Film sets are fortunate to still employ and make full use of a ‘grip’ and his kit.
A Grip Department can make or break a film as they are involved in the whole filming process and a skilled grip can save hours and pounds for the world-weary producer. That aside in the smaller world of young film-maker and broadcast TV Documentary, grips are all but extinct.
Therefore a product is needed to give reasonable moving shots.
For the many years the standard and lightest kits available were the Keywest track and dolly or the Focus track and dolly. The latter (The Focus T&D) was fairly quick to assemble but a very heavy piece of kit. It still requires a grip or camera assistant to push/pull and if set up without being totally level with wedges could be a bumpy and pointless exercise.
The Keywest is the same but also takes slightly longer to assemble too due to a centre bazooka and seat system. Obviously if your assistant/grip knows the kit – time isn’t such an issue. These track and dolly system are still considered too big in the smaller world of HDV and Dvcam. So in response, many companies are offering smaller lightweight versions.
The original lightest kit was the Hollywood Micro Dolly favoured by many for so long, until the newer and very popular Wally Dolly came along. Both the above kits are very light and small – smaller than a tripod bag! They offer a very nice system that a one man band operator can use without too much setup time and too much hassle.
Costs to hire these items are very reasonable and they do offer the filmmaker a great add on to their kit. The term “Horses for courses” applies in many cases as each track and dolly has specific attributes. The Keywest offers curved track and a seat for the operator. The Wally offers quick set up and break down times and single operator use and the Hollywood is great for travelling by air.
Stability is a major concern on both versions, no one wants wobbly tracking shots – so always have wedges to shore up the track.
In conclusion, always decide what you need from your tracking shot and then hire the heaviest and best you can afford (unless travelling a lot !).
Keep on Trackin !
