I need one interesting shot of a man driving a 4 door car with some groceries in the car. An item in the groceries is a key point in a scene, so the camera needs to feel the item, but I would like to include the driver in the frame as well, or at least not be to blatant about showing the item. How would you guys shoot that? Or, have you ever had to do something like that?
Car interior shot... help!
- Thread starter Ryan-Guy
- Start date
Jaime Wissner
New member
I believe the easiest way to do that, in camera, would be to stage some very choreographed driving. If I were doing that shot, what I would do is build a small wooden box to fit over the ledge of the back window of a second car, that has an indent for the lens of the camera (for safety. If you feel safe enough, or you're using a big enough camera, you might not have to do this) and mount the camera to be used on a pillow in the box. The pillow is to stabilize the shot to protect from bumps in the road. This is the same method used for green screening car footage, so if you're familiar with that, get going! From there it's all timing with both drivers, good camera work and foley, or sound effects.
The alternative is to green screen, capture street footage, and take that into After Effects. This will let you have smoother control over the camera work, however, it will be more difficult to pull off in post, as you're going to have to create a camera in AE and key the street footage to move with your actual camera.
There are other, more complicated ways, but I feel getting it done in camera would be best. On another note, if you don't mind killing $200 on a priceless item, get the GoPro cam. It's meant for action sports shots, and comes with a suction mount, which stays safely on car doors.
The alternative is to green screen, capture street footage, and take that into After Effects. This will let you have smoother control over the camera work, however, it will be more difficult to pull off in post, as you're going to have to create a camera in AE and key the street footage to move with your actual camera.
There are other, more complicated ways, but I feel getting it done in camera would be best. On another note, if you don't mind killing $200 on a priceless item, get the GoPro cam. It's meant for action sports shots, and comes with a suction mount, which stays safely on car doors.
Jaime Wissner
New member
To note, I gave that with the intention that your goal might be to show the driver, then slowly pass him towards the back of the car, showing the item in the window, and letting the car drive off. It's not blatant on the item, but it shows it clearly that it's an element. I had another thought, if the item is small and in the back seat. Putting a jib on the bed of a pick up truck and sandbagging it down could allow you to show the driver, jib up while tilting down, showing the item at a clever angle in the window, and resting on the top of the car, panning as it drives off.
David Parsons
Active member
Sit on the back seat and shoot from there. The groceries can be on the passenger seat, leaning towards the driver, with the open top of the bag in view. I shot a noir scene like that and it looked fine. Also used a close-up shot of the driver's eyes showing in the rear mirror.
Michael Carter
Veteran
Man, I think all of that synchronizing two cars would be a nightmare - throw in a jib on a pickup and you'll want to make sure everyone's got hospitalization insurance.
Shooting from inside the car or with a car-mount out the window seems a lot more streamlined.
Shooting from inside the car or with a car-mount out the window seems a lot more streamlined.
Thanks for the input! If I had the time I would shoot the jib, I really like that.
I may go this route, and I really like the idea of the rear view mirror showing his eyes. Our film is slightly noirish so that might just work.
I may go this route, and I really like the idea of the rear view mirror showing his eyes. Our film is slightly noirish so that might just work.