{"id":71800,"date":"2016-03-10T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-03-10T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/?p=71800"},"modified":"2016-09-13T14:36:54","modified_gmt":"2016-09-13T19:36:54","slug":"creative-ways-to-use-a-ladder-on-set","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/creative-ways-to-use-a-ladder-on-set\/","title":{"rendered":"Gear Hack: 3 Creative Ways to Use a Ladder on Set"},"content":{"rendered":"

Step up your video production skills with three camera\u00a0rigs constructed from\u00a0ladders.<\/h2>\n

Top image via\u00a0George Dean<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Some people seem to think that anything that isn’t officially called “film gear” is some sort of DIY approach to filmmaking. Nothing could be further from the truth.<\/p>\n

Billion-dollar blockbusters still use simple pieces of equipment like apple boxes. Another often-used\u00a0tool is the ladder. Ladders aren’t only used for hanging lights or set pieces. Here are three ways a ladder can take your footage to the next level.<\/strong> Last ladder pun, I promise.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Ladder Camera: The Super Tripod<\/h3>\n

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\nImage via Imgur<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Sometimes a tripod won’t be tall enough for certain shots. One of the most commonly used techniques is turning a ladder into a tripod<\/strong>. (Yes, I know a ladder has four legs and not three.) To pull this off, you’ll want use a stepladder.<\/p>\n

The most popular ladders are the\u00a0Werner<\/a>\u00a0stepladders that have a HolsterTop\u00ae<\/span><\/strong>. Not only can the HolsterTop\u00ae store your tools, it’s perfect for mounting a tripod head.<\/p>\n

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\n<\/a>Image via Werner<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Look for a HolsterTop\u00ae ladder with a hole in the middle. <\/strong>This is normally used to hold a hammer, but in this case you will use it to lock the tripod head in place.<\/p>\n

Just attach the tripod fluid head to a ball mount<\/strong> and rest the ball mount in the ladder’s HolsterTop\u00ae hole. There are other options as well, like using a Ladder Cam<\/a> mount, but I find the ball mount to be the most practical and easy to set up.<\/p>\n

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\n<\/a>Image via\u00a0Imgur<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The ladder camera tripod is perfect for capturing high-angle shots<\/a>. It’s also great for capturing nice wide shots from above. There’s also a much added benefit over raising a tripod \u2014 your operator can just stand on the ladder and work the camera.<\/p>\n

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Ladder Dolly\/Ladder Slider<\/h3>\n

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\nImage from\u00a0Ale\u0161 Svoboda via Sh*tty Rigs<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

If you don’t have a slider of your own, or you need a longer dolly track on a tight budget, try using a ladder. For this setup, you’re going to need a straight ladder<\/strong>. An extension ladder could also work, but you can’t extend it \u2014 so you’re just adding weight to all your gear.<\/p>\n

The actual ladder dolly setup is up to user preference or budget. Some crews make their own sliding platforms using\u00a0a flat surface, some\u00a0track wheels or skateboard wheels, and a tripod.<\/p>\n