embarrassing question but I was wondering if someone can tell me the knot
system used for identifying the
feeder cable (possibly show what its supposed to look like). I know its important so I want to memorize it, all I know is blue has no lines and no knots.
First, remember we know this is NOT a code, nor is it in use elsewhere. We do it to make our jobs safer and easier.
Prog in Training, Yes you need to know & memorize it here in LA! It is neither outdated or going away. The comments here, slandering (even in jest) this
system, won't even come close to the reprimand you'll get from your fellow crew if they work with you repeatedly and you never remember it.
BTW please feel free to contact me for any questions you have, I also invite you or any CB'er to visit me on set. Currently I'm an
Ion @ Paramount Pictures Mon-Fri. Come on by, I love guests. Being a
programmer in my own room I'm often bored!
Now for the rest of the comments:
I fully realize I'm a lot out of place here on this forum; my last 20+ years being in Hollywood Film & TV, as opposed to
theatre. Still as long as you'll have me, I'll be here, as I enjoy learning new things about lighting, and as most of you know, there are plenty of VERY intelligent knowledgable people on these boards. I truly never mean to be disrespectful of anyone. We all have our place in this lighting industry. I always tell new crew, "There are no stupid questions. No one was born with this information." Remember folks, a desirable trait of humans is the ability to adapt. I feel you'd be hard pressed to find any working 728 member who feels this knot
system is in any way unsafe.
Yes headcrab, it is an identifier with the sash tie lines at each end of cable.
Here in Hollywood we don't always get color coded camloks from the rental
house. So when we
lay cable the quickest way to I.D. the cable is to use a
figure 8 in the ties- other knots are unacceptable, as the
figure 8 unties very easy, no fighting another type of knot. If we feel we need to, we can fall back and use Scotch 33+ for Black and Scotch 35 colors in addition. We always spec Scotch tape, BTW. Speed counts tremendously here. NOT meaning speed OVER
safety. This method makes it so much faster when we scramble to
lay down 2/0 or 4/0, it doesn't mean waiting for the ends to be colored correctly. This is a big help when you have 4 company moves in a day with out a pre-rig crew. When on location with ample light sometimes the Industrial light sources can make the Scotch 35(or off brand) tape not appear to be what it really is. As far as people 'un-tieing' them, sorry never heard of it. Additionally we are very vigilant of our systems, other crew departments don't mess with it. If they even
plug into a
lunch box, they usually get brought up to speed fast about set
protocol.
The next question is, "How prevalent is this
system outside (or inside) the Hollywood TV/film industry?" I can't speak for 'outside', but it seems to only be here in town. In town I'd say every set uses it. The only reason not to use it: if your feeders are properly pre color coded with tape or cams. Every human can/will make mistakes. If you make the mistakes repeatedly you will not be hired back. Probably true for any industry, right?
And: "Is it a good idea to depend on/advocate/perpetuate such a
system?"
Depend? Well do you depend on your juicers to tape or knot correctly? Yes.
But as a
Best Boy it is our responsibility to personally walk the
line before energizing, taking care to double check all connections. It is easy to run your
hand down the tie lines to 'read the knots'. If a BB doesn't do it personally they will entrust a senior crew member to walk the
line.
Advocate? If you take the time to both tape and knot there maybe even less of a chance of a mistake. So, yes it makes it that much safer.
Perpetuate? Of course I do. So does the rest of my crew.
Van, that macrame is called 'handcuffing' in town and is so very prevalent here.
Yes Footer since films are now made all around the world, one could even narrow it down to "What Hollywood does is not at all close to what the rest of the world does!"
I agree. Sure there are tons of examples of questionable practices done here in town in the past, but union Set Lighting Technicians have been undergoing
safety training for many years now.
Not sure what you mean about vice-grip cams, and DC
power has been removed from lots. I may be wrong but I think only Universal has DC, and I hear they plan on taking it out when they can afford to. Paramount finished removal last year. I don't see anything wrong with qualified personnel working with DC.
Yes meatpopsicle, neatness counts.
Be safe everyone, regardless of knots.