Stands and Rigging CHAPTER 6

Transcription

1

2 CHAPTER 6 Stands and Rigging We constantly need to hang lights in awkward places, so naturally, over the years, ways have been devised to secure a light almost anywhere. People are constantly inventing and reinventing these devices. The basics are described in this chapter but check manufacturers websites for up-to-date information (Arri, Matthews, Norms, American, Modern Studio Equipment, Versales). Stands Stands come in two basic types: babies and juniors. Baby stands (sometimes called 750 stands) have a 5 /8-in. pin that fits into the baby receiver found on the smaller lights, baby-2k or smaller (Figure 6.1A). Junior stands (sometimes called 2k stands) have a 1 1 /8-in. receiver that takes the junior pin found on larger lights. Stands of both types come in short, low-boy versions as well as the standard height with two or three risers. Stands may be made of aluminum, which is lightweight, or steel, which is stronger. Baby Stands The most versatile baby stand for location work is a steel three-riser stand with a mountain leg (Figure 6.2). The legs can be quickly retracted by loosening the T-handle on the top collar and pulling up. The legs have a wide base for stability, and the mountain leg makes it easy to level the stand when it is placed on uneven ground, on a stair, over the edge of a curb, or leaning against a set wall (Figure 6.2). Rolling Stand Baby rolling stands are convenient when working in the studio on a level surface. Many rolling stands have brakes that snap into a locked position. Blade Stand Blade stands are extremely lightweight, which is their one advantage. They are also somewhat flimsy and unstable. They are best used with small lights. Stabilize a lightweight stand by hanging a small shotbag on the lower T-handle. 111

3 112 SET LIGHTING TECHNICIAN S HANDBOOK Figure 6.1 To retract the legs of most stands, loosen the upper tie-down knob and pull the legs up and in. With some stands, the legs retract by loosening the bottom tie-down knob and sliding that collar upward. A 5 /8-in. baby pin inserts into the receptacle on a fixture (A). When mounting the light, the pin should be flush with the receptacle and not stick through. This assures that the T-handle engages the indent of the pin (B). Also some lights (notably the baby junior) do not tilt properly if the pin sticks (C).

4 Stands and Rigging 113 Figure 6.2 Alternative stand configurations. Low Stands When you need a light placed low, a mini-baby (22 50 in.) or preemie (31 70 in.) stand comes in handy. Table 6.1 lists the basement and top floor for many common stands. Junior Stands Combo The junior combo stand is so named because it was designed to handle both lighting units and reflector boards. Larger fixtures, Studio 2k and larger, have a 1 1 /8- in. junior pin. A typical two-riser combo has a maximum height of 11 ft. A threeriser combo has a maximum height of 14 ft. Figure 6.3 illustrates the junior stand and some common stand accessories: the baby pop-up pin, the angled drop-down offset, and the baby pin adapter. Low Boy The minimum height of a typical combo stand is 48 in. If the light must be lower than that, you need a low-boy junior stand, which has a minimum height of around 33 in. If you need to mount a light lower than 33 in., you have to underhang the light from an offset or use a turtle stand or T-bone.

5 114 SET LIGHTING TECHNICIAN S HANDBOOK Table 6.1 Stands Name Type Risers Minimum Height Maximum Height RM Leg Brand Low Baby Stands Low blade stand Al /4" 38 7 /8" Mole Mini preemie St 2 20" 39" Matthews Preemie baby Al 2 31" 5' 10" Matthews Mini baby St/Al 2 22" 50" X American Low low baby Al 2 20" 3' 3" Norms Low hefty baby Al 2 33" 5' 7" Norms Baby Stands Steel maxi St 3 34" 10' Matthews Beefy baby standard Al 2 37" 8' 3" Matthews Beefy baby, 3-riser Al 3 45" 12' X Matthews Baby, 2-riser St/Al 2 40" 9' 4" X American Baby, 3-riser St/Al 3 44" 12' 5" X American Baby light, 2-riser Al 2 44" 9' 4" Norms Baby light, 2-riser St 2 52" 10' 6" Norms Hefty baby, 2-riser Al 2 47" 9' 10" X Norms Hefty baby, 3-riser Al 3 50" 12' 10" X Norms Low Junior Stands Runway base only 0 11" 11" Matthews Low boy St 2 33" 6' 9" X Matthews Low boy Al 2 37" 6' 9" X Matthews Low combo, 1-riser St 1 29" 4' 0" X American Low combo, 2-riser St 2 32" 5' 6" X American Low combo, 2-riser St 2 33" 5' 7" X American Low boy 2 36" 5' 8" X Norms Rolling folding stand St /4" 32" Mole Junior Stands Combo St 2 48" 11" X Matthews Sky high St 3 52" 14' X Matthews Mombo combo St 4 76" 27' X Matthews Light duty combo St 2 48" 10' 5" X American Heavy duty, 2-riser St 2 50" 11' 3" X American Heavy duty, 3-riser St 3 51" 14' 3" X American Alum combo, 2-riser St/Al 2 48" 10' 3" X American Alum combo, 3-riser St/Al 3 51" 13' 9" X American Mombo combo St 4 5' 8" 23' 5" X American

6 Stands and Rigging 115 Table 6.1 Stands (continued) Name Type Risers Minimum Height Maximum Height RM Leg Brand Standard 2 54" 11' 2" X Norms Sky high 3 58" 13' X Norms Sky high Al 3 61" 13' X Norms Notes: RM leg stands for Rocky Mountain leg. St/Al means the stand has steel legs and aluminum risers. Figure 6.3 The 1 1 /8-in. junior pin fits into the receptacle on the stand. The T-handle should engage the indented part of the pin. Some stands have a baby pop-up, which allows the junior stand to support either a baby or a junior fixture. An angled drop-down offset allows a light or reflector to hang lower than the lowest height of the stand. The 45 angle holds the light away from the stand. In the absence of a baby pop-up, a junior stand adapter can be used. T-Bones and Turtle Stands A T-bone is simply a metal T fitted with a junior receiver (Figure 6.4). A T- bone can be nailed or screwed into place (typically in green beds or on parallels). It sits flat on the floor, providing a low position for larger lights. A turtle stand is nothing more than three legs joined in the center to a junior receiver. Matthews s C+ stand has removable legs, which serve as a turtle stand. The riser section of the C+ stand can be used as a stand extension. Matthews and other manufacturers also make wheeled turtle stands. Matthews calls theirs a runway stand. Mombo Combo A mombo combo is a very substantial, four-riser, steel stand with a very wide base (no wheels), which allows a maximum height of more than 26 ft.

7 116 SET LIGHTING TECHNICIAN S HANDBOOK Figure 6.4 Three ways to place a light near the ground. A T-bone can be nailed or screwed into place in green beds or on parallels. Figure 6.5 Offsets, side arms, double headers, and triple headers are available in baby and junior sizes (babies are shown here). Offsets, Side Arms, Extensions, and Right Angles Offsets Figure 6.5 shows various types of baby offsets that can be used to locate the head out from the stand. They are useful when some obstruction, such as furniture or a set piece, prevents the stand from being placed under the light. Note that an

8 Stands and Rigging 117 offset or side arm puts the stand off its center of balance. Use sandbags on the legs as counterweights. Risers Risers come in many sizes; typical sizes would be 6, 12, 18, and 24 in. A riser is a handy piece of hardware when a light mounted to a plate or clamp is not quite high enough. A 36-in. junior stand extension essentially adds an additional riser to a stand. It can also be inserted into the receiver on the dolly or the crane when a light is to ride with the camera. Using Stands See Chapter 2, Checklist 2.3, for check-out procedure for stands. Remember, Righty tighty, lefty loosey. Lock-off knobs (T-handles) tighten when turned to the right (clockwise) and loosen when turned to the left. Extend the top riser first. If you extend the second riser first, you will raise the first riser out of your reach and look like a bonehead. However, if the light is heavy for the stand, you can add strength to the stand by not using the first riser or using only part of it. Bag any raised stand. A good rule of thumb is one sandbag per riser. If the light is extended all the way up on a three-riser stand, you would use three bags. Place the sandbags on the legs so that the weight rests on the stand, not on the floor. Get help when needed. As a rule, use two people to head up any light 5k or larger. Depending on the height of the stand and the awkwardness of its position, heading-up a 12k or Dino can require three or four people. Don t hesitate to round up the other electricians and grips when you need them. It is poor judgment to underestimate your needs. A heavy light can get away from you and cause injury and damage. Moreover, handling large lights alone tires you out before the day is over and, in a short time, is likely to lead to back and knee problems. I know too many people in their middle and late thirties who have done permanent damage by abusing themselves when they were younger. Lifting equipment is not a contest; the lighting crew works as a team. Crank-up and Motorized Stands Crank-up stands provide a mechanical advantage needed for raising heavy lights. Table 6.2 gives the weights and weight capacities of crank-up and motorized stands. They have a chain-, cable-, or screw-driven telescoping extension system with a crank and clutch, so that the crank does not reverse and spin out of control under weight. Do not crank up a stand without some kind of weight on it, as this can cause problems in the inner mechanisms. The Cine-Vator, Molevator, and similar motorized stands power the telescoping mechanism with an electrical motor that is operated by a single up/down toggle

9 118 SET LIGHTING TECHNICIAN S HANDBOOK Table 6.2 Weight Capacities of Crank-up and Motorized Stands Floor Ceiling Capacity Type American Roadrunner 220 4' 2" 11' 3" 220 lb (100 kg) Crank Big Fresnel lamp stand (BFL) 4' 2" 12' 6" 300 lb (136 kg) Motor Arri Baby 2-section Supercrank 3' 2" (97 cm) 5' 5" (165 cm) 220 lbs (100 kg) Crank Short-base 3-section Supercrank 4' 8" (153 cm) 11' 3" (345 cm) 154 lbs (70 kg) Crank 2-section Supercrank 4' 10" (147 cm) 7' 7" (232 cm) 198 lbs (90 kg) Crank 3-section Supercrank 5' 5" (165 cm) 11' 5" (348 cm) 176 lbs (80 kg) Crank 4-section Supercrank 5' 11" (182 cm) 15' 7" (477 cm) 154 lbs (70 kg) Crank 5-section Supercrank 7' 9" (237 cm) 20' 4" (620 cm) 154 lb (70 kg) Crank Matthews Lite Lift 4' 1" 8' 6" 85 lb (38 kg) Crank Crank-O-Vator 4' 11" 12' 150 lb (68 kg) Crank Low Boy Crank-O-Vator 3' 2" 5' 5" 150 lb (68 kg) Crank Super Crank 5' 9" 12' 6" 200 lb (90 kg) Crank Cine-Vator 4' 6" 12' 300 lb (136 kg) Motor Mole-Richardson Folding Crank-up Litewate Stand 4' 5" 10' Crank Molevator 5' 1" 11' 1" 250 lb (113 kg) Motor switch (Figure 6.6). These stands can handle the heaviest lights made (up to 300 lb). The motor is usually 115-V AC (at about 6 A) but can be 115-V DC, 220-V AC, or 220-V DC. When rolling a large light on a crank stand or motorized stand, push the stand from the back with the swivel locks unlocked on the two rear tires and the front tire locked. Steer by pushing the back wheels left or right. This way you are less likely to catch in a rut and tip over the whole stand. When the stand is in place, prevent the stand from rolling by swiveling each wheel straight out from the stand and locking each swivel. Additionally, wedges in the tires and cup blocks under the tires prevent them from turning (grip department). Before raising the stand, make sure it is totally leveled with cup blocks, wedges, and apple boxes, if necessary (grip department). Use your strong arm to turn the crank to raise and lower the light. Never release the clutch without having a good grip on the crank. A properly adjusted crank should not spin when the clutch is released. However, they often do. If the crank gets away from you, there is a good chance you will not be able to

10 Stands and Rigging 119 Figure 6.6 A Cine-Vator stand. (Photo courtesy Matthews Studio Equipment, Burbank, CA.) get hold of it again before the lamp hits you in the head. There is also a good chance you ll hurt yourself trying to grab hold of the spinning crank. If you lose control, let go of the clutch and get out of the way of the light. Grip Stands For the most part, the grip stands are used for flying overhead sets and setting flags, nets, diffusion frames, and so on. However, in special situations, they are needed as light stands. C-Stands Q: How do you drive an electrician crazy? A: Lock him in a small room with a C-stand. The Century stand is a versatile, all-purpose, rigging gadget that is the centerpiece of the grip s equipment. Its components are like the parts of an erector set, and setting C-stands is a little-appreciated art form. Given enough time and enough C-stands, a grip could build a scale model of the Eiffel Tower. When a C-stand is used as a light stand, however, it becomes the electrician s responsibility (Figures 6.7 and 6.8).