Watch: ‘The Art of Steadicam’ Highlights Virtuoso Camerawork

The Steadicam shot has become so ubiquitous in modern movies that it is easy to take it for granted.  Aaron Sorkin owes the Steadicam for his trademark walk-and-talk scenes, and it’s allowed us to follow some of our favorite film characters across some of the most beautiful vistas. It’s easy to not give full consideration to the thought and skill that is required to pull off such intricate and sustained camerawork. Refocused Media, a Texas-based media company that specialized in creating film and photography, has put together a compilation of various examples of Steadicam shots in films.

The 10-minute video touches on some of the most iconic uses of Steadicam cinematography in film, such as Danny riding around the Overlook Hotel on his bike in “The Shining” and Henry Hill walking with Karen through the Copacabana nightclub in “Goodfellas,” as well as less obvious examples like Scully booking it down a hallway during an episode of “The X-Files.” Watching “The Art of Steadicam,” below, may leave you both immersed and impressed.

The Art of Steadicam from Refocused Media on Vimeo.