DJI Ronin Rig Inspired by “THE CREATOR”
Gareth Edwards' original science fiction film, "The Creator," is an absolute visual masterpiece, undoubtedly ranking among the most visually stunning films of the year. It serves as a remarkable testament to the boundless possibilities of cinematography when a filmmaker possesses a clear and unwavering vision, as well as a deep commitment to a unique and distinct visual aesthetic.
In this video, I will demonstrate how I assembled a straightforward Ronin Gimbal Rig, drawing inspiration from the same setup used in "The Creator."
While delving into the behind the scenes of The Creator, I stumbled upon a unique setup involving the Sony FX3 and the Ronin RS2 Gimbal. It was a hybrid of a gimbal and a shoulder rig of some sort. My own rig, however, deviates slightly from this design, as I've fashioned it using spare parts I had at my disposal. The majority of the components are sourced from Small Rig, all the necessary links are in the video description if you’d like to build this rig too.
Here, we have the Sony A7S3, complemented by a 35-millimeter Suri anamorphic lens. In the film, they opted for the 75mm Kowa anamorphic lenses, mirroring the aspect ratio found in Tarantino's "The Hateful Eight." Given the constraints of my budget, the 35mm Anamorphic lens serves as the closest match available.
The RS2 gimbal was another integral element, and I couldn't help but notice the addition of a top handle in their setup, a detail I've replicated using a Small Rig attachment. To the side, I've mounted the Atomos Ninja V recorder, capable of capturing footage in Pro-Res RAW format. While my setup varies from the one used in the film, I'm optimistic that the results will be comparable. Here are a few shots I’ve captured already using this rig.
Shameless plug, if you’re interested in my S-log Movie LUT pack, the link to that will be in the description below too. I use my LUT’s all the time on my footage.
In their rig, they made use of the DJI Expansion Base Kit for the gimbal, a crucial component responsible for powering the gimbal, camera, and possibly the monitor. It's worth noting that the rig has a pronounced front-heavy quality. To counterbalance this, It’s probably a good idea to add some counter balance weights to the back, affording flexibility to adjust the positioning to your preference.
Now, let's discuss the steps involved in building the Gimbal rig. Firstly, we need to start with the camera base, a standard Small Rig base, which we've securely fastened to a cheese plate using two screws, subsequently serving as a stable platform for the Ronin battery placement.
Next, we slide it onto the rails, which gives us the desired flexibility to position the rig precisely where we want it, either shifting it forwards or backwards as needed.
Now, it's time to attached the gimbal. However, before attaching any components to the shoulder rig, I’d recommend that you first balance the gimbal while it's in an upright position.
As for the Atomos Ninja, I've securely fastened it to a SmallRig bracket, cleverly clamped beside the shoulder rig handle. This arrangement allows you to fine-tune its positioning according to your preferences.
And there you have it, we've now established a rudimentary setup with the gimbal, which is now securely attached via two points and additionally supported in the center.
As mentioned earlier, it's crucial to have a weighty battery or counterbalance at the back to stabilize the rig effectively. This is also an opportune time to integrate accessories like a wireless system or a DJI Focus wheel for added versatility.
The beauty of this setup is its remarkable comfort on your shoulder, particularly beneficial for those who often wield gimbals for extended periods, as it offers a much-needed reprieve for your back.
And here we are… a budget-friendly alternative that is slightly less complex to the awesome camera rig Gareth Edwards used.
Some other things to mention, I've configured the gimbal to medium settings, ideal for the typical use, aligning with how it was utilized in the film. However, the pressing question that arises is why they opted for a shoulder-mounted RS2 rig in the first place.
it's a elaborate setup, uncommon in the realm of gimbal utilization. They could have pursued a simpler approach, utilizing the gimbal in its bare form or with standard handles on either side. Alternatively, they might have adopted an O-ring setup. Yet, they ventured down a distinctive path.
One plausible reason could be their desire for a setup that offers greater comfort during extended usage, making it easier to wield for prolonged periods. Additionally, this unique rig might have been chosen to accommodate an array of supplementary components, such as wireless transmitters, the V-lock battery, and various other attachments at the rear.
The parts you’ll need to build this rig are, A small cheese plate by niceyrig or something similar, A small rig ball head clamp part number 1138, A monitor cage part number 2209. The Atomos Ninja, The RS3 or any of the previous models. The SMALLRIG Universal Shoulder Rig Kit which consists of 3 40cm rods, base plate, handles and a Shoulder Pad attachment.