Ditch the Hi-Hat: Why the Hat Trick is a Must-Have for Low Angles
For decades, the grip world has been defined by the “Century” rule: if a piece of equipment like the C-stand has lasted a hundred years, why change it? But as camera systems get smaller and production schedules get tighter, the traditional hi-hat and low-hat have started to feel like relics of a slower era.
In a recent Cinematography Tip, Shane Hurlbut, ASC, and Key Grip Brendan Riel (Legacy Grip) sat down to showcase a tool that is officially putting the old plywood hi-hat out to pasture: The Hat Trick.
As a reader, you can save 10% on your very own Hat Trick by using promo code FA10.
What You Will Learn in This Article:
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Cinematography Tip: How to Get High and Low Camera Angles Faster
THE PROBLEM WITH TRADITIONAL “HATS”:
If you’ve spent any time in the camera department, you know the routine. You need a low-angle shot, so the grips bring out a hi-hat — a heavy piece of three-quarter-inch plywood with a Mitchell mount bolted to the center.
THE ISSUES ARE IMMEDIATE |
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| THE WEIGHT | They are bulky and don’t pack well. |
| THE “DOUBLE” REQUIREMENT | To be truly prepared, you usually need a “normal” hi-hat and a “low-hat” for when you need to get even closer to the dirt. That’s two pieces of gear for one job. |
| THE WEDGE NIGHTMARE | Traditional hats aren’t adjustable. To level them on uneven terrain, you have to find a stack of wedges, level the board, and hope it doesn’t shift when the camera starts rolling. |
What are the disadvantages of a traditional camera hi-hat? |
| Answer: Traditional hi-hats are heavy, fixed-height boards that lack adjustability. They require wooden wedges to level on uneven surfaces, which is a slow process prone to shifting. Most crews are forced to carry two separate pieces—a hi-hat and a low-hat—just to cover different height needs. |
ENTER THE HAT TRICK: ONE DEVICE, THREE SOLUTIONS
The Hat Trick is designed to be the “Swiss Army Knife” of camera support. Instead of a fixed board, it utilizes a modular, folding design that splays out to handle any height or angle.
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Versatile Height Adjustability
The Hat Trick features adjustable, telescopic legs that allow it to transform from a standard hi-hat height down to an “ultra-low” configuration. By simply releasing the levers and splaying the legs, you can drop the Mitchell plate lower than a traditional low-hat could ever go.
Can one camera mount replace both a hi-hat and a low-hat? |
| Answer: Yes. Modular supports like the Hat Trick use a telescopic, folding leg design that covers the entire height range of traditional gear. By splaying the legs out flat, it transforms into an ultra-low hat, eliminating the need for multiple heavy plywood boards in your kit. |
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Self-Leveling on the Fly
This is the true “efficiency” play. On a traditional hat, if you move the camera six inches to the left on rocky ground, you have to redo your wedges. With the Hat Trick, you simply pick it up, set it down, and adjust the individual legs to level the head. No wedges, no grip department required, no wasted time.
How do you level a camera on uneven ground without using wedges? |
| Answer: Use a support system with independent, adjustable legs. Unlike a fixed plywood hi-hat, the Hat Trick allows you to extend or retract each leg individually. This achieves a perfectly level Mitchell or ball head in seconds, even on cliffs or curbs. |
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Travel-Ready Design
For the “one-man-band” cinematographer or the DP traveling for a documentary, space is at a premium. The Hat Trick folds down into a compact form factor that fits inside a single carry-on bag—legs and all.
REAL-WORLD PROOF: THE “DODGE” JOB
Shane shared a specific example of why this gear matters. On a recent commercial for Dodge, the director wanted a shot of a truck bursting through a banner. The requirement? Get as low as possible.
“This gets lower than a low-hat by at least an inch,” Shane notes.
By splaying the Hat Trick legs out onto the asphalt and mounting a 125mm Signature Prime, Shane was able to get the lens practically skimming the ground. When the director asked to move the shot slightly to adjust the composition, Shane was able to pick up the rig, set it back down, and re-level it in seconds. In the high-pressure world of car commercials, those saved minutes are the difference between getting the “hero” shot and losing the light.
How can I get my camera lower than a standard low-hat allows? |
| Answer: Standard low-hats are limited by the thickness of their wood base. To get lower, you need a “splayable” mount. The Hat Trick’s legs can be flattened almost entirely against the ground, allowing the camera body to sit closer to the asphalt for “ground-skimming” car shots. |
TECHNICAL SPECS & CUSTOMIZATION:
The Hat Trick isn’t just for Mitchell mounts. It’s a “tricked out” ecosystem:
- Ball Head Adapters: It features specialized adapters for 75mm, 100mm, or 150mm ball heads that thread directly into the bottom, eliminating the “wobbly washer” problem found on standard hi-hats.
- Rigging Points: The frame is covered in 3/8″ threaded holes. This allows you to mount baby pins, speed-rail starters, or monitors directly to the base.
- Surface Protection: The legs are capped with non-slip rubber feet, making it safe to use on expensive hardwood floors or marble without scratching the surface.
How do I mount a ball head or accessories to a Mitchell mount hi-hat? |
| Answer: The Hat Trick ecosystem features dedicated ball head adapters that thread directly into the base for stability. Additionally, the frame includes multiple 3/8″ threaded holes, allowing you to mount baby pins or speed-rail starters directly to the mount for a fully integrated camera rig. |
Feature |
Traditional Hi-Hat |
The Hat Trick |
| Weight | Heavy / Bulky | Lightweight / Foldable |
| Leveling | Requires Wedges | Self-Leveling Legs |
| Height | Fixed | Adjustable (Hi to Ultra-Low) |
| Rigging | Limited | Multiple 3/8″ Threaded Points |
THE BOTTOM LINE:
Efficiency on set is the only way to protect your creative time. If you are spending twenty minutes wedging a plywood board, you are losing twenty minutes of lighting and performance. The Hat Trick represents a shift in grip philosophy — moving away from “the way it’s always been done” and toward gear that works as fast as a modern camera crew.
Would you like me to create a comparison chart between the Hat Trick and other modern low-profile mounts like the Cheeseplate or the Skater Dolly?
As a reader, you can save 10% on your very own Hat Trick by using promo code FA10.
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