We are shooting on a rooftop. Thirty feet up. We need to have a moonlight fling and an eye-level shooting platform. What do we need? Easy, right? Well, you knew it wasn’t. What are the factors to consider?
1. Where is the building?
2. What is the ground access?
3. Are there high-tension wires overhead?
4. What size mood (how big a light) do we need?
5. Will a body have to ride the basket? At what angle?
6. Does it have to be a four-wheel-drive unit?
7. Are we on a hill?
8. Can I use the outriggers?
These are a few, but not all, of the factors you have to think about and ask questions about. Here are a few more:
1. What size shooting crew (just camera, DP, a few or many) do we need?
2. Will there be any light on the shooting basket, and will it require an electrician?
3. Are we shooting level, below level, or an above look-down?
4. Does the camera crew know how to work the lift?
These are not dumb questions; they must be answered before you do anything. Do not assume. First let’s talk about a Condor. This is a company name that has come to be synonymous with the name of the device. Condors also are called cherry pickers, high lifts, and other names. A cherry picker or Condor usually has two-wheel drive unless you ask for a four-wheel drive. It is white or brightly colored and bears the name of the rental company. This would be fantastic if we were shooting a spot for that company. I usually request a cherry picker with a black arm. This reduces reflection problems, and the lift almost disappears at night. Most cherry picker or Condors have an elliptical tail travel. This means the lift is very slender when it is lined up straight with the base. Once you rotate the base section, the tail extends past the sides of the wheel base. Sometimes this blocks access. If needed, there is a Condor that has zero tail swing. This means nothing extends past the wheel base. Use this type in a tight area. I don’t always call for that type because they aren’t readily available with longer arms. I’m not saying that they aren’t ever made. For the most part, however, that’s what you’ll find. Know what is available and how to use it.
Some cherry pickers have an articulating arm. These are terrific pieces of equipment and take up less room than conventional devices. As with all pieces of equipment, however, there is a price to pay—usually in lift capacity. The angle and the length of an arm determine the weight capacity and use of the arm. Look over the charts. Call and ask or even go and see for yourself. Cherry pickers come with black arms if requested. The arms usually are painted flat black, which reduces reflection problems. If you don’t remember to order an arm that’s painted black and a problem arises, you can always use a long piece of Duvatyne cloth. It was one of the ways we would black out an arm before manufacturers started painting the arms. My advice is always order a black arm. Sometimes day shoots end up as night shoots.
Use the right tool for the job. Don’t guess or try to make do. Cherry pickers and Condors come in a wide base or narrow base. If I have the room, I usually ask for a wide base for stability. Don’t get me wrong. They are all very stable, but it usually gives me and other crew members (who don’t normally ride these things) a visual sense of confidence. All things being the same cost, I opt for the wider base.
Scissors lifts frighten me. I have used narrow ones to go high. They are safe, but this old guy doesn’t like them. There are narrow and wide models with and without outriggers. I prefer outriggers, but sometimes you just can’t use the outrigger type. There are also gas engine types and propane types and even electric ones. You certainly don’t want to use a gas engine lift on a small enclosed stage. Some lifts have a platform that extends on one end; these are helpful for maneuvering over obstacles. When ordering a scissors lift, be as specific as you can be. Consider as many factors as you can to ascertain the proper piece of equipment. Do not use, move, or operate any piece of equipment until you are fully trained and fully confident that you can operate it safely.
When you use any lift, know the physical weight of the unit fully loaded with persons, material, and equipment. Then determine whether you need to put double sheets of 3/4-inch (1.9 cm) plywood under each wheel. This distributes the weight over a larger area. I always have at least eight sheets of plywood ordered for a Condor or cherry picker shoot. Here’s why. Say we start shooting at 7 A.M. on a city street. Around noon the asphalt softens, and the wheels of the cherry picker slowly settle into the softened asphalt. Large ruts will be left behind if you don’t use double-sheet plywood. Trust me on this. This is not to say that the plywood won’t leave a ridge, but it shows you have planned ahead as well as you can. As with any piece of equipment, call the supplier with any questions you might have. Suppliers are very knowledgeable about their equipment. They don’t want anyone hurt either. Don’t try to figure it out. Ask questions.
Single-person Genie lifts need leveling jacks on all legs to get four green lights before the lift will operate. (See Figures 160–162.)
Eagle High Reach is committed to offering state-of-the-art telescoping boom material handlers. Eagle ensures that each customer receives only highly maintained, clean equipment in excellent running condition. Eagle High Reach features equipment by Grove, K-D Manitou, and Lull International. Eagle provides rental, sales, and service for all high-reach needs, including scissors lifts, boom lifts, telescoping boom forklifts, hoists and suspended scaffolding. Eagle High Reach is the authorized dealer of Grove Manlift®, scissors, and boom lifts from 16 feet to 131 feet (4.8 to 39.3 meters); Lull Industries telescoping boom forklifts and accessories; and Power Climber® hoists and products for suspended scaffolding. Eagle High Reach offers radio-dispatched field service and repair by factory-trained mechanics. Safety orientation seminars are available for all products.
Lull rough terrain telescoping boom material handlers and Lull telescoping boom forklifts have full hydraulic controls, four-heel drive, four-heel crab steering, frame leveling, and rear axle stabilization. A truss boom, loose material bucket, side tilt fork carriage, 100-degree swing carriage, and other quick attach accessories are available. (See Figures 163–187.)
Figure 160 Genie options and accessories.
Figure 161 Genie specifications.
Figure 162 Genie specifications.
Figure 163 Lift diagram and specifications.
Figure 165 Lift specifications.
Figure 168 Lift specifications.
Figure 171 Lift diagram and specifications.
Figure 173 Lift diagram and specifications.
Figure 174 Lift diagram and specifications.
Figure 177 Lift diagram and specifications.
Figure 179 8K-42 telescopic handler specifications
Figure 180 6K-42 telescopic handler specifications.
Figure 182 Lift specifications.
Figure 183 Lift specifications.
Figure 184 Lift specifications.
Figure 185 Lift diagram and specifications.
Figure 185 Lift diagram and specifications, continued.
Figure 186 Lift diagram and specifications.
Figure 186 Lift diagram and specifications, continued.
Figure 187 Lift diagram and specifications.
Figure 187 Lift diagram and specifications, continued.
JLG lifts and booms can be ordered through NES Equipment Services.
Figure 188 Lift specifications.
Figure 189 Lift specifications.
Figure 190 Lift specifications.
Figure 191 Lift specifications.
Figure 192 Lift specifications.
Figure 193 Lift specifications.
Figure 194 Lift specifications.
Figure 195 Lift specifications.
Figure 196 Lift specifications.
Figure 197 Lift specifications.
Figure 198 Lift specifications.
Figure 199 Lift specifications.
Figure 200 Lift specifications.
Figure 201 Lift specifications.
Figure 202 Lift specifications.
Figure 203 Lift specifications.
Figure 204 Lift specifications.
Figure 205 Lift specifications.
MIKE’S NOTE: Too large costs extra money. Too small costs time and money. The dispatcher asks necessary questions about details to avoid extra costs and to ensure you have the proper size crane.
The following pieces of equipment are helpful for work with lifts, cherry pickers, or booms:
Figure 206 Camera tie-down.
Figure 207 Apple boxes.
Figure 209 Cherry picker, boom, scissors lift light mount.
Figure 210a Full body harness.
Figure 210b Full body harness, continued.
Figure 210c Full body harness, continued.
Figure 210d Full body harness, continued.
Figure 210e Full body harness, continued.
Figure 210f Quick release rings for full body harness.
The body harness is great for retrieval and rescue. A retrieval safety line is attached to a D ring on the back of the harness.