Design Your INOVATIV Cart for Film Production

Shane Hurlbut, ASC breaks down the features of a dependable INOVATIV cart for film production, which is the epicenter of the set for cinematographers. Not only that, but Shane also showcases his DIY alterations that enhance his personal INOVATIV Deploy Workstation Cart.  

By designing the DP cart to be self-contained so you don’t have to seek out the grip, electric, or camera department, it will certainly function like the command center you need it to be. 

You’re going to learn: How to design the DP cart for optimal communication  How to customize the DP cart to see everything in the drawers How to rig the antennas to always be in communication with your team The best ways to power your DP cart and all of your devices How to organize and arrange the cart for best results

POWER TOWER: 

The power tower on Shane’s DP cart includes 20 USB plugs and eight Edison plugs. Shane also keeps a few USB to USB-C adapters so he can plug in pretty much anything.

Shane runs his laptop charger down to the 12 outlets we previously mentioned underneath the top shelf. 

MAIN POWER SWITCH:

There’s a master power switch that you use to power down all the devices on the cart. 

This comes in handy when you want to quickly power everything down for the night. 

One key reason Shane really likes this option is peace of mind. You don’t want your Flanders monitors to run all night and get super hot. The master switch ensures they all shut down. 

MOUNTED IRIS WHEEL: 

The mounted iris wheel makes pulling focus very convenient. Shane can easily control the iris and adjust exposures to precision. This is important because while shooting digitally, Shane pulls the iris on almost every shot. 

With this iris wheel mounted on the DP cart, it gives you close proximity that makes for efficiency in communicating with the director as you’re doing so. 

DRAWER #1: 

Firstly, the motion-detecting lights make it easy to find what you need. In fact, this is a feature of all the drawers. 

Here’s what Shane keeps in Drawer #1: 

• Sekonic C7000 Color Meter 
• Sekonic Speedmaster L-858D-U Light Meter 
• Green Laser Pointer
• Bag-It Safety Plastic 
• FSI Solutions LCD + OLED Screen Cleaning Kit
• Filmsticks 9-Piece Allen Key Set
• Calibrite ColorChecker Display

DRAWER #2:

Drawer #2 contains all of the batteries for Shane’s Hollyland Solidcom C1 Pro-Hub Communication System. 

The camera department can come in, grab what they need, and deploy the headsets. 

Here’s what Shane keeps in Drawer #2: 

• HUB Antennas & USB HUB Cables
• Extra Batteries for the Comms system 
• Utility Batteries (for meters and odds and ends)
• BNC Connectors

Shane stores the extra batteries and cables in labeled plastic bags. 

DRAWER #3:

In Drawer #3, Shane keeps his Hollyland Solidcom C1 Pro-Hub Communication System dialed in and numbered for his camera team — numbers one through eight. 

So, all of Drawer #3 is for the camera team. 

DRAWER #4:

Drawer #4 contains the headsets for the Grip & Electric team and the crane grips and operators. 

Design Your Cart Like an ASC Cinematographer

Create the epicenter of production!

Shane Hurlbut, ASC breaks down the features of a dependable DP cart, which is the epicenter of the set for cinematographers. Not only that, but Shane also showcases his DIY alterations that enhance his personal INOVATIV Deploy Workstation Cart. 

Turn the DP cart into the command center you need!