Backyard FX 43: DIY Camera Dolly

Hey everyone, welcome to BFX. The pod cast dedicated to DIY movie making. This week we are building a Dolly. Music-Playing I would like to welcome Jared, master builder, film dude, and all around tool belt. That is actually my official title here too. It is true. This is Jared’s Dolly design. So he is going to head up to build and spin the wheel to determine our budget. Jared had just informed me that he needs the maximum $50 budget or he will cut me with his large scary knife. Music Playing For wheels I ordered six inch nomadic casters, two fixed one swivel. We also gathered a handful of carriage balls with knots and washers and long drive wall skirts. For lumber I grabbed this scrap piece a three quarter and inch plywood I had lying around and a two by four. Now if you do not have scrap of plywood lying around, do not worry too much about it. You can go to most hardware store and they will sell you quarter and a half sheet per pretty cheap. Dolly, move, come on. Let us go. Come on weakling, move it. Music-Playing I would like a sort of take a moment of silence. While filming this episode someone very close to me passed away. My hard drive, I only bring it up because we lost all the footage I shot closed up while building the Dolly. Why? Sorry. Music-Playing To start with you scrap plywood. Ours was just as was 28 by 38 inches. At one end of the platform, cut off the corner using roughly a 45 degree angle; bolt your two fix wheels to one end and the swivel wheel to the point end. Next spend 25 minutes feverishly trying to vacuum up the saw dust from your company’s brand new carpet. Then put down a drop cloth. Now it is time to build handle. Build the small box in the pointed end of the Dolly using two by fours. Slide in a two and a half foot length of two by four in to the box and secure with screws. Then screw in a T bar to the top. Finish up with an I-bolt mounted near the middle of the deck. This week’s test film is being guest directed by Columbia film student and personal friend, Bobby Miller. Music-Playing Eric Beck had a problem with drinking coffee. He loved it so much that it slowly destroyed his life. Everyone in the office was worried. Have you notice there is something is wrong with Eric lately? No. Hey, Eric I got 47 versions of two girls one cut—Eric, hey, no sleeping at work, he is dead! Wait, where is the pulse? All that caffeine was too much, I am afraid. His heart is exploded. You are his friend, right? Well the good news is we were able to transplant his brain to his small dancing robot. Music-Playing Tonight you know how to build the Dolly but you need to know how to use it. No problem. So watch four minute film school this Friday to learn all the learn all the cool Dolly tricks. And I am not talking about your blow up Dolly. You know what I am saying? But seriously give it back. Music-Playing If you ever need props sandwiches, you just stick a little bit of lettuce in there. Boom. You do not need meat. You only eat meat for a prop sandwich. Music-Playing