragan5814]

Anyone know how he's attaching the go pro mount to the loc line?

[@MuhammadDaudkhanTV100]

Cool 👍👌💯

[@CubicleCalvary]

What does Adam use for audio for these self shot videos? Is he just using the built-in microphone on the iPhone or does he have a dedicated external mic?

[@evileyemcgaming]

I used the same thing I used the same thing Adam but mine's a camera stand without the top piece for you cut the camera to it

[@rud]

When using iPhone I had a problem with Apple only enables 30 or 60 FPS which is giving me problems with flickering since we run 50hz in Europe. Thankfully there’s 3rd party apps that allows 25 and 50 FPS.

[@CL_Audio_Tuning]

LOVE IT!! GREAT IDEA!!!

[@JasonMiller-un9gb]

I'm trying to figure out how AS attaches the loc-line to the clamp. Is he using the loc-line-2-thread piece and then bolting it through a hold in the clamp? Can't tell. Does anyone know or have a good idea for doing this?

[@johnsansom947]

Have you seen the Feiyu Pocket Vlog gimbal? Best £100 I've spent in a long time.

[@KurzickDagger]

I have bought similar foot for my monopod but can't connect those. Foot has I think 3/8" male thread and monopod has M8 female thread. How to easily overcome it?

[@briancamiscione3986]

Can you modify that so you can put a Moza or DJI types of phone gimbal on the end?

[@seldoon_nemar]

Just an FYI for anyone wondering. Hyperlapse by Microsoft is the Android equivalent and it's limited to 20 min recordings, it's slow, and it's really not a great experience.

[@TitusJ]

That monopod base looks like the foot of a cyber-chicken.

[@prottentogo]

I'd put a mini ball head on the boom and attach the phone holder directly to that. It'll be less fragile and will have a better center of gravity. They cost nothing..

[@francisjames1377]

Hey Adam, I need a device to attach loc line to my tripod, can you please give me some ideas.

[@DAS-Machina]

Todays live stream was listed as Private? I couldn't view it. WFT?!

[@glacieractivity]

Knowing this is filmed a while ago - it just dawned on me. Remember Spot? Strap a gimbal on it and teach him to always film Adam. Hey, give him a telescopic arm too.

[@ramosel]

But what camera was used to shoot this video and who was behind it....? Did you mount a lockline on Spot?

[@Primelayer]

Good Morning Adam. How is your finger? Its looking alot better.

[@Die-CastMetal]

I make all my camera mounts from raw materials, but I’m wondering who was holding the camera for this video...?

[@taunokekkonen5733]

It's funny how Adam's tattoo simultaneously doesn't fit him at all, but fits him perfectly.

[@sprusedgoose162]

Someone get that man some light stands!

[@jcpkill1175]

Normal person : Buys the thing that has the most features they like. Fin. Adam : Buys bunches of things & using his magic hands takes the best things from them all and makes the best thing. Fin.

[@VladimirLadev]

But who shot him shooting him self? But I do this as well I have a Osmo pocket gimbal camera and got a monopod and a cheap monopod base to make a tripod/boom/run and gun rig.

[@125ccbiker9]

I think you can mount the phone holder straight to the monopod...

[@waffleking3gamer414]

Your finger looks good by the way Adam!

[@WIImotionmasher]

To commenters please read description

[@SapperUSMC]

LOL.... I already have that setup :D

[@charlieorsomething]

Very tentacle-y. This looks like the start of a weird anime I saw once...

[@jyvben1520]

an semi-automated camera rail would be nice, could be remotely operated, needs 3 axis movement

[@ngck]

Why not mount the iPhone holder directly on the monopod?

[@c0pyimitati0n]

How is the _Loc line_ connected to the clamp??

[@vamosamorir]

please activate automatically generated subtitles. This helps people with hearing loss and other languages. Thanks, I really like this channel

[@beefox__]

Captions are uploaded very quickly (at most an hour after your comment), and automatically generated captions just aren't good enough currently to be the only option

[@vamosamorir]

@@beefox__ cool! yes i know but at least it's something

[@produji8394]

the last time i was this early, my dad was still with me.

[@thebusbums2825]

Produji 🤭😅

[@thekidfromcleveland3944]

Mood. Im sorry

[@griffm5]

The woodshop teacher has three fingers ~~~ Adam has 1/3 of a brain

[@BrassMtn]

How's the digits doing since the lathe incident?

[@nireekshanaanand3464]

Adam dude I miss MB

[@dreweab]

Hey I'm mad at you.. I've been watching your videos before I go to bed to wind down. Well last night it backfired badly. I watched your video about your love of the One Wheel and can't get this mod idea out of my head. Think about putting one of those Spring Riders (maybe ridged or with a limiter) from a playground on a c channel frame so it can slide around and clamp to the deck frame. Idk if the thing would work because I've never ridden one but now that my idea is out of my head hopefully my brain is satisfied and I can finally get some sleep. Sorry for the rant I'm sure I'll regret this comment when I can think straight again.