How to Make a Glidecam

A glidecam is a counter-weighted device that allows you to obtain fluid and steady moving shots when using a hand-held video camera. If you do not have a glidecam available you can easily make one with a plastic bag. The plastic bag allows you to move and position the camera without jarring or jerking the camera as you move it around.

Things You'll Need

• Video camera
• Thick plastic bags
• Felt-tip marker
• Scissors
• Packing tape

Instructions

1. Place the video camera into the plastic bag sideways. Pull the bag tight over the lens of the camera and trace around it with the felt-tip marker to make an outline

2. Remove the camera from the bag and then cut around the outline with the scissors. Discard the cut piece of plastic.

3. Place the video camera back into the plastic bag. Insert the video camera lens box or hood into the hole you cut into the plastic bag.

4. Secure the plastic bag to the lens box or hood with a strip of packing tape. This helps with stability and to keep the video camera secure.

References

• Independentfilmmakercontracts: How to Build Your Own Glidecam