Murphy's Law and Stakebed Packages

  Murphy's Law  will always... no always get you in this business. If you bring everything but the vibration isolator because in eight weeks you haven't once yet used it, the first thing you will need is the vibration isolator. I'm a little rusty because out of the last three shows I've done, one has been mostly on a jib arm and I was the chassis op, one has been all handheld, and one has been 75% car mounts. When going out on a stakebed, however, you still know the basic parts to bring: Low mode, a 12" riser, standing board, sideboar, a camera offset. Plus at least thirty feet of track. The point I'm trying to make is, that unless the entire forty is going, which seems to happen less and less these days, you have a standard guerrilla package that goes with you every time.At some  point, however, you have to say, "That's it." If they want the rest, they need to bring it all, or they have to wait. Here are two things a dolly grip looks for: Int and ext. Study the call sheet. If there is an interior, you will probably need dance floor. I usually bring a couple of full sheets plus 4x4's and 2x4's and 2x8's with plastic. If you need more, they'll have to wait on it because, after all, it's a 12' stakebed. If there are exteriors, I bring three 10' sticks plus an 8' and a 4'. That should cover whatever they throw at you. If the DP wants a 100' move, he should have brought it up in the scout and your Key will know about it. Don't forget extra levelling- basso blocks, extra boxes, and shims. You will not need any of it, unless you don't bring it. So bring it all..
The Captain has spoken.
D
By the way, this looks like my hair circa 1985.