The Passionate Producer's Podcast

As a musician for a very long time I have amassed a large amount of hardware, from instruments to microphones and microphone stands, etc. And since its nearly impossible for me to throw anything away, I find that whenever I need something to modify how I carry or place my camera my creative mind kicks in and I try and build it from parts I have in my garage, sometimes these projects are disasterous, but sometimes, i walk away with something that I can use for my every evolving Canon 7d camera rig, I always seem to have lots of parts available. In filmmaking, there is an essential piece of kit known as a "Hi Hat". Not to be confused with the clangy saucer shaped tingy's that drummers keep rhythm with, Its primary function is to allow you to mount your camera on a sturdy surface that is very low to the ground. Why its called a Hi Hat? I don't know. But I do know that when trying to get a shot of your subject from a very low angle, or close to the ground shooting up, it becomes a very valuable tool. Back in the early days of filmmaking it is rumored that Orsen Welles wanted to get low shots that made the talent look tall and menacing, so he had his crews dig deep ditches in the ground to place the tripod with room enough for 2 or 3 people plus camera and tripod. Then somebody figured out, how about if we mount the tripod head to a plank of wood, sit it on the floor and save ourselves some work. Brilliant. So having said that and realizing that I needed a Hi Hat of my own I searched my garage found an old microphone stand with a heavy bottom that after a little work drilling and searching for screws has become my very heavy and low to the ground Hi Hat creation. I call it. -- wait for it. My Low Hat :)