Kikuyu Camera training by: Mageria

Shangtao Media Turntable Project

Shangtao Media was looking into making a filming system that would rotate an Artist during the shoot. The idea was to make a large turntable that one can stand on and be rotated during filming. This way they would get a 360 degrees view of the subject without changing the position of the camera.

The directors of Shangtao Media made several phone inquiries to technicians they thought would help them put up this turntable.  As their hopes of getting a skilled technician diminished, one of the directors obtained my phone number from a friend of mine who worked at Shangtao Media. Mr. Wallace Kariuki was reluctant to call me but eventually decided to give me a try.

When I receive a call from Mr. Kariuki, it was a specific question on how I would put up a steel turntable which would be manually operated for video production purposes. I quickly thought for a couple of seconds and then slowly began explaining the technical aspects of the construction and operation details. I took my time to create a picture of my ideas to Mr. Kariuki. I talked of the bearings, chain drives, steel table, the mounting base, among other specific details of the design idea. However, I wasn’t able to give a price quote or specific financial aspects of the design or the cost of materials and labor.  Mr. Wallace invited me to visit his office the following day with details about pricing so that they can approve the job to be done.

Mr. Wallace had invited the other three directors when I got in his office. They were seated across the table and a sit was reserved for me at one end of the big oval table. The office was neat and very clean. There was a sprite soda can on each seat position on the table, some cookies on a saucer plate, and a bottle of Desani water from Coca Kola. The whole office looked classy and for once I felt intimidated. I pulled myself together in spirit because I knew this is my only chance to get the contract or blow it out. I decided to use the same approach I had earlier used when Mr. Wallace called me for the very fast time.

“Mageria, you will have to explain everything again”, said Mr. Wallace looking at his colleagues across the table then looking at me with expectations. Step by step I assembled the steel turntable structure in the minds of my listeners by speaking to them the assembly details. As I explained the design for the second time, the details became clearer to me than I had earlier known. Halve way before I completed my presentation, some of the directors were giving occasional nod in agreement. This lifted my spirit and confidence further. Luck was with me on that day. This is because when I finally gave my price quote, it was very close within their budget tolerance. They never told me what their budget was but they assured me that my pricing was very close to what they had in mind.

After three weeks, the system was ready for testing and I met again with the directors. They were so impressed with the design and workmanship that they requested me to sign with them a long term contract for the maintenance of this and others of their media systems. It has now been one year since the turn table was completed and every Tuesday I visit Shangtao Media with a tool box to maintain their mechanical systems. This job has given me a lot of fulfillment and experience in the repair and maintenance of mechanical media systems. This is a clear indication of how one assignment, if well done can lead to long term success in ones career.


By Mageria

ADOBE CS5 PRODUCTION PREMIUM -For Film Makers

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This is it Guys for an "African Holiwood"

All media creators of African origin, this is your time now to tell your African stories by developing your own film industry. Your stories are screaming to be told, this is your time, but fast quit piracy.