Benjamin Semanoff, S.O.C. is an experienced Camera Operator, Steadicam Owner/Op, Owner & President of ZipCam Systems & worldwide licensee of SuperFlyCam This reel highlights work as an A-Camera / B-Cam Op, Steadicam Op, & Specialty Camera Operator on Feature Films, Television, Commercials, Music Videos, and more! Don't forget to watch the other samples available here: Narrative Feature, Narrative Short, Music Video, ZipCam Showreel & Behind-the-Scenes with Steadicam on a handsfree Segway.

(Runtime: 1:58 min)

In this scene from the movie "Kurbaan" a killer moves through a subway train car with fierce determination in search of a man he intends to kill. The challenges presented by the shot were: 1) We were shooting on a moving subway train car; 2) Clearance was very tight between actors, extras and the geography of the train car. We shot the scene with Steadicam, which helped not only to isolate the operator from the camera... but also isolate the lateral movement of the subway car.

(Runtime: 0:30 min)

In this quiet scene from the AFI Short Film "Life On Earth" a troubled girl wanders through a bamboo forrest and gets inspired by the beauty of nature. The primary challenge in shooting this scene was trying to anticipate the actor's actions in order to move camera when motivated and avoid drawing attention away from the scene. This was difficult since there were no other actors, no dialogue and the actors back was turned to camera for most of the sequence, eliminating the ability to cue off facial expressions. Despite those challenges, what we walked away with was really beautiful. In fact, the American Society of Cinematographers agreed, and awarded the ASC Richard Moore Student Heritage Award to graduate student Benji Bakshi of the American Film Institute

(Runtime: 0:45 min)

In this Asher Roth music video for the track "Muddy Swimtrunks" the goal was to follow Asher's path through a Supermarket as he interacts with the odd clientel and does a few strange things himself. There were a couple significant challenges. First, is that a SuperMarket is full of vertical reference points that indicate horizon of the camera. Second is coordinating artist & extra blocking, camera blocking, and a couple chances of fate so that everything went perfectly in a single take.

(Runtime: 2:02 min)

ZipCam Systems combines our ultra-lightweight, fully wireless remote pan & tilt head with the SuperFlyCam stabilizer, designed by Steadicam inventor Garrett Brown, to acheive the worlds lightest, easiest, cable camera system... ZipCam. Because of its compact, lightweight nature ZipCam is faster, safer and less complex to install than competing systems. The ZipCam ShowReel highlights shots from Feature Films & Commercials acheived with this ultra-light, 35mm cable-suspended camera system. For more information about ZipCam please click here.

Runtime: 1:19min

The AR System is a Steadicam accessory that actively corrects the camera's roll axis (a.k.a. Horizon). In addition, it allows the Steadicam Operator to flip the Steadicam from High mode to Low mode mid shot. This effectively increases boom range from approximately 24" to 6+ feet. In this example we were in a small 10'x12' room with low ceilings. There was no space for a jib, crane, or arm of any kind. The AR offered great flexibility in tight quarters.

Runtime: 1:00min

Behind-the-scenes footage of the Handsfree Segway + Steadicam. The challenge in this sequence was to follow our subject as he ran full speed through the narrow sidewalks of Philadelphia. Too narrow for an ATV, the Segway offered the speed required to follow the subject, and a small enough profile to fit anywhere we needed to go. The actual footage from the film can be seen in the opening sizzler of my Operator Reel.

Runtime: 0:35min