In Car Grip

[Joe Cage]

Hello,

I often see shots in movies (like for example "man on fire") where they are shooting inside of a real moving car. But it is still really smooth, they get long focal length rear window shots. And I was wondering how do they grip a car for that? These days they probably grip a gymbal like a ronin inside a car. I have a ronin, but no Idea how to mount it in a car. Handheld ronin in the car is not working for me. Any links to tutorials/pictures/gear links

Thanks!

 

[Nick Gardner]

Most of the time that is done on a process trailer. It's a low trailer that the car sits on. The truck pulling it has a generator and a place for the director and DP to sit. The trailer is fitted with speed rail for mounting lights and cameras. You can lay dolly track on the trailer and do moves as the car is seemingly driving along.

More and more car interior stuff is done on green screen. On House of Cards, all of the car interior stuff is shot on a green screen stage. There is a car rig with 4 cameras that goes out and shoots the plates that replace the green screen. Then there are large LED screens that are on chain hoists lat are lowered just out of frame above the car and the footage is played back on those. This provides dynamic lighting that matches the footage once it is comped over the green. Windshields, doors, sometimes half the car is taken off to allow for camera placement. I think the HOC car stuff is some of the best I've seen and would never guess it's not shot in a moving car.

All that being said, I have done plenty of shoots where I end up in the back seat shooting 3/4 reverses on the driver and passenger, and shoot the back seat folks from the front seat. There are a lot of different approaches. Sometimes simple works great, other times complicated is easier. Also depends on the car, how much lighting you need to do, etc. Fr instance having an actor actually drive a car with an HMI par blasting him in the face and a camera mounted on the hood is almost never a good idea ;-)

Nick