1st AC’s Follow Focus Bag for Run and Gun
We own and use a lot of gear - just like most video and photo production companies. Much of the time it’s an out of the box item like a tripod, light, or a trusty C-Stand. But sometimes we see an opportunity to fulfill a need by creating something a bit unique.
We want to share with you one of those bespoke items - something we dub our “Follow Bag”.
The Follow Bag is essential to our days on set shooting video. In short, it’s a multi-purpose bag that has become our roving focus pulling stand. It’s essential for our 1st ACs... those people whose primary responsibility is to make sure the video image stays sharp whenever the camera is rolling. They follow whatever the camera operator is shooting, turning a focus wheel that controls a motor attached to the camera’s lens.
Typically there are two types of focus pulling; on big movie sets the 1st AC is stationed on a focus stand, and the other is the run and gun version where the 1st AC has the monitor and wheel on a lanyard around their neck. At Copper Hound Pictures we have developed the best of both worlds, a third option if you will. Since much of our video b-roll capture is running across campuses, through hospital hallways, and around biotech labs, we are constantly on the go with the camera. And our follow focus responsibilities need to keep up accordingly.
During this portion of the day, one of our team members stares intently at a small monitor, and fidgets with what looks like a gaming wheel in their right hand. Their responsibility is squarely on pulling focus for the videographer who is capturing b-roll across the room or down the hall. This remote focusing serves a few purposes - it enables the camera operator to concentrate on framing the shot, it reduces the amount of team members in the shooting area to just the shooter, and it allows the person pulling focus to be zeroed in on the all important task at hand.
Teradek connected to SmallHD with a SmallRig Monitor Mount Lite
To make sure we can shoot for as long as possible without interruption, and on the move, we’ve developed this Follow Bag that the 1st AC wears. Not only does it hold the SmallHD 7” monitor, the signal relay system, and the follow focus control, but it also carries a myriad of necessities. In it we typically carry extra camera batteries (x3), one or two more prime lenses (we typically shoot with a 35mm and carry a 21mm and/or 50mm), two camera card cases, - one labeled “Ok to Use” for empty cards, and another labeled “Shot! Do not use!” for already used cards, so there is never confusion. It also carries one large (150 or 90) Anton Bauer battery with a D-Tap splitter to power the monitor and receiver, extra SDI and HDMI’s in case something on the camera gets smooshed, a rain slicker or small umbrella, a hat for sun or bright indoor lighting, a foldable neoprene sun canopy to put over the monitor for bright outside conditions, and finally the all important snacks.
We call it the Follow Bag not just because it holds the follow focus and assorted gear, but also because the wearer follows the camera operator all day.
When the running stops, and you need to get into more of a sit down interview style of filming, the bag lays flat on the table, with the monitor folded back.
When looking around the industry, we were amazed that a bag like this didn’t exist in some fashion. Our specific bag is a small converted camera backpack made by TENBA. The nice part of this backpack is that it has a smaller front zipper pouch, where we’ve inserted a 18” metal pole vertically like a flag pole. It’s actually an old c-stand arm that has been cut down, but you could use any ridged pipe to do the job. The pipe has been thickened with gorilla tape to increase its diameter so it moves less inside the pouch. Three quarters of the pole is in that front pouch, leaving just enough protruding out to be clamped to a RAM MOUNTS Yoke Clamp Base. That Yoke allows for two arms to attach to its two 1” balls; one up and one down. We then have RAM MOUNTS Short Double Socket Arms at the core of our adjustable arms. The upper 1” ball on that Yoke holds two RAM mount adjustable arms leading to the SmallHD 7” monitor and the Teradek Bolt 6 LT 750 receiver. The lower 1” ball on that Yoke holds two RAM mount adjustable arms leading to a Teradek CTRL.3 follow focus.
This setup provides the 1st AC a multitude of ergonomic positions, depending if they are tall or short, sitting or standing. More importantly it allows them to have their arms free and resting when the camera operator isn’t rolling. It’s also great for unzipping the side pocket to quickly grab a new camera battery… or snack. The bonus is, at the end of the day, you take all the parts off the bag and store them inside.
If anyone reading this has created a system like ours, please send us your setup. We’d love to see what other folks are using.
HERE ARE THE PARTS
Interested in building a Follow Bag for your team? If you are already using a follow focus, you fortunately have most of the expensive stuff.
1. Teradek Bolt 6 LT 750 3G-SDI/HDMI Transmitter/Receiver Kit
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1723703-REG/teradek_10_2260_bolt_6_lt_750.html?sts=pi
2. SmallRig Monitor Mount Lite with Cold Shoe
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1703384-REG/smallrig_3809_monitor_mount_lite_with.html
in unison with
2.1 SHAPE Universal Female Hot Shoe Adapter
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/855424-REG/SHAPE_hsf_Universal_Female_Hot_Shoe.htmla cheaper alternative is
2.2 SmallRig Universal Magic Arm with Ball Heads (2-Pack)
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1449300-REG/smallrig_2158_universal_magic_arms_with.html
3. SmallHD 702 Touch 7” On-Camera Monitor
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1468153-REG/smallhd_mon_702_touch_7_on_camera_touchscreen_monitor.html
4. Kondor Blue Mini Quick Release Plate
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1537932-REG/kondor_blue_kb_qr_fbm_mini_quick_release_plate.html
5. RAM MOUNTS 1” Ball with 1/4”-20 Male Threaded Post for Cameras
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1037866-REG/ram_mounts_ram_b_237u_1_ball_with_1_4_20.html
6. RAM MOUNTS Short Double Socket Arm for 1” Ball Bases
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1037871-REG/ram_mounts_ram_b_201u_a_ram_short_double_socket.html
7. RAM MOUNTS Double Ball Adapter
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1227526-REG/ram_mounts_ram_b_230u_double_ball_adapter.html
8. RAM MOUNTS Yoke Clamp Base with 1” Rubber Ball and 1/4-20” Tap
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1037868-REG/ram_mounts_ram_b_121bau_yoke_clamp_base_with.html
9. Impact 40” Extension Grip Arm (Black)
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/850446-REG/Impact_kcp_240b_40_Extension_Grip_Arm.html
10. Teradek RT FIZ Wireless Lens Control Kit with CTRL.3, MDR.X & MK3.1
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1730943-REG/teradek_15_0047_4_fiz_wireless_lens_control.html
11. SHOOTOUT 16L DSLR BACKPACK - BLACK
https://tenba.com/tenba-shootout-backpack/This is not the bag we have, ours is a much older bag that they don’t sell anymore. It was just something we weren’t using and fit our application nicely. The first ideration of the bag was AMAZING. I bought it for $5 at a flea market. Had great pockets but it has since been retired. Still looking for a bag that will help our lumbar. Tried to build one out of thin aluminum but it looked like I as carrying a bomb strapped to my chest.Inside th e Bag.
Kondor Blue D-Tap To Sony a7S III Dummy Battery NP-FZ100 Cable
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1592221-REG/kondor_blue_kb_dt_sa7s_db_d_tap_to_sony.html/reviews?sts=pi
Kondor Blue Male D-Tap to 4-Port Female D-Tap Splitter Hub (16”)
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1610311-REG/kondor_blue_kb_dtap_hub_12v_metal_d_tap_hub.html
Ruggard Leda Memory Card Case for XQD or CFexpress Type B Cards (Black)
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1455699-REG/ruggard_mau_6xqb_leda_memory_card_case.html
Anton/Bauer Titon 90 Gold Mount Lithium-Ion Battery
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1466924-REG/anton_bauer_8675_0131_titon_90_gold_nbsp_mount_lithium_ion.html