Eyes POV lens effects

B

blackfilm

Member
Hello,

it's been a very long time since I posted here, I'll be making a short film soon and want to do a few shots that I can't find info on how to accomplish. I don't have a good example from a specific film, but I'd like to have some shots as if we see the world through the characters eyes. When he's opening and closing them, smirking, looking through the eye lashes and so on. Also what would be really wonderful to achieve is the effect when you look in the direction of the sun, close your eyes, and see this redness when the sun is shining through your eyelids, anyone ever tried to replicate that?

Thank you in advance everyone!
 
That's an interesting question. I would start with black and a dark, diffuse skintone getting brighter where the sun is.
 
You sound like Michel Gondry, not sure if you have looked at his work, especially in music videos? These effects could be achieved practically or digitally or with a combination of both. I learned with Go Pros and shooting underwater, if you want the 50/50 shot (half underwater and half above), you cannot achieve that effect with just a Go Pro, you need a housing with a spherical dome lens so the Go Pro photographs the waterline itself from about six inches away so it can be discerned. Apply that same knowledge to what you want to achieve. If you want the edges of the eyelids, lashes to register on camera as what they are, you'll need to position them a certain distance from the lens to register. If it were me, I would work with some simple posterbpoard, scissors and tape from Michaels and make some eyelashes that could be manupulated externally for the blinks. Same with the sort of black eyelids opening and closing effect you want for the blinks, I would fashion a black cardboard tube over the lens to achieve a softer edged vignette or possibly just some black construction paper wiping a few inches in front of the lens. Longer focal length and FOV would obviously work better for that effect. It would be clunky and difficult and would require some experimentation to get it to look right but if you can make it work, think how cool it will look. The redness of the sun through eyelids? Hmm...perhaps black organza with some sort of red spray painted spherical shape? As stated, this is all about experimenting until you achieve the look and feel you want. Low tech is often the best, but not always practical unless this is just for a short sequence. To me, doing it digitally would probably be simpler and easier but it will look digital, not practical, unless you have a very talented compositor/VFX artist/team. I prefer analog. Look up Gondry and what "Sweding" is. Analog rules but is a PITA in comparison. I love homemade, hand-made, practical effects. Digital is so perfect and boring generally.

Not sure if you have ever watched the brilliant British Channel 4 comedy, "Peep Show"? It's on Netflix and Hulu. S1 S2 are really shot from each character's POV and while they don't have "blinks" and "eyelashes", you will pick up some great tips about framing, movement, how the talent needs to relate to the camera POV, etc. Besides if you appreciate British dark comedy, you'll piss yourself laughing.
 
I wonder about "eyelashes", I have never noticed my eyelashes in anything I have looked at, they are just toooo close to see.
 
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