Steady as She Goes

Garrett did.

Garrett lived in Philadelphia where he made a steady living shooting everything from commercials to short films … he loved filmmaking except for one thing .. dragging around those big bulky cameras when he was trying to create an interesting shot … and that is when Garrett had an idea … and built a prototype camera rig to prove it … it was crude but did everything he wanted and more. In fact, it worked so well … he made up a short film to show off it capabilities that he called Impossible Shots.

It featured his friends in the park and at the pool, and his wife running up and down the stairs at the Philadelphia Art Museum.

Well Garrett sent the film to some friends in Hollywood … and it was an overnight viral sensation. Top film directors like Stanley Kubrick immediately wanted a rig. Another director who was filming in Philadelphia was so impressed he had his star recreate the Art Museum stairs scene from Garrett’s film.

Today, 40 years later, Garrett’s invention is now standard equipment in the film industry … and it earned him an Oscar for technical achievement. The Steadicam … and that little film where the star ran up and down the stairs at the Art Museum that was inspired by Garrett’s wife … it was won Best Picture that year … Rocky

Steadicam is a great idea … because sometimes Impossible Shots can change the world.