I used to go out on shoots with a guy who did sound and video. That meant, he carried the BetacamSP deck, and mixed as well sometimes. He and I never got on well, I smelled bullshit a mile deep but he was both relentlessly " upbeat " and totally cocky.
We had a deck go down, and while I was quietly trying to call Sony North America to get some tech help, he was loudly proclaiming to the client and the client’s client that he knew what it was, and we could all save a lot of time if we just went with his diagnosis- that it was the Heterodyne Board that had failed, and must be replaced.
Fine… except that heterodyning technology went out with 3/4" Umatic machines, and was not a part of BetacamSP architecture. :wally
I let him rant, got someone at Sony on the phone, used a continuity meter and quietly let the Producer know that we were down until we got a new deck. Of course, it had nothing to do with the board the fellow mentioned. It couldn’t.
And then, since I’m in the Steadicam business, I have to periodically endure folks who walk up to me and inform me quite righteously as to the first feature film where it was used. A few months ago I was in Orlando at a trade show, speaking to some folks on the show floor. An arrogant :wally walked up and ( interrupting the conversation ) said loudly, " Oh yeah, the Steadicam. I bet you have no idea what movie that was made for, do you? Well, it was made for Rocky. That’s why everybody talks about the shot of Rocky running up the steps of the Art Museum. "
I just stood there dumbfounded. What does one do? Rip the fool to shreds? Hardly wise, I am there as the demo man for the company making the Steadicam. I said the only logical thing- " Wow. I had no idea. Really??? " He nodded vigorously and moved on down the aisle. Aaaaaiieeeee.
Cartooniverse
( the feature film debut of the Steadicam device was on the film Bound For Glory and was a crane walk-off shot to boot. )