Filming Miniatures

[Larry Rutledge]

How practical would it be to shoot miniatures with a camera like the HVX if I want to use the miniatures as the bulk of my locations?

I know when I watch the BTS on LOTR they use what appears to be a special lens for shooting the miniature sets, is that in fact something specific to miniatures, or could I realistically build/shoot miniatures to use as my sets.

If it helps at all, I'm planning on shooting a period film, set in Old Testament Bible times. I don't really have the budget to fly everyone to the middle east and I think it might be too expensive to build full scale sets in the desert here...so I'm looking at the possibility of full green screen and partial green screen with half sets (foreground and prop elements).

I am very early in the planning stages, so this is just a fact finding post. So if I am way out of line thinking I can do this, then please say so :)

I know that no matter what method I use it is going to cost money, whether travel to the middle east or construction costs or FX costs, but I'm trying to learn about each option and see which one makes the most sense and will be the best use of my money (since I don't have big studio deep pockets).

Thanks,
Larry

[Erik Olson]

Larry,

The ASC manual has a very good section (sp. the older revisions) on appropriate framerates for miniature photography, especially when special effects like fire, smoke or water are involved.

There are plentiful items like snorkels that are designed to get the lens closer to the ground and to also give the illusion that the POV is smaller.

With variable framerates, the HVX makes sense, but you're losing valuable resolution in 720p, which you'll ostensibly want back for composites.

The last time I did miniatures was in VistaVision (ILM's rigs) on those First Union spots. Those models were really big, so foreground plate resolution was more important than ever.

Never saw those ads on anything but SD - bummer, cause they were insane.

e

[SurJones]

There was someone here with a snorkel on their HVX I wish I could remember.

[SurJones]

You know ever since Independence day for me, I have always wanted to see miniatures filmed in action.

[Larry Rutledge]

Thanks for the heads up about the ASC manual...I'll check that out. I didn't realize, though it makes sense now that I think about it, that framerate was what I needed to be concerned with.

So does that mean that most prosumer (and under) level DV cameras can't shoot miniatures?

Is the "snorkel" something that attaches to existing lenses? Or does it attach directly to specific cameras? I ask because if it attaches to lenses, then presumably it could be attached to lenses used with a 35mm adapter, right?

Thanks for the help/insight, it is much appreciated.