Shitty Rigs: Don’t Try This at Home

If you’ve been on a film set — particularly for a low-budget DIY film — you’ll notice the ingenuity and creativity at work as filmmakers try to compensate for the lack of expensive gear. Making do with what you have is essential. Rigs have been fashioned out of apple carts, shopping carts and other found objects — which is why it’s no surprise that there is, of course, a Tumblr devoted entirely to Shitty Rigs (thanks to NoFilmSchool.com for bringing it to our attention).

Of course, there’s always a chance that a truly shitty rig can also prove to be a dangerous contraption that could put a crew member at risk of injury or even death. The Tumblr states that “to the best of our knowledge, no rig on this site has ever caused any harm,” but it’s important to keep potential risk in mind when fashioning “creative” a.k.a. shitty rigs. It’s not worth risking someone’s life or limbs to get the shot.

But with that huge caveat aside, it’s instructive to check out the rigs featured on the site. One person’s idea of shitty is another person’s notion of genius.

Below are some examples of shitty rigs featured on the Tumblr. If you have your own shitty rig to share, you can submit it to the Tumblr for consideration.

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Shitty Rigs: Don’t Try This at Home

Shitty Rigs: Don't Try This at Home