Dolly tracking characters running

Mj882

Mj882

Well-known member
Hey guys, I've been looking for the right equipment for a scene in my upcoming short, but haven't been successful thus far.

My scene consists of a character(s) running down the road. All I want to do is track the character, similar to the beginning of Trainspotting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPW0agrlq5g

Can anyone suggest what type of tracking dolly/track I would require. I am from London, on a tight budget so an efficient but cheap option would be great and of course I would like to hire, not purchase.

Any help would be great, thank you.
 
That is not a Dolly my friend, but the beautiful art of Steadicam at work :)

The best option? A Steadicam Operator

The cheapest solution? mounting a camera on the middle of a board and having two people run with it.

A decent solution? A Steadicam operator that is fairly new.
 
Nick Walters said:
That is not a Dolly my friend, but the beautiful art of Steadicam at work :)

The best option? A Steadicam Operator

The cheapest solution? mounting a camera on the middle of a board and having two people run with it.

A decent solution? A Steadicam operator that is fairly new.
Click to expand...

Any examples you can give me? I bought the poor man's steadycam two years ago when I was still using the smaller camera albeit I was still dissapointed with the results.

I need a decent solution for the shot but one that is also not too pricey.
 
Have a driver and a camera person siting on a scooter/motorbike - even a bicicle or a little red wagon trailerd by a bike will do the trick if you take your time.

Frank
 
Postmaster said:
Have a driver and a camera person siting on a scooter/motorbike - even a bicicle or a little red wagon trailerd by a bike will do the trick if you take your time.

Frank
Click to expand...

I need cheap and efficient options, it is likely to take place on the pavement.
 
Your cheapest option is a shoping cart ore somethinh similar wher your camera person can sit in while someone is pushing it or towing it with a bicicle.

rikscha_4.jpg


It´s not getting any cheaper than that.

Frank
 
Postmaster said:
Your cheapest option is a shoping cart ore somethinh similar wher your camera person can sit in while someone is pushing it or towing it with a bicicle.

rikscha_4.jpg


It´s not getting any cheaper than that.

Frank
Click to expand...

I'm actually loving what they're using there in the image, but even finding something like that is pretty difficult. I've tried using a shopping cart before, but theyre generally ragged and come off shaky (and not in a good way).

I'm not immensely low on budget, but an efficient hardware for the tracking scene is what I'm after.
 
I'd go the new steadicam op route. Or season op if you can afford it, but a new op might do it for much cheaper trying to get experience. The rickshaw can be pretty shaky, but a steadicam on a rickshaw would be superb for this. I dont know Peter's proximity to London but he is an op in the UK on the boards here that might be able to help or at least help find someone - Peter Hoarpe.
 
The cart idea is good, you can also use a wheelchair, or an adult size tricycle.

In the end, the best solution is some form of Steadicam.
 
Do you have the option of putting the camera in the back of a truck? If you road and driver are smooth enough you should be able to do it. Or if you find the new steadicam op isn't good enough, put them in the back of the truck
 
jamesc said:
I remember a scene in the 'A Thousand Words' short (hv20 + brevis) where they go backwards following the lead actor on a bike:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9Z8gW8NBks&fmt=18
~2:00

I remember they said they just used a wheelchair.
Click to expand...

Oh I really like that short, one of the few short films I've seen thats been shot on a smaller cam to have impressed me!

Are you suggesting to use something like a wheelchair AND a steadicam too? Or just one?
 
KKeller said:
Do you have the option of putting the camera in the back of a truck? If you road and driver are smooth enough you should be able to do it. Or if you find the new steadicam op isn't good enough, put them in the back of the truck
Click to expand...

I've seen a few videos of workshops and it appears that this exact setup(Steadicam Op in back of truck), is a normal thing they teach....one disadvantage is if the shot calls for a crowded area, then you certainly can't have a truck.

About putting an Op in a wheel chair, dolly, golf cart, etc, etc.....it's always a good idea to make the job of an Op easier by taking away a difficulty...like walking, running, navigating, etc. So by all means if you can, then put that guy in something.....and if you go the route of a Op who is new, then this also adds some insurance that you'll get good shots.
 
A big, big, big word of caution here:

Don't just strap an operator, especially a new operator, into the back of a pickup truck, or onto any moving vehicle. That type of shot is very dangerous, especially at any kind of speed. Proper safety gear is needed, proper restraints, if possible a good hardmount for the rig, and a lot of experience and gear to make sure that no matter what happens, your camera, rig, and most especially your crew won't be in any danger.

I will admit that I have done it - being strapped rather haphazardly into the back of a Jeep for a shot, but I did all of my own rigging, I set up my safety gear in a way in which I trusted, and we never topped out at over a brisk jogging speed, but it still isn't something I really recommend, especially for someone new (the G forces of a car accelerating are hell for the rig too, a lot to overcome by the operator).
 
Use a tripod in the back or side of a minivan or station-wagon. Very smooth even on rough surfaces.
 
Mj882 said:
Are you suggesting to use something like a wheelchair AND a steadicam too? Or just one?
Click to expand...

Month late reply, but steadicam while sitting on a wheelchair if you can. The steadicam will help isolate rotational movement of the camera.

You could further apply some sort of post stabilizing tracking if you don't mind losing some resolution.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top