A camera mounted on a stabilising harness worn by the operator, allowing smooth, flowing movement that follows a subject through complex spaces.
SteadicamA camera mounted on a stabilising harness worn by the operat… gives you the smooth movement of a dolly shotA shot where the camera moves smoothly towards or away from … but with the flexibility to go anywhere: up stairs, through crowds, around corners. It is a sophisticated piece of kit that requires a skilled operator.
Steadicam in the real world
The Chemical Brothers’ video for Elektrobank (1997), directed by Spike Jonze and starring Sofia Coppola as a gymnast, used SteadicamA camera mounted on a stabilising harness worn by the operat… to follow Coppola through the gymnasium floor, up staircases, and around the competition space. The fluid movement kept the energy of the performance alive without the rigidity of dolly rails, and the SteadicamA camera mounted on a stabilising harness worn by the operat… operator’s ability to stay with Coppola through complex choreography was central to the video’s success.
Related terms
Handheld shotA shot where the camera operator holds the camera rather tha…, Tracking shotA shot where the camera moves laterally alongside a moving s…, Dolly shotA shot where the camera moves smoothly towards or away from …, Director of Photography (DP)The head of the camera and lighting departments. The DP tran…