Back in 2013, Network TV cameraman Danny Dodge launched in Kickstarter a first project, the SnapTrack Cinerails, a lightweight track dolly weighing under 10 lbs. The system, which is now used around the world in film, network television, corporate productions and independent films, adapts to most tripods and can be used as a straight track or adjusted to varying degrees of arc, allowing the operator to easily dolly around a subject without having to pan the camera.
The advantage of the Cinerails system over similar products is that it fits easily in a suitcase, for travel. In fact, the Cinerails camera dolly system uses PVC pipes as tracks, meaning users can, once they reach their locations, quickly purchase a pair of 3/4 inch schedule 40 or 20mm PVC pipes from your hardware store for around $5 to $6 to use as track. Danny Dodge says that “since the track is readily available, you’ll never have to worry about paying big money to replace it. The dolly is super smooth and adding an additional 7 Cinerails to your 8 foot PVC pipe tracks, will allow you to use large, fully outfitted cameras and tripods up with a total weight of up to 70 lbs.”
Now the company founded around the Cinerails line of products is back on Kickstarter with MOOVIT, which is a compact, motorized drive wheel that attaches to cameras, camera dollies and sliders to produce smooth, variable speed motion with smartphone control. Besides adding value to the Cinerails product, the MOOVIT allows on-the-go videographers and filmmakers to add smooth, variable speed motion to their footage quickly, efficiently and with multiple rigging options. By eliminating complicated menus and control panels the company made selection of speed and direction of travel as simple as turning a dial or flipping a toggle switch. In addition, advanced control of the unit is also possible through Bluetooth control over a smartphone. The MOOVIT quickly connects to to the Cinerails dolly, Dana Dolly and many other camera dollies. It can also be configured into a stand alone table top dolly using the Cinerails WheelyBar.
With the high quality that filmmakers come to expect in mind, the MOOVIT was designed to quietly run for up to three and a half hours on a single replaceable 9 volt battery using highly efficient pulse width technology. An additional power port allows use of external power when longer run times are necessary.
When attached to the Cinerails camera dolly, the MOOVIT has the power to efficiently move, as mentioned above, a 70 pound payload along the track. This would be equivalent to a full size video camera and tripod. Additionally, the MOOVIT will automatically reverse direction at the end of the track using TrackStops for hands free operation, allowing the user to handle, for example, another camera while the camera on Cinerails+MOOVIT does its work. This is perfect for music video production, interviews and stage shows. For the creative filmmaker, the super slow speed setting on the MOOVIT is perfect for capturing time lapses of clouds and stars.
The Cinerails dolly system
The MOOVIT already exists as a working product, so there’s no guess work to be done. Danny Dogde is just waiting for the project to be funded so they can start the process of making a precision plastic injection mould to produce the MOOVIT case, and gather the parts and hardware, to start production. This project will only be funded if at least $198,000 is pledged by Thursday, June 18 2015 9:28 PM BST.
The MOOVIT comes in three configurations: 1) By itself (ready to rig) 2) With a dolly mount 3) With the WheelyBar for operation as a stand alone table top dolly.
The team is expecting the project to be funded in time and hopes to be able to deliver early orders in mid August and the balance of the Kickstarter orders by the end of August. To find more about the project, visit the MOOVIT Kickstarter page.