First of its Kind
Posted on Oct 19, 2024 by FEED Staff
Chris Lynch reveals how the Caerus system will revolutionise disabled video production – marking a huge leap forward when it hits the market
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Developed by disabled filmmaker Chris Lynch and colleagues at his production company Diverse Made Media, the Caerus system is the first of its kind: a Segway-based Steadicam alternative placing wheelchair users and other disabled creatives in the driver’s seat. Born from Lynch’s personal experiences and observations, Caerus addresses issues often faced by disabled camera operators – namely speed, flexibility and manoeuvrability.
Game-changing chair
Five years in the making, Caerus has been a ‘work in progress’, according to Lynch. “It’s more agile than an electric chair and has a smaller footprint as well,” able to move at a top speed of 15mph. Combining powerful image stabilisation with cine cameras and lenses, provided in part by CVP, Caerus allows its user ‘to control the gimbal and the focus at the same time’. The operator can either do this manually or – in cases of particular disabilities, such as a person who doesn’t have arms – automatically via tracking technology. “We’ve thought about all the different applications and controller interfaces to make it as familiar as possible for ACs and operators on-set,” explains Lynch.
Though designed for disabled filmmakers and videographers, the Caerus system can appeal to anyone. “People without disabilities will take this on,” predicts Lynch. “Obviously, the more unit sales, the cheaper the cost will be for the end user.” The Caerus set-up is competitively priced but promises good value for money, available for less than an Arri Trinity, for instance, and includes a Red Komodo-X. “It’s a full starter kit to get someone going,” says Lynch.
After debuting at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, Caerus is finally ready. “It has taken time to refine,” shares Lynch. “We’ve addressed all the production requirements, and with broadcasters and brands now setting quotas for disabled crew, this will help integrate Caerus into the industry.” Lynch also attended the Paralympics with Caerus, exhibiting its appeal in live production scenarios. “It’s just a case of trying to get in front of as many people as possible,” he admits. “We have a mammoth task ahead of us now; we’re trying to get people to listen and embrace it.”
In good company
Originally from Northern Ireland, Lynch has been in the production industry for over 20 years, beginning in advertising before moving to film, TV and broadcast. About two years ago, he moved to London and founded Diverse Made Media – a creative production house that works across film and HETV, broadcast and branded content. “Since we started, we’ve been trying to create something to help not only the disabled community, but also cover all the bases,” describes Lynch. “That’s our ethos – trying to bridge the diversity gap across every community, looking at gender, race, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation.”
With a ‘14-strong freelance crew’, Diverse Made Media is “trying to grow and get a reputation for high-quality work,” says Lynch. It recently landed its first commission with the BBC, is shooting a documentary for UEFA and boasts an existing portfolio of branded and broadcast content as well as aerial footage. And with Caerus as its own invention, the company is well-poised to pave the way forward for all filmmakers and video producers.
Issues of access
With first-hand experience as a disabled filmmaker, Lynch has focused much of his career on addressing the stigma surrounding disabilities. “There’s a deficit of creatives in the disabled community,” he states. “There are a huge number of physical barriers; it’s a challenge getting onto a project.”
With over two decades in the industry, Lynch recognises both the progress made as well as the work yet to be done. “It’s great to see this emerging trend,” he says, referring to inclusivity initiatives. “The more people who embrace it, the more it filters down into the industry. It starts with the bigger production companies; once they embrace these changes, smaller ones can follow suit.
“Many people have written off those with disabilities,” Lynch continues, “but there are several ways to be inclusive without being disruptive. It’s not going to upset your production schedule or workflow. People are realising it’s not a huge burden.”
Hopefully, with Caerus hitting the market, the industry will change for the better, giving disabled creators more opportunities than ever before. “I could clearly see what the problem was and create an all-encompassing solution,” claims Lynch. Now, it’s a question of simply spreading the word.
This feature was first published in the Autumn 2024 issue of FEED.
