Don't Skimp on Rigging Crew for Remote Heads

The hardest lesson I learned about camera movement came when we tried to save a few thousand dollars by using just a single Key Grip on a shoot featuring a Technocrane with an ARRI ALEXA Mini on a remote head. The problem was simple: in a fast-paced environment with a complex setup, one person cannot safely and efficiently manage both the crane's operation and the remote head's adjustments. We lost nearly half a day to constant recalibrations, slow lens changes, and the sheer physical strain on the Key Grip trying to wrangle cables, balance the head, and troubleshoot. I watched two operators standing by, collecting their day rate, while our Key Grip wrestled with a setup that clearly required two people just for the rigging and safe operation. The solution, which we begrudgingly implemented by day two, was to bring in a dedicated Head Tech. The added crew member, even for just a few days, immediately streamlined the process, allowing for quicker camera moves, faster setup times, and ultimately, a more productive shoot. An essential lesson learned was that specialized rigging, like a Technocrane with a remote head, will almost always require specialist crew to run it, and trying to cut corners there will always cost you more in time and reshoots than the day rate of the extra person.