Paul Maples
Technodolly/Motion Control Operator
Motion Control
I'm still doing it
In 1994 it never dawned on me that I'd still be a motion control operator 22 years later. As it has happened, because of motion control, I've been lucky enough to work all over the United States and the world, including New Zealand, Australia,
China, Brazil, Uruguay,
and even from the Kremlin wall in Moscow.
Motion Control has changed a bit since my days on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. There is no more flying "ships on a stick", we leave that to the CGI guys these days. There is more live-action work and even some animation still-which is always fun.
Motion Control integrates a lot better than it did 22 years ago and I find myself doing a lot more greenscreen as well as location shoots including in the middle of corn fields, on Bob Sled runs, on city streets, on freeway overpasses, in theatres, at the beach, and even hanging off the side of a hummer as we barrel down on a full size tanker truck.
Moco Rigs
Motion Control rigs come in many different shapes and sizes. There are some great small rigs and some really bad-ass bigger rigs (we even motion controlled the 73' Akila Crane once-talk about bad-ass).
The following is a list of the most used cranes and a little about each one.
The Gazelle
The Gazelle is a great mid-size rig. It's small enough to get into some smaller places, yet still has a good length arm that you don't feel confined in what you can do.
The Graphlite
It's Big! and can get even bigger. The Graphlite starts off with a 12' 8" arm that has a max. height of 11'11" (underslung) or 15' 11" (overslung) with a NS range of motion of over 12'.
The Graphlite has an arm extension as well as a risers that can allow for max height of 15' 9" (underslung) or 19' 9" (overslung) with a NS range of motion of 15' 7".
The Impala
Need a small rig that still has an arm? The Impala might be your choice. It is small enough that it can be slightly disassembled and taken up the stairs of a typical house. The arm is 5' and it has an amazing max height of 6' 6" (underslung) or 9' 5" (overslung) and almost 6' of NS travel.
Mark III
The Mark III is a versatile rig that comes with 3 different lenght arms, 58", 78", and 108", allowing for one rig to work as multiple cranes.
Specialty Rigs include
Technodolly
The Bulldogs-up to 15', 22' or 32' arm
Bogey Dollys
Turntables
Inverted Graphlite (hang from the ceiling)
Pan/Tilt Heads
Cyclone
