Filming Underwater

[Ki-Ki]

I'm really working my anus off to try and prepare a short for QuestFest, and with all due respect to myself. For once its something simple & effective to film. The only thing where i've self terminated myself is, filming on the sea & underwater.

There's a sequence where someone starts to drown.

I'm likely to be filming with a Canon XL1s, since that's the best for my buck i believe. Looked into housing unit's for it. Seen a couple of dailly and weekly rentals for the Underwater Units. That's fine, can handle the price's etc.

What I'm looking for here is advice.

- Has anyone filmed underwater, or on the sea's surface?

I'm not actually a strong swimmer, to say at the best of times. Plus my crew is a fairly unexsistant. With a Audio 'Dude' and possibly a secondary HD cameraman if he isn't to busy to pull his finger out of his buttt. None of them would want to switch and go underwater. Though I'd be fine to do it.

- I'm just wondering of what equiptment any of you guy's have used when filming such things?

- How could i keep the talent safe?

I was thinking of thin rope guidelines back to shore. As we would actually be shooting in the sea. There's no immediate dangers, ship wreck's and strong currents in places (which we'd be avoiding). Though there are some sharp wave's as it's a surfer's haven over here.

- Breathing Equip'?

- Oxygen tank? Snorkel? Extra lungs?

Okay, i think that's it.

Got to get ready to head out now, and just wanted to try and do a simple post before i left. If anyone has anything to share, i'd be more than happy to marry any animal of your choosing.

Have a great weekend!

:beer:

​

 

[Drew Ott]

If the shot's going to be from the surface of the water, you could use one of those water-tight bags. They float and make the camera hard to operate, but you can do some good things with them if the shot isn't particularly complex. I've never used one of the real housings that have neutral buoyancy, so I don't really know.

For audio, I've used a condom to make a waterproof mic and it worked surprisingly well.