This was a video that I've wanted to do since I was a kid. I've seen a few videos on YouTube of people trying this but I wasn't about to spoil my dreams just because I wasn't the first to try.
ABOUT THE EXPERIMENT:
I used a light weight (12 lb. test) fishing string and $40 in mylar balloons to get the Flip Cam Mino into the air. By launching off the top of the hill I was able to avoid trees, telephone poles and other hazardous obstacles.
WHY USE A FLIP CAM?
I used the Flip Cam because it was one of the lightest cameras I had with a centered anchor point (for more leveled shots). Unfortunately it was the standard definition (full screen) one and not the HD (wide screen) which is why the quality was so pixelated. Next time I'll either by the HD one or just use more balloons and get a better camera up there.
WHY USE FISHING STRING?
I used fishing string because I didn't want the camera to get away from me. The only major drawbacks of using it were it's weight caused by wind current and it's risk of getting caught up in trees. We chose a specific location knowing that if anything happened it would most likely not get tangled up in anything bad. Once the balloon started to fall, Steph held the string while I kept watch from below. After we were finished with our experiment, we immediately reeled in all of the string, cut it into pieces and threw it away at home.
WHERE DID I GET MY NINTENTO GUN SHIRT?
I got it from Nerdy Shirts. They've got a bunch of cool shirts if you're a game nerd like I am. I'm not sponsored by them... their just cool : ) http://www.nerdyshirts.com
WHERE WERE YOU?
This was on the hill behind Janss Marketplace and The Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks, Calfiornia.
WHO WAS ON THE PHONE?
I was on the phone with Stephanie while I was attempting to catch the balloon because she was the one at the top of the hill holding it for me. I told her when to reel it in and when to give it slack. When she pulled it in, it would go lower. Giving it slack would make it go higher.
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO REEL THE LINE?
We got it reeled up in about 10 minutes. We used the wind to make sure nothing would get tangled in it.
WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THE BALLOONS?
I gave them to some kids who were watching me do this from the water fountain at Janss Marketplace. They were stoked! It made me happy : )
WILL YOU DO THIS AGAIN?
If this video gets a lot of response then yes. I'll use A LOT more balloons with a better camera in a more remote location.
WHAT WAS THE MUSIC YOU USED?
That was a song I wrote called "There and Back". It's one of my favorite instrumentals and thought it would go perfect for this.
WHAT WAS THE OTHER CAMERA YOU USED?
That was my Canon EOS 5D Mark II. However, I didn't really get a chance to set it up correctly (since I was so focused on the experiment) but I think it turned out alright.

Tags for this video: balloon cam thousand oaks california experiment camera Canon 5d Flip Mino smpfilms smp films Cory Williams Mr. Safety

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Comments for this video on YouTube

Wow... this just ... ( 1 month ago by Crystalllyna)

Wow... this just made my day. Thank you, Cory, for making such a nice, happy video! :)

simple minded ... ( 1 month ago by alexrewster)

simple minded people?? u r one of the smartest people i know and an inspration to my life!!!!!

... ( 1 month ago by zentrak1)

NNIIIIIIICCCCCCCCEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE YOU KNOW I LIKED THIS THING!? Lol sorry I'm hyper and i don't wanna go to bedd. Thanks for the video!!! Looks like I have something new to put on my Bucket List :))

Such a cute idea, ... ( 1 month ago by PaxPirate)

Such a cute idea, could make a wonderful story about flying away. I like the wavy pictures and the idea about just flowing above everyone and everything... Cool done!

Wow I defenitely ... ( 1 month ago by 96mDm)

Wow I defenitely want to do this really bad now! Think I might do it by today. Awesome video and great idea

@WBarts you need a ... ( 1 month ago by Ru55ianGrim)

@WBarts you need a VERY strong bb gun, my bb gun which is 300fps didnt even pop one lol

so much better than ... ( 1 month ago by shoshymeister)

so much better than flying a kite!!!

I wish i had a flip ... ( 1 month ago by barfumer)

I wish i had a flip video video camera so i could do this... i always wanted to try this and i wanna do it but i hope i dont forget about doing this because its definitely something i want to do in life

Right on video, ;-) ... ( 1 month ago by CogarDM)

Right on video, ;-))))))

that music..is ... ( 1 month ago by kaliberr021)

that music..is beautiful ..great video

dude that was ... ( 1 month ago by SethSpyTV)

dude that was awesome... how'd you get the idea?

I always wanted to ... ( 1 month ago by espiacent)

I always wanted to do this too, but I have no cam. Maybe one day I will. :)

Really cool ;O ( 1 month ago by kevimen14)

Really cool ;O

inspired. ( 3 weeks ago by Casemandoo)

inspired.

I want to do ... ( 3 weeks ago by zoomerlawns)

I want to do something like this but instead of a camera I want to use a cell phone. Then, when it's up there about 5000 feet, I can call it and tell it to get down from there. Nah, whoever finds the phone will call me and we'll talk for hours cuz I'm so lonely.

wow i love heights ... ( 3 weeks ago by BrokenHearte)

wow i love heights lol

wow... ( 2 weeks ago by ilovetales001)

wow...

I LIVE IN ... ( 2 weeks ago by LexyDee01)

I LIVE IN CALIFORNIA!! IM SOOO EXCITED SEEING THISS!!! AHAHAHAHA!! im all happy (: i saw those balloons at the janns. ahaha

i think u should ... ( 2 weeks ago by MrBob1101)

i think u should make another

Never thought about ... ( 1 week ago by OrangebearProducts)

Never thought about that. Good idea.

ive always wanted ... ( 1 week ago by K9girl29)

ive always wanted to do this!! man ur lucky D:

Man, where do you ... ( 1 week ago by HybridSoldier9311)

Man, where do you live? That place looks so relaxing...

Ever thought of ... ( 1 week ago by XS227)

Ever thought of attaching a mini cam to a kite? When I was a kid in Atlanta, the spring winds allowed for excellent kite flying, I once went to an open field not far from my house and took a standard Gayla (keeled) kite with a wing span of 36 inches and flew it so high that it was just a dot in the air, spectators came by asking "where is it??" .. I ended up tying it to a no parking sign where it stayed airborne for over 2 days until I went and reeled it back in. Just a thought.

flip is alittle ... ( 4 days ago by bakonfreek)

flip is alittle lacking as a cam, I liked the video though