Specialty Rigging Products

August 2008
M	T	W	T	F	S	S
« May		Oct »
	1	2	3
4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17
18	19	20	21	22	23	24
25	26	27	28	29	30	31

Notes and Specifications on Blue Screen / Black / Green Screen Cables

By Allen Fischer

The right cable for your CGI work.

As you may know, film CGI technology has increased by leaps and bounds in the last few years. CGI film technology is very expensive, not only in terms of software but mainly in post production costs. If you have a simple shot with a digicomp green background it is very simple to replace the background with a still or moving shot. If however, you have a dynamic shot that involves rigging of any kind, the current standard is to use black coated cable to suspend your props or actors and then edit them out in post production with CGI software.

This is an incredibly time consuming and costly process. The black coated steel cable currently used in the industry is too expensive, too shiny (reflects light), and very difficult to strip (you must strip the coating off the cable in order to crimp custom lengths). Black cable is also extensively used for tactical and night shots.

Our products have been developed to address all of these issues. By being able to use green cable and hardware for dynamic shots the need for post production CGI editing is greatly reduced.

Our black and green cable (1/16, 1/8, 3/16 sizes) has been specifically developed to be supple (to run through pulleys), cost effective and easy to strip with a special tool which we provide. All of our hardware (see list below) is available in green and tactical black and is exclusively manufactured for us by Petzl America. Petzl is currently the lead supplier of live rigging hardware for stunts, special effects, and specialty riggers. Marrying the cable products to Petzl hardware will lend added credibility.

I have placed samples with the leading special effects and riggers in the Vancouver market and the positive response has been overwhelming. Typically, a key grip will order a kit for his truck.

This kit will consist of :

* 6 - 500ft rolls of cable (3 green and 3 black in 3 sizes)

* 100 P-15 (small) mallions in green and black

* 30 P-10 (large) mallions in green and black

* 30 locking carabiners in green and black

* 4 swivels in green and black

* 4 bear paws (rigging plates) in green and black

* 1200 crimps (1/16, 1/8, and 3/16) in green and black

* 600 thimbles (1/16, 1/8, and 3/16) in green and black

* 6 specialty stripping tools (2 sizes)

After their initial purchases, they will order specific gear for each production, for instance, Cory from SPFX (major special effects company) places custom orders of between $30,000 and $80,000 for rigging gear for each major production (he is very excited about these products).

In addition to the products listed above, we will also be offering :

* Uncoated 1/16, 1/8, 3/16 cable, crimps and thimbles.

* 10 ml static rope in green and tactical black

* 10 ml static camo rope in jungle, urban and desert

* 8 ml sheathed kevlar rope in green and tactical black

* 1/8 and 3/16 Tek-12 specialty rigging rope in green and

tactical black

* 1 inch tubular webbing in green and tactical black

Applications and Specifications

Cable applications

Galvanized steel cable is used extensively in the film industry by grips, Stunts and special effects.

Grips use massive volumes of uncoated steel cable to rig lighting, props, backdrops, mats etc. In Vancouver they purchase the cable from suppliers that are not directly involved in the film industry. The key grips I am working with are very exited about purchasing their rigging equipment from a company from inside the film industry that understands their needs and can provide better and knowledgeable service.

Stunts and special effects use uncoated steel cable for out of camera rigging and nylon or PVC black coated cable for special effects, swat, tactical and green screen CGI shots (black cable must be edited out on the computer). The black coated steel cable currently used in the industry is too expensive, too shiny (reflects light), and very difficult to strip (you must strip the coating off the cable in order to crimp custom lengths). Black cable is also extensively used for night shots.

CGI film technology is very expensive, not only in terms of software but mainly in post production costs. If you have a simple shot with a 703digicomp green background it is very simple to replace the background with a still or moving shot.

If however, you have a dynamic shot that involves rigging of any kind, the current standard is to use black coated cable to suspend your props or actors and then edit them out in post production with CGI software. This is an incredibly time consuming and costly process.

Our new green screen coated cable has never before been available to the film industry. By being able to use green cable and hardware for dynamic shots the need for post production CGI editing is greatly reduced.

Our black and green cable (1/16, 1/8, 3/16 sizes) has been specifically developed to be supple (to run through pulleys), cost effective and easy to strip with a special tool which we provide.

Cable Specifications – 9 products

Specified Breaking

Minimum Actual

* 1/16” 7×7 galvanized steel 480 lbs 653 lbs