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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Frozen Time effect

James B.

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Hi
Saw Source Code today and there was a shot near the end that had me scratching my head. Similar to the 3d frozen in time effect seen in Matrix and dozens of other commercials and films since then, but this was different in that the motion wasn't circular, but in a straight line like a standard steadicam shot. Perspective was changing but and people in the shot were perfectly frozen. Was this done in the same way (ie dozens of still cameras all lined up with a single shot taken from each camera)? Anyone know the answer?
 
Haven't seen it but, from what you're saying about perspective change, could it have been a bank of stills cameras, all with subtly different focal lengths, creating a zoom effect?
 
No I think from my limited understanding of optics-perspective, that the actual position of the cameras had to be in different focal planes, but the perspective-focal length of each camera would need to be identical. But I could be wrong...
 
Haven't seen Source Code, but most likely just like the Philips ad. People are literally perfectly still, in some cases on wires/other rigging if necessary and this stuff gets removed in post. On the Philips ad they did some pretty impressive warping from shot to shot as well.
 
Thanks for that. So in the case of Source Code, it IS a simple steadicam shot (probably shot at a high fps to help smooth things out) with the actors holding still. Reminds me of a frozen 'flash mob', like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwMj3PJDxuo
 
Thanks for that. So in the case of Source Code, it IS a simple steadicam shot (probably shot at a high fps to help smooth things out) with the actors holding still. Reminds me of a frozen 'flash mob', like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwMj3PJDxuo

In the case of Source code it was a dolly track with mini-jib shot at 50fps. With a little work in post adding minor light adjustments and flairs, dusk etc...

They did a quick test shot in the studio to see how it would work as a little run through.
 
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