There have been many inventions that have advanced filmmaking, but maybe none as important as the steadicam. Invented in the mid-70s, it literally changed the way movie making happened, and made the impossible possible. Learn about the fascinating history behind this amazing technology today.
AI Summary
# Summary
In this episode, Josh and Chuck explore the fascinating history and mechanics of the Steadicam, the revolutionary camera stabilization device invented by Garrett Brown in the 1970s that fundamentally changed filmmaking forever. They dive into how Brown solved the problem of capturing smooth, shake-free shots in impossible locations like staircases and rough terrain by creating a sophisticated system of springs, gimbals, and redistributed weight that essentially mimics the human body's natural stabilization system. The guys break down how this invention led to some of cinema's most iconic shots in films like Rocky, The Shining, and Goodfellas, and explain how the technology works using surprisingly simple physics principles like center of gravity and moment of inertia.
"But it was this kind of corny, I mean, it looked like an American Idol or something. It was, but it was American Idol. — Referenced in comparison to a Eurovision performance that featured an impressive steadicam shot."
— Josh
Bound for Glory
1976
2h 27m
★ 6.9
"But on Bound for Glory, he was on a crane even that lowered down, stepped off the crane. — Mentioned as one of the first three major motion pictures to hire Garrett Brown to operate steadicam in 1976."
— Josh
GoodFellas
1990
2h 25m
★ 8.5
"Goodfellas is another classic example, too. Classic. Where Ray Liotta and Lorraine Braco are going into the Copacabana, but they go through the back. — Mentioned as featuring a famous uninterrupted steadicam shot through the Copacabana nightclub."
— Josh
Marathon Man
1976
2h 5m
★ 7.2
"And then the other one was Marathon Man. — One of the three major motion pictures that hired Garrett Brown to operate steadicam in 1976."
— Josh
Return of the Jedi
1983
2h 12m
★ 7.9
"Return of the Jedi, 1983, the famous speeder bike chase scene. — Cited as featuring a famous steadicam shot of a speeder bike chase in a forest."
— Josh
"Who said, I like this, I'm going to use it in this little film I'm directing called Rocky. — Director John G. Avelson was inspired by Garrett Brown's steadicam demo shot of a woman running up Philadelphia Museum of Art steps and incorporated it into Rocky."
— Chuck
"And he was working for, well, he was working in TV commercials and on Sesame Street in Philadelphia. — Mentioned as one of the early projects Garrett Brown worked on before inventing the steadicam."
— Josh
The Departed
2006
2h 31m
★ 8.2
"Because his last one was The Departed, right? — Referenced as a Martin Scorsese gangster film made after his other crime movies."
— Josh
The Shining
1980
2h 24m
★ 8.2
"Kubrick was a big fan of this invention and immediately started talks with Garrett Brown on how to help him out with this movie, the shining that he was making. — Discussed as a classic example of steadicam use, featuring iconic tricycle shots and a maze chase sequence."
— Chuck
The Wolf of Wall Street
2013
3h 0m
★ 8.0
"No, he's made movies since then, like Wolf of Wall Street. I was his last gangster movie. — Mentioned as a Martin Scorsese film more recent than The Departed."
— Chuck
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