Down-facing jib shot

  • Thread starter Thread starter SeanEmer
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SeanEmer

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One of the key shots in a short I'm putting together requires that a camera begin looking straight down into a person's eyes as he lays on the ground. The camera then has to slowly move up, revealing more and more of the person's surroundings without making any noticeable lateral movements. The shot would preferrably end with the talent's full body in frame from top to bottom, and environment stuff to each side of him.

Will any ole' jib suffice for this kind of a shot? I've never really worked with camera equipment of that type, so I'm clueless, as it were. My two biggest problems, I think, would be to get the camera facing straight down (and avodi lateral movements during the move) and pulling focus.

Has anybody done a similar shot before? Any tips would be great.
 
I'm a bit confused on your shot. Is this a birds eye view?


It really depends on where the jib is and how long it is...

If I understand you correctly you want it faced toward the ground directly above the actor

This is not a problem but I am guessing you are using a wide lens and you will only be able to boom up so much before you start to notice the arc of the jib or see the jib in the edge of frame. (if directly above actor)

Your absolute best bet is to get the longest jib arm possible. The longer the arm the less the arc is noticeable. I would also have the fulcrum of the jib at the actors eye level or slightly higher so you can get higher than if the jib was on a tripod low to the ground.
 
You need to be underslung to do what you want to do. As Prodigy rightly said, the longer the arm, the less noticable the arc as the head moves up away or down toward your subject.

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..And if you can mount your Jib on a Dolly, then you can dolly in-and-out as necessary to remove the arc entirely and move the camera absolutely vertically. ...of course you will need a long enough arm to keep it clear of the shot as you dolly in while raising the camera.

Or you could use a Technocrane :)

- Mikko
 
It will take place outside in a gravel clearing, so the sky's the limit for this shot.

Mikko, what is a technocrane?

overland, could you explain what you mean by underslung?

Sorry guys, I love making films, but I've never worked with a jib before, so I just want to get as much information as possible before I go into production. Thanks all for your information!
 
It's a telescoping crane...

crane.jpg


If you have to ask, you *really* can't afford it.


- Mikko
 
Yeah, and Mikko answered my question too. That is a photo of an underslung camera - albeit one that cannot, in its current configuration, have any chance of shooting straight down.

Sexy Techno rig though.

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Thanks for the info guys. Its all pretty much as I imagined it might be, but I feel a lot better having gotten the info from you guys. Time to go back to work so I can rent a jib, haha.
 
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