Matrix "bullet frozen" effect with a camera move

[Gohanto]

I'm trying to figure out how to get a shot I need. It starts with a CU on a man's face with a bullet frozen an inch in front of his eye, then the camera dollies around a bit into a profile shot showing the bullet's position more clearly.

Shot in a hotel room, noir style lighting. Trying to use a real bullet either put in on top of the footage or held in the shot and then somehow removing whatever's holding it in post.

Any ideas?

 

[Matt Grunau]

Using a real bullet would be far and away the easiest route to go, but to really pull it off, you would want to have a clean background plate which in this case would involve your actor, using a motion control rig (either professional or something homemade) which can reproduce the camera movement over and over again.

Or, you could go the route of 3D, taking six photos of the room from the bullet's "view" and texture the inside of a cube with the photos, each side of the cube with its respective photo/view. That will give you accurate reflection, though you would also need software for match moving/motion tracking to apply the track data to the 3D program's camera. You would also need to properly texture the bullet with reflection/spec/occlusion maps, using grunge maps to break up each in places for realism. And, of course, you would need someone to model the bullet.

The main problem with the 3D route is unless you get it really right on, it is going to look bad. This is especially true with the kind of dynamic moving shot you are wanting.

Think about using a real bullet held in place with something transparent, but firm enough to keep any wobble out. Then at least if you have to remove parts of the bullet holder you will have an easier time with it.

 

[HBlack]

I'd find a way to move the camera smoothly in a circle, hold it up with something transparent, and just have the actor sit as still as possible. You should make the camera movement faster than you want it to be and overcrank to slow it down in post so that movements by the actor are less noticeable. Probably the easiest/cheapest way to do it.

 

[Gohanto]

Thanks,

The "hold it up with something transparent" seems like the best solution, however any suggestion on a material?


Also the bullet is frozen in real-time so the actor moving isn't a problem.

 

[Matt Grunau]

Thanks,

The "hold it up with something transparent" seems like the best solution, however any suggestion on a material?


Also the bullet is frozen in real-time so the actor moving isn't a problem.

Fishing line glued at the tip and end, or a ribbon of clear plastic. Either way, you can have it both holding the bullet from above and below, and that may help to really keep it steady. Just make sure the air conditioner/ceiling fans are off and keep the air as still as possible. Maybe even have the actor hold his breath during the move.

 

[Toaru]

Won't the fishing line be shown at all? If it will, what's the best way to hide it?

 

[Matthew R. Rodwell]

Andrew Kramer at VideoCopilot.net is working on a tutorial that might be perfect for this.

 

[Toaru]

Hey, that looks pretty awesome! And pretty advanced x)
It looks like there might be more than just some fishing line involved in that one!

I'm looking forward to his new tutorials ^^

 

[J.R. Hudson]

Hey, that looks pretty awesome! And pretty advanced x)
It looks like there might be more than just some fishing line involved in that one!

I'm looking forward to his new tutorials ^^

Andrew's a bad-mother-fu ----


Shut yo mouth !

 

[Matthew R. Rodwell]

The bullet tutorial is going to be on his new DVD. I am really looking forward to seeing what else he puts on that disc.