Choosing high speed frame rate

[Todd G. Peterson]

Have a scene in mind where I want to shoot it overcranked to let the audience take in what is happening and what we might otherwise overlook/take for granted.

Though I probably wouldn't want it quite this slow, but I love the "Hotel California" scene in Big Lebowski
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lribEONhqSI

Any ideas on what frame rate this was shot at?

 

[John Marchant]

IMDB says Arri 535b and 2c for that sequence... so figure 60 and 80fps respectively.

 

[Brody_B]

60. But shoot at fastest 6K 75-80 FPS on your Epic-W, then you can always choose how fast or slow you want it in playback.

 

[Satsuki Murashige]

It appears that there are several different frame rates being used in that sequence. The inserts of hands don't look as over-cranked as the wide profile dolly shot. Your best bet for figuring this out is to go directly to the source: http://rogerdeakins.com/forums/.

Another thought - there are a ton of fluorescent practicals in the location which are almost certainly operating on 60Hz. Since none of them are flickering, all of the frame rates used in the sequence can probably be found on a flicker-free filming chart: http://cinemaelec.com/static/images/hmi/HMI_60_150.jpg.

From a more practical point of view, you can always estimate which frame rate to use yourself by remembering that 48fps is 2x as slow as 24fps, 60fps is 2.5x, 72fps is 3x, 96fps is 4x, 120fps is 5x, and so on. Perform the action that you want to shoot in real-time and time it with a stopwatch (Time 1). Then perform the action again, slowed down to the speed you want it to appear on film and time that (Time 2). Divide (Time 2) / (Time 1). This is the rate at which you need to slow the motion. Multiply that rate by 24fps and that is the frame rate you need to shoot.

 

[Todd G. Peterson]

Thanks Satsuki. Good tips and thanks for the links! Goes without saying that if you're in EU or places that aren't 60Hz, you'll need to adjust accordingly.