Quick Tip: Dolly at the Top or Bottom of Boom With Second Team

You've watched the rehearsal and set the shot with second team. You’ve worked out the move, checked reflections, looked for gear in the shot, and you are ready for first team to come in. One thing I always make sure to check before we get to that point, at least on a dolly shot, is: Is there more room to boom up or down if something changes, or is the dolly maxxed out in one position or another?

What I mean is, if the shot is happening at the absolute top of the boom range, and I'm certain we won’t need to boom down to the floor, I’m better off asking my dolly grip to add a riser and boom back down to the same height. Why? Because, if something changes and we need to be a little higher, it's no problem. If nothing changes, we haven’t lost any time, but we were prepared for a change. Same goes with being at the bottom of the boom. Always plan to be a little lower and break the neck or throw it in low mode if it doesn’t change the position of the dolly.

The key is to have somewhere to go higher and lower and not be locked into a maxxed out position. Take care of this while second team is there and you will never get caught asking for a few precious minutes with the cast on set while you change the dolly.

Plan for what is supposed to happen. Be prepared for what will happen.