Big vs Little

   For years I used the biggest dolly that would fit in the space. That's what we're taught, right? The majority of shows carry a two dollies, a big one and a little one. Naturally, the bigger dolly was the "A" camera dolly. "A" camera stayed on the big dolly and when the space was limited you switched over to the small dolly.It's been this way for years. I've recently changed my thinking on this.  I generally push a Chapman Hustler 4. This has been my dolly of choice for probably twenty years. It's a masterpiece of engineering. The arm is pristine. The sideboard system is well thought out. Back when every operator used an eyepiece, I could put them anywhere I needed to and they were comfortable. Then the film world went digital. Now, an operator using a monitor can be on either side of the camera. I rarely use sideboards and privately look disdainfully on operators who ask for one (just kidding, operators who know me will laugh at this) So this still went on for years. I tried to shoehorn the big dolly into any space it would fit into. Then, something happened. The film world went digital. Operators didn't use eyepieces as much so they were much more flexible on where they needed to be on a dolly. Then something else happened. I did a movie with a director who forbade me to use a big dolly. He insisted on the Peewee. He didn't like big dollies, they take up too much space, people lounge on them (he's British) and treat them like a big snack table that you can also sit on. I grumbled but, of course, complied. A few days into the show I realized something. I can do everything with a small dolly that I can with a big one, barring high offset shots or jib shots etc. But actual moves are the same. Even easier. It's lighter, It takes up much less space. I can get more move out of a given piece of track or floor. Stand ups, sit downs, compound moves, I could do them just as well on the Peewee as I could the Hustler. In reflection, a lot of this has to do with taking the eyepiece out of the equation. In any case, it worked fine. Then I did another movie that required long runs down hallways ducking into doors and through multiple rooms. Again, the Peewee did everything I needed it to. Now, I'm finding more and more that my primary dolly is the Peewee and my backup for certain shots is the Hustler. B camera uses it more than I do. The worm has turned. 

Let me know your thoughts. Has anyone else experienced this?

 Anyway, hope it's a good weekend for you all.