1001 Positively True Stories of An Indie Filmmaker

I cam across this site link on Twitter. It’s a $50 DIY version of the $350 CineSaddle developed and designed by Mark Furches. It’s a perfect low-budget car mount tool for smooth moving car shots from various angles. Watch the video, then check the “how-to” instructions –

DIY Cinesaddle Car Mount from Mark Furches on Vimeo.

Mark Furches

Many people have asked me to make a tutorial on this cinesaddle replica; I’ve just been too lazy and too busy with school to respond. Here is how I did it. 

materials: 
fabric 
strap (24″ x 1.5″) 
zipper 
fanny pack 
thin rope (20ft long or more) 
metal wire (4′ long x 1/2 cm in diameter) 
rubber shrink wrap for the wire 
bean bag filler (microbeads the smaller the better) 

I trashed the orignal design drawings, so I can’t show you the actual cut outs. You need to prinout a picture of the cinesaddle and look it over. You’ll notice that it is made up of three pieces of fabric stitched together: two U-shaped cutouts and a long rectangular cut out. The dimensions of the original cinesaddle is 12” x 12″.That should be your goal. Cutting out the fabric properly is crucial to the project (if you do this, a qualified seamstress can do the rest). 

I have attached a sketch of the U-shaped pattern, so you’ll atleast get an idea of how you need to draw it and cut it out. After sketching the pattern, pin it to the sheet of fabric and cut the fabric out with a pair of scissors. When cutting out the fabric, cut out more than is necessary (don’t cut out the fabric right at the edge of the sketch) This extra fabric around the perimeter of the cutout will allow the seamstress to work with it better–she folds the fabric around the perimeter of the cut out inward to sew the pieces together. Cut out a rectangular sheet of fabric (14-16″ wide and long enough to go around the perimeter of the U-shaped cut outs). 

Next, cut the strap into four 6″ sections. These will go in the top four corners of the bag. Also, cut the straps off the fanny pack (depending on the fanny pack there may be enough strap to cut the four 6″ sections) and be sure to keep the buckle with some of the strap still conected to it. 

After you do that find a seamstress to do the rest. Take the picture of the cinesaddle and your sketches, the cutouts, fanny pack, straps, buckle, and zipper to the seamstress. Tell the seamstress to fold the 6″ straps over (making a loop) and sew them into the top four corners of the bag. Also, tell her to put a zipper on the bag (she put the zipper on the top of my bag). Instruct her to put the buckle on the top of both sides of the bag. Last, tell her to attach the fanny pack to either side of the bag. 

While the seamstress is doing the sewing, you can manipulate the wire in the meantime. Put the appropriate rubber shrinkwrap on the metal wire. Heat the shrink wrap with a blow dryer so that it will melt onto the wire. Cut the wire into 12″ sections. Bend the wire with a pair of plyers to create the four stirrups that will attach to various parts of your car (this takes some manpower…I’m kinda weak so it was hard for me to bend the wire). I’ll show you a picture of one of my stirrups so you can get an idea of how to bend it. 

Once the seamstress is done with the bag, fill it with the bean bag filler. Thats pretty much it. Now, you need to learn how to tie a bunch of knots. 

Knots you need to know how to tie: 
Half hitch 
Two half-hitches 
The bowline 
Truckers hitch 

There are a few videos of the guy tying the bag off to the car on the cinekinetic website. Review those videos until you can figure it out. Search on google to learn how to tie the different knots as well. 

Oh yeah, to achieve the window shots, you are going to want to create two rope loops (I have attached a picture of this to show you). 

I’ve uploaded 14 new pics to my flickr account for you to view along with the crappy sketch i just drew. I hope this helps out a little bit. 
flickr.com/photos/23550990@N05/sets/72157605965823493/

Mark