Glidetrack: When is a good time to use it?

J

jimbee

Member
I see so many shots now that use the Glidetrack. Many of them seem like they don't add anything to the story. The camera tracks from left to right for about 18 inches and it's looking at a cemetery. Well, that's cool that the tombstones move a little from right to left in the shot, and it's cool that the camera can move smoothly, but what is the purpose of the movement? What are viewers supposed to get from it? What does it add? I can see if an actress is being told that her husband had an affair and the camera pushes in on her face to emphasize her reaction, or something like that, but what are some good reasons to use these 18-inch tracking shots?

Thanks for suggestions and insights,

jimbee
 
In addition to the dolly in shot that you mentioned, the slider can be used to reveal a location, people, objects of interest etc. The camera slides close up across the back of a tombstone, and than reveals the cemetery or people standing graveside etc.

I also like to use the slider for establishing shots. Rather than just a static looking locked down shot. For instance, you wish to establish the location of where a interior scene is taking place. While shooting a wide shot of the house exterior, you can slide sideways and towards the house that gives the viewer the sense of direction that we are going into this house.

You could also use it to shoot say someone sitting on a park bench. The camera slides from left to right observing the people as if it was slowly and casually passing by. I can think of many more scenarios, but I think you get the idea.

The slider can be overused like anything else, but the possibilities are only limited by your imagination and planning. It all depends on what sense you trying to convey to the viewer. It's just another tool in the toolbox.
 
The change in foreground to background perspective gives a feeling of dimension and depth. A very effective way to take a two dimensional plane and seemingly give it that third dimension.

In the case of the graveyard, the closer headstones slide past at a quicker rate than the further headstones. Personally, I love that and it's a big part of my style. And yes, it should be used conservatively.
 
jimbee said:
I can see if an actress is being told that her husband had an affair and the camera pushes in on her face to emphasize her reaction, or something like that, but what are some good reasons to use these 18-inch tracking shots?

Thanks for suggestions and insights,

jimbee
Click to expand...

I've seen them used for 'reveals', especially if one has been setup to expect 'ordinary', and the reveal is something extraordinary...

The other use that I've seen is the 'lurking/menace'. Your 'graveyard' example, may be one of those, where from behind a large monument, there's a track out to reveal someone, or group further on, with the idea that you are seeing from the POV of the hunter... or perhaps later on the hunted... track out from a wall corner to reveal what is down the corridor.

Sure an unmotivated camera movement, especially if it is exagerated, is distracting, and one wonders whether it was because of the 'coolness' of the technique that it is in the movie...
 
I think people make an error with thier sliders

The need to be used in conjunction with a panning or tilting head move

watch clip 4 here..

http://www.garrettcam.com/zerb.php

it a straight (?) dolly track but use of the pan head brings a lot more

Ovbioulsly you cant do that wit ha $500 slider but IMO it is inspirational

S
 
That's steadicam.

Anyway, I beg to differ. Lateral dolly moves are sexier without pans. A pan takes out some of the perspective change. Actually, I'd say tilts are okay. The parallax effect can still be maintained.
 
Maybe im not sure - you see the nurse run into block the view of the floor - you are probably right

My point was the use of a head and track/slider

Once they are at the operating table the cam actually only move a few feet but there are constant dips into little vignettes to keep the shot moving and the great follow of Cage as he steps away from his 'failure'

the very opposite of the pointless slide noted by the OP

S
 
I do like that sequence. I don't agree with the OP regarding a "pointless" dolly. I contend that the point need simply be to add dimension. It's not a thematically motivated move. Just pure visual, which is the medium we work in.
 
Indeed a slide proves that the 2d image we see on the screen is a represtentation of a 3d reality bacuse you see that reality in different orientations to other bits of that reality - if you see what I mean

Ulitmately a slider is a good tool , better IMO with a pan head on top, and more important these tools are only as good as the message you portray with them

I think the OP has seen a good tool portraying a bad message

I have been building a tripod based jib with only about .5m of swing - tiny - but it does enable the fundamental change of POV that 'proves' the three dimensionality of the subject

S
 
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