The Art of the Steadicam

Refocused Media put together this hypnotic compilation of steadicam (and steadi-crane) shots over the years, composed of almost forty films and a few TV shows.

From the creators over at Refocused:

These sequences are accomplished using a Steadicam, which is essentially a balanced stabilizer that allows for smoother and more easily controlled handheld camera operation. Invented by Garrett Brown in the early 70?s, the steadicam shot — or ‘steadishot’ — has become one of the most dynamic and exciting forms of cinematography and is one of the most engaging visual techniques in a filmmaker’s storytelling arsenal. I was inspired to make this homage to the art of steadicam cinematography when browsing the database of “top” clips over at steadishots.org, which are rated by the community. After locating what sources I could from the top 50 or so, I decided to stick with the order presented on the site (accurate as of March 1, 2013). 

I love these kinds of montages (the year-in-film ones are usually great) because they remind you why - even when we have an overall crummy summer of movies like this year - you love movies in the first place. Film is an art and it is beautiful and full of visual storytelling. A compilation like this (especially because they've replaced the audio with an overarching song to connect the films) allows you to really see what the camera is telling you and why. It's fascinating!

[via /Film]