EX1 & Stop motion - in camera or software?

A

andrew00

Well-known member
Hey,

So I've a promo coming up where the client wants something stop motion in the vein of this Radiohead video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs1DX32t38c - where Thom Yorke is jerkily moving about around a green screen.

I don't really know how best to accomplish this kind of movement. It's stop motion yes, but is it one frame at a time, is it using software to record the frames etc? Don't know as I'm totally new to this!

Either way I know I have my EX1 and that can do frame by frame recording. Then there's software alternatives like istopmotion etc.

I was wondering if anyone had any opinions on which would be most suitable?

From what I can see in the Radiohead video it's all green screen - unless anyone sees anything I'm not? Therefore that video was probably all shot in a studio w/backgrounds comped either stills or video.

I'd imagine my workflow would be similar - green screen. Anyone, was wondering if anyone have any thoughts as this'd be the first time I've stop motion-d!
 
I would get an actor who can move slowly and at a constant speed. Shoot it at interval recording 1 frame per second and have the actor move slowly and at constant speed.
Here is some interval recording at 1fps I did last year. I'm not moving in this shot but it gives you an idea. http://www.vimeo.com/778037
 
Just beware that there is a strange color banding issue that sometimes pops up at 1fps. Try some tests on your camera to make sure it does not happen at the settings you will be using. Try shooting subtle gradients.

I think this would be especially true for a green screen shoot, where the quality of the keys could be affected.

Depending on the effect you want, since media is cheap (free, in fact) it might be a good idea to shoot at a higher frame rate and speed it up in post.

24p sped up 24 times will look just like 1fps, but with the strobiness of a 1/24 (or faster) shutter. This may be desirable given the description of the effect you want.
 
Thanks for the replies!

Matthew can you please talk more about your last line as I'm a little confused by it!

Many thanks,
A
 
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