FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
G6 Motion Control works with clients from all over the world. Whether it's your first time using motion control or your tenth, we understand that you may have some questions! We have put together a list of frequently asked questions and answered them as detailed as possible for you.
How does the process work?
After you have spoken to a member of our team via phone or email and have discussed what it is you are looking to do/ what dates you’re looking to film, we would then ask for a 20% deposit to confirm your booking (this will secure your dates).
Once your booking has been confirmed we will then flesh out the finer details and start work on the pre-visuals (if required). You will have contact with our project managers to go through any changes and details for the shoot.
How long does it take to set up?
We give ourselves a 1-hour setup time. This means an hour after we arrive we should be ready to shoot.
What will you need from us?
The more information the better. If you are new to motion control, tracking vehicles, visual engineering, etc then don’t worry. Our team can then steer you in the right direction.
It’s really handy to have:
Brief
Treatment
Shotlist
Storyboard
Location images
Reference videos
Do you need to see/visit the location prior to the shoot?
It’s always more beneficial for us to visit the location and take measurements (especially for pre-visuals). However, when visiting the location isn't a possibility, detailed photos of the location & measurements would be required.
Can we change shots on the day of production?
Yes, you can change shots on the day of filming. Preferably we would like to have all shots signed off before production but we understand things change. Depending on the shot & alteration this could take 15-30 minutes approx.
Can we see the shots prior to the shoot day?
Yes, 100%. We can provide you with a pre-visual of how the robot and shot will look in a 3D environment with the exact dimensions from the location. Including your camera/lens choices.
What camera & lenses can we use?
All our cine-bots are compatible with most cameras & lenses. The main limitation would be weight - Our large robot has a 20kg payload and our smaller robot has a 10kg payload (it’s rare that this would be an issue with most camera and lens setups).
Can you supply camera equipment?
Yes, we can supply you with a range of equipment for your production. We have access to a variety of cameras, lighting, audio, and grip kit. Feel free to give us a call and a member of our team will be happy to help.
Do we need a focus puller?
You won’t need a focus puller for our robots and both are equipped with focus, Iris, and zoom which we can attach to most lenses using our Nucleus kit. This is then controlled from our magliner, where we can set individual keyframes for perfect precision.
If you are hiring the Tracking Vehicle then a focus puller would be beneficial.
Will there be any camera shake?
This is a question we get a lot - All robots will shake when pushed to their limit.
(For example: when you hold the weight close to your chest, it’s nice and steady. However, if you hold that weight out straight, your arms shake).
There are ways we can soften the amount of shake but more often than not it’s unnoticeable or very slight. *As far as we know, non of our clients have had to stabilize one of our shots.
What kind of working area/space will you need?
The large robot can reach 2 meters (4 meters from left to right). And our smaller robot can reach 1 meter (2 meters from left to right) - Each robot requires a marked safety area.
We also have our magliner and control box which is approximately 2ft wide & 6.5ft long (these will need to be situated fairly close to the cinebot).
If three-phase power isn't available, can we still use the large robot?
If three-phase power isn’t available we are able to stop down from 64A.
Alternatively, you can hire a generator which we can run from. Our team will be able to help you with this.
Is the robot safe?
Cinebot’s are very powerful machines and can be dangerous when not operated properly. However, our operators are highly trained and both our Cinebots have safety protocols we have to follow alongside two emergency stop features.
Our operators are fully aware of the robot’s capabilities and it is their job to make sure it is safely operated.
