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SOC Newsletter
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Editor
Dan Gold, SOC
Photography
Diane Farrington, David Tolsky, Mark August, David Frederick, David Mahlmann, Mike Frediani
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| Board of Governors | |
Officers
Mike Frediani, President
Chris Tufty, 1st VP
Steve Fracol, 2nd VP
Dave Frederick, 3rd VP
Dan Turrett, Treasurer
Dan Gold, Secretary
Mark August, Sgt.-at-Arms
Board Members at Large
Robert Reed Altman
Will Arnot
Bonnie Blake
Steven Campanelli
Dan Coplan
Mitch Dubin
David Emmerichs
Buddy Fries
Bob Gorelick
Chris Haarhoff
Alec Jarnagin
Doug Knapp
Kenji Luster
Stan McClain
Georgia Packard
Heather Page
Peter Rosenfeld
Mike Scott
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New Members
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SOC Welcomes These New Members
Active Members
Bud Kremp
Alan Pierce
George Peters
Brian Scott
Neil Toussaint
Jeff L. Crumbley
Cedric Martin
Mark Sparrough
Ryan Purcell
Rob Macey
Keith Francis
Paul Gardner
Tim Harland
Ken Willinger
Alan Hereford
Brown Cooper
Felix Forest
John Sosenko
Associate Members
Jennifer Braddock
Jillian Arnold
George Griffith
Rochelle Brown
David Grober
Brent Spencer
Dany Salazar
Steve Saxton
Christopher Lymbris
Hilda Mercado
Matt Turvey
Claudio Reitti
Student Members Josh Barrett Nicholas Nikides Christian Hall James Elam Jeff Kulig |
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Greetings!
I'm happy to write a few words for this awesome newsletter that Dan Gold, SOC creates for us as time permits during his busy schedule. As a result of our recent election the voting membership has ushered in fantastic board members. On April 30 a board meeting was held at the Filmtools conference room where new officers were inducted (cajoled) so that by the end of the day you will be well-represented. Yet the one job which was last to be filled was that of the president. The gavel was tossed around the room and it landed squarely in my lap. So here I am again. My first term was 1995-96 and it was challenging to say the least. Lots on my plate back then (with membership help), serving as editor of the magazine, newsletters, screenings, launching one of the first industry websites (soc.org), and in 1996 our first SOC Crane & Remote Head seminar which many consider the genesis of what we now know as CineGear. Hats off to the great work over the years expanding it into the must-be-there event of the year. Thank you Otto Nemenz for all the efforts your people and other industry vendors create annually. We will be there as usual.
 | | The gavel passes from former President Dan Kneece, SOC to newly elected President Mike Frediani, SOC. |
The new board and officers selected made my decision much easier when deciding to accept the role of your new president. I will try my very best to carry on the tradition of excellence of those who came before me in this term. I'd like to especially thank Dan Kneece for his leadership qualities and keeping this organization at the top of its game and our finances in the black especially during these uncertain economic times that affect us directly and our industry at large.
Our membership has nearly doubled in the past 15 years and I'd like to set a goal to crack the 1,000 member mark within the next year. We have over 800 members today. That my friends will take the efforts of almost all of us to reach out to camera operators and potential associate members in our industry who we would be proud to count as highly esteemed SOC members. So with that I ask you now, 'who do you have in mind to sponsor in to the Society here in 2011?
I'm excited to be back on the board and to accept the 'top spot' in order to raise awareness and respect to one of the coolest jobs on the set.
Thank you all,
Michael Frediani, S.O.C
President
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J.L. Fisher Open House
SOC Hosts Panel Discussion
 | | Jamie Felz, Mike Frediani, SOC, Dave Frederick, SOC and veteran dolly grip Ed Peters |
At the J.L. Fisher Barbeque on May 14, the SOC hosted a lively panel discussion focusing on the working relationship between the director of photography, camera operator, first assistant, and dolly grip when using dollies, jib arms and cranes. Participants included Mike Frediani, SOC, David Frederick, SOC, David Mahlmann, SOC, Buddy Fries, SOC, Denis Moran SOC, Michael Scott, SOC, Katie Boyum, SOC , First A.C. Jamie Felz, and Ed Peters of Local 80. At the SOC booth, volunteers sold raffle tickets to raise funds for the SOC charity, the Vision Center at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. Read more about our charity.  | | Frank Kay of J.L. Fisher is a long time friend of the SOC. |
 | | David Mahlmann, SOC moderates the discussion. |
 | | Raffle winner John Lazear, Associate Member (left), and Events co-chair Greg White, SOC |
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Hand Hold This!
The Discussion Continues
We heard from several SOC camera operators who had their own stories to tell regarding their experiences with hand holding the camera. Here are their comments. (Go to the SOC Newsletter Archive Page to read "Put The Camera Down" in the March/April issue). _______ "I just read your article in the latest SOC newsletter, and it was terrific! I bumped up against the handheld issue constantly when I was still shooting, and I felt like it was an even bigger issue for me since I'm 4'11" and 95lbs -- not exactly a linebacker. I never realized that people are being asked to carry Panaflexes with 1000' mags and huge lenses, my god! Johnny Mang is awesome, I'm not surprised he was able to read your mind/shaky arms. :) Any other tips you could post about painless (or reduced-pain) handheld technique would be extremely handy." "I also recently saw this fake ad, which you might enjoy (if you haven't seen it already): The Tripod Foundation. Sure, they could've said "camera operators" instead of "cinematographers," but I think the point is still valid." 
_______ "I especially like your article on Hand Held and the new generation of directors. I think the Union should get involved here and REQUIRE limits on handheld WEIGHTS and SHOOTING TIMES. Maybe the ASSISTANT DIRECTORS in DGA could help us out here too!" "I have hand-held a Panaflex with a 1000' mag and zoom lens - actually that's the only way to balance a zoom lens. That worked for a short while, but after that, you lose all perspective of the shot other than... let's get this damn thing OVER!" _______ "I enjoyed your article about putting the camera down in the recent email newsletter. The same can be said for Steadicam ops. I was working on a movie and the director wanted a little push in to a pair of actors after which I was to just stand there and hold the two shot while they improvised. And improvised, and improvised, and improvised..." "I literally held that shot until my body was shaking and my back was giving out and I finally had no choice but to pull the camera away and barely make it to the stand even though they didn't call cut. I think I even called out, "That's it!". I wasn't thinking and I was pretty ticked, but they got the message. 'Oh, sorry about that.' Yeah, thanks." "Recently did a day on "The Voice" filling in for a guy who does a lot of live sports coverage including the World Cup, NFL, etc. His AC apologized and wished me luck saying that this experienced op claimed the day he did before I showed up was one of his most miserable experiences. We were shooting performers singing repeated takes and then scuttling over off-stage for interviews immediately following with no breaks in between. Me on Steadi and three handheld ops. 12 performers were scheduled! I was new on set so you know how that is trying to fit in. All cams were necessary for the performances, but one of the camera operators, understanding the brutality I'd be putting up with all day, talked to the DP on my behalf and convinced him to let me take a break during the interview portion with the handheld cams taking over a 2-shot and two close-ups. Originally, I was supposed to shoot the 2-shot - just standing there like a tripod with 50 lbs. straight to my back. The shoot was still brutal, but I was saved by that camera op (Jeff Wilkinson) sticking up for me." _______ "Great article. Yeah, I've been having my assistant right by my side ready to grab the camera after lengthy takes. I shoot a lot of law enforcement training programs where takes can be upwards of several minutes non-stop, often where there's a bit of running with the camera. It's always assuring to know he's right there when the director yells cut, and I can hand it off to him for a much needed breather. I no longer have the back and knees I had 25 years ago, so for me, there's simply no other way to do it." Please send your comments, stories, and photos to secretary@soc.org |
New Officers For The SOC
Board of Governors Elects Officers
On April 30th the SOC Board of Governors chose 4 additional active members to serve on the Board. This brings the number of Board members up to 25 as mandated by the recent revisions to the SOC Constitution and Bylaws approved by the general membership. Congratulations to these new members of the Board. - Alec Jarnagin
- Peter Rosenfeld
- Mike Scott
- Dan Turrett
From its 25 members, the Board of Governors then chose seven officers. Congratulations to the new officers.  | | President, Mike Frediani,SOC |
 | | 1st Vice President, Chris Tufty, SOC |
 | | 2nd Vice President, Steve Fracol, SOC |
 | 3rd Vice President,
Dave Frederick, SOC |
 | Secretary, Dan Gold, SOC
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 | | Treasurer, Dan Turrett, SOC |
 | | Sergeant-at-Arms, Mark August, SOC |
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Board of Governors Mixer
Filmtools provides the venue.
Old Board Members welcomed new Board Members, family and friends at the SOC Board of Governors Mixer last month. It was a wonderful evening of refreshment, camaraderie and recognition.
Dan Kneece, SOC received a special award for his steady leadership and generous service during the four years in which he served two consecutive terms as President. Former President Kneece passed the gavel to the newly elected President Mike Frediani, SOC.
Outgoing First Vice President David Mahlmann, SOC was presented with a distinguished service CAMMY award for his tireless efforts producing the 2011 SOC Lifetime Awards, running the Corporate Liasion committee, the SOC events committee - setting up and running numerous Local 80 Dolly grip training workshops, Bill Hines workshops, Camera Operator 101workshops and being the interim SOC treasurer and accomplishing the 2011 membership dues billing.
 | | President Mike Frediani, SOC addresses the group. |
 | | Active SOC Members Dan Gold, Dave Frederick, Dan Turrett, and Tony Cobbs (left to right) mix it up. |
 | Dave Frederick, SOC (left) presents outgoing President Dan Kneece, SOC with well deserved praise and a special award.
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 | | Friends and family enjoyed the festivities. |
 | | Award recipient David Mahlmann, SOC and Filmtools' Stan McClain, SOC |
 | | Filmtools provided the venue. |
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Practicing The Moves
SOC and Local 80 Join For Dolly Grip Training
by Lance Fisher, SOC
It was a little overcast in southern California, but it was May 7, the day before Mother's Day. June Gloom was preceded by May Gray. At 9 am the SOC and IATSE Local 80 Studio Grips commenced the SOC/Local 80 dolly training workshop in the stage area of Local 80 offices in Burbank. The dolly training workshop sprang up from an outreach effort by the SOC's David Mahlmann about 3 years ago to connect with and gain mutual support from other crafts in our industry. After some discussions, the workshop was created with joint participation of the SOC and Local 80. It is supported by local equipment vendors and is presented 3 times annually. Eligible Local 80 members are given practical training in learning to become a dolly grip. Terminology, familiarization and basic use of the dolly, properly laying track and dance-floor, and working with the camera crew are covered. This is done on three consecutive Saturdays in four hour sessions.  | | Doug Knapp, SOC works out the dolly move. |
On the fourth and final day of the workshop, (graduation day) an actual scene is blocked and rehearsed with camera crews provided by the SOC and using complete camera packages. The workshop delivers real-world training scenarios that include operator/dolly grip communication, the necessary physical moves on the dolly during the scene, tracking, wheel changes, booms, and safety. At the satisfactory completion of the course, the addition of dolly grip category is included in the skills database for that member of Local 80. The dolly grip is an essential contributor to the creative aspects of making the shot, and the 'shooting' of a scene that would be encountered on a real set emphasizes this. Participants included the instructors; SOC operators, David Mahlmann, Doug Knapp, Mike Frediani, Mark August, Mike Scott, Lance Fisher; from local 80, Russ Nordstedt, president and business agent, Tommy Valentin, a grip who recently completed the training workshop; local 600 1st camera assistants David Tondeur, Brad Greenspan, Nikki Gray; camera assistant Amir Rakib; and of course Richie Ring and Genevieve Adell, our wonderful SAG actors who performed the scene a couple dozen times so the students could 'get those moves down'! We would like to thank Frank Kay and J.L. Fisher for their generous loan of two Fisher 10 dollies, track, and accessories and also Clairmont Camera for the Arriflex 435 and Panasonic Varicam complete with Arri heads, lenses and all the accessories to make this workshop possible. |
 Credit Where Credit Is Due
Use The S.O.C. Letters
There are so many things that members can do for the SOC, from volunteering at CineGear, the JL Fisher Expo, and other seminars and events throughout the year. But the easiest thing an Active Member can do is to make every effort to see that these three letters S.O.C. follow our name on screen credits, periodicals and call sheets. On IATSE productions it is union mandatory to list SOC after our name when you add it to your deal memo. Follow up with post-production after you are hired, and also list your credits on IMDb, the best resource for industryites. It will pay off for you sooner or later.
Michael Frediani, S.O.C.
President |
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