Question on Two Shots - How to?

[Clayton Taylor]

Shooting a short in the spring. This is a first with a lot of action/stunts/guns/etc. I'm needing logistics on how to shoot/pull off two shots.

1). Scene running through the woods beside our lead - picture her feet as she's running through brush - camera going beside her. I'd need a couple of angles. Do you have to have a golfcart/atv/car with a clear path beside her? This was the only thing I could think of.... Any thoughts/tips?

2). In one fluid shot - I want to keep a 24fps look for the normal speed shots. I need slow motion as the gun is raised to firing height - slow motion through the trigger pull - ramp to normal speed as soon as he pulls the trigger (normal speed as in 24fps)... Is this doable? I only have a Scarlet.. so my slow-motion wont be terribly slow... :-/ Having to deal with that issue as well.

 

[Mike P.]

1 - Is shooting with a long lens, with her running along a tree-line sufficient (and you driving in the clearing... or even on an adjacent road)?

2 - You'll have to shoot at the higher frame rate (and corresponding shutter speed), but then ramp up to real-time at that higher shutter speed... If you don't like the look of the motion when it goes to real-time, you can add/force motion blur of 1/48th in After Effects.

 

[Clayton Taylor]

We can get a longer lens - would I be able to punch in in post to reduce some of the shake from the car/vehicle hitting bumps? Location isn't secured yet - that's why I was asking what I would need so I'll know what to look for while scouting. Thanks for the responses!

 

[Mike P.]

Yeah, I mean, in my opinion (and it is subjective), you can go down to 3k before MX starts to look a little muddy. That'd give you a ~1k border with which to use for stabilization. Honestly, I think you're best bet would be to find a forest/tree-lined road in the country somewhere, use a 200mm lens or so, and just have the car creep along the side of the runner... That said, I'm always surprised at how slow people run on camera... that is to say, getting the timing between the car and runner right will likely be the hardest part (that or actually seeing the feet on the forest floor if the road is parallel in height).

Another option is Steadicam/Gimbal with the op running right beside the runner (which might be easier to organize/arrange, since you can do it pretty much anywhere in a forest that has a path wide enough for the two of you).

 

[francisco santos]

alot of the action films/sequences you see are 1. longer lens and 2 a shit load of hand shaking. I would look into a motion mount to avoid some of the issues that come along with it. Looks like you need to be 3k ws 60fps possibly with some twixtor in shot 2. Practice practice practice. Have fun let us know how it turns out. Glad to see your doing some RND! -JR

 

[Nicholas Lee-Shield]

I'd defiantly opt for some sort of Gimbal/Ronin if your budget can stretch, it will save you a massive headache in post. If not, i'd suggest maybe shooting that in slow-motion also, which i guess would make it more dramatic, and the shake wouldn't be as apparent. If you have steady hands, then a little bit of handheld running footage doesn't always look too bad, as it aids towards telling the panic in the story, but i guess keep it to a minimal and try and be as steady as you can. Plus going from a little shakiness to a locked of slow motion shot of the trigger might help make the trigger shot look more poignant and dramatic if thats the angle your going for.

Just my two cents Either way have fun, and let us know how you tackled it after!

 

[Clayton Taylor]

Will do. Thanks for all of the advice everyone.