The Shining and the Steadicam®: an interview with inventor Garrett Brown

Who can forget the sinister and “supernaturally steady” film shots of The Shining? Watch inventor Garret Brown discuss how those shots were achieved with his newly-invented Steadicam®, patent no. 4,017,168.
In 2013, Brown was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, located at the US Patent and Trademark headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.
More information about Garrett Brown:www.invent.org...

[@CinemaSpecialEffects]

Thank you Garrett and Thanks Nicola Pecorini because Nicola is first Italian man that imported in Italy the steadicam. Sorry for my english.

[@danfuerthgillis4483]

The biggest thing about this invention is Hollywood kept a grip on it for decades. So basically the mass consumer had to shoot shaky camcorder videos for 30 years. The Steadicam ( a small cut down system) should of been in the hands of the mass consumer with the rise of the VHS camcorders. We now have gimbals available but still expensive, the steadicam system is still not available to the mass consumer market in 2022. If this product had hit the mass consumer in the mid 80's we would be 15 years ahead in gimbal and steadicam tech on the consumer side.

[@jameselias]

There was a Steadicam for VHS-C camcorders, it was called the Steadicam JR and it came out in 1990. It was eventually replaced by the Steadicam Merlin in 2004-ish for mini DV cameras, both are now no longer made.

[@danfuerthgillis4483]

@@jameselias Given the early 90's the cost of those things were insane at the time. It's very interesting that the steadicam really was never made for the general public and we have moved on from mechanical camera stabilization these days but I can't help thinking of all those 1980's. 90's even 2000's videos that all could of been stabilized. Even if the person just held the steadicam the video would be stable no need to run with it. I believe that this machine would be a liability and insurance issue with the general public and that sealed the fate for the mass consumer to use it, not considering the training required for it as well.

[@jameselias]

@@danfuerthgillis4483 The Steadicam JR was intended for the general public, it was a gimballed, counterbalanced handheld unit with a small LCD screen. But Steadicam is not plug and play and thats why it never gained mass market acceptance. It required a lot of skill and patience. The price of the JR was also expensive like you say because it was never mass-produced. They were assembled by hand in California. The JR and Merlin were very successful in the prosumer markets... believe me, I helped balance hundreds of them!

[@TheConstructiveCritic888]

@@danfuerthgillis4483I have been in the film industry for 15 years, and the Steadicam equipment could be purchased at production gear houses or even online. Expensive as fuck, but accessible to the public. Just takes a ton of experience to really get it down right.

[@iancano]

Awesome interview. I grew up watching movies that used the steadicam and they added so much visually to the storytelling abilities of filmmakers. It's funny though that I assumed the steadicam was invented earlier and used in 2001 (the opening shot following Frank Poole jogging inside the Discovery) and A Clockwork Orange (the home invasion sequences).
Thank you!

[@cameramanhicham]

great inventor thank you sir

[@williampatrick2971]

Lol, Kubrick caught the shadow in Garrett Brown’s demo, but not the one in the opening of The Shining

[@KOZGERFWAD]

Happy 50th Anniversary, Steadicam🎉

[@TheTrue22]

that camera was so good I couldnt see a single little dot

[@DanieleSilva13]

O maior génio revolucionário do audiovisual. Viva garrett

[@petzao]

Revolucionário !!!!

[@luisfabian5995]

I would love to try out a steadicam

[@ilmelangolo]

He is so right there: 3:47

[@stefano.degennaro]

Genioooooooo

[@DKR-1881]

Amazing

[@NoName-jq7tj]

What I don’t follow was is it the cameras stabilisation that grants you a smooth take or it’s because it was small so hence it could be hand held.

[@idhatemet00]

it utilizes an articulated arm with gimbal grips. Its basically a self leveling system. You can buy gimbals for your iphone. It is, in essence, the same concept.

[@elchinkazum5726]

may I share this video on my page?

[@raygordonteacheschess5501]

Love how the girlfriend (now wife) went all-in.

[@markreynolds8871]

Sublime.possibly the best film ever made.😈😠👽🤡💀☠️

[@na.5010]

👏👏👏

[@eliaslimapro]

[@patrixiomadrid]

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