Helicopter Shot... help!

Cody_Jordan

Cody_Jordan

Active member
Hello all, Im currently directing a music video for Floodgate Records and we are shooting the band on top of a parking garage in a downtown area. We'll have a helicopter for shooting and I need some advice on how to accurately adjust the DVX to be used in the heli.

I'm trying to figure out what shutter speed would be best. I don't think the standard 1/24th would come out clear, so any ideas?

Also I'm trying to figure out a way to mount this puppy. The helicopter itself does not have a mount but we will shoot with the door off. I'm thinking a small tripod somehow stationed in the helicopter.. I'm not sure but it may come down to me just getting creative.

Also, I want this whole video to be in 24p but I'm afraid when up in the air with all the motion it may look a little too blurry.. 30p may work, it just won't match up on the 24p timeline in post.
And I dont think 30p would bump down the film look because its being shot from a stinkin' helicopter.. I'm sure a VHS-C camera would even look good.

And any other recommendations would be appreciated. I'm might just wind up buying barry's guide for this shoot.

Also, we need volunteers for the production which starts the last weekend of January in Tallahassee, FL and Orlando, FL. So if anyone is in the area and is available contact me by repling with your email or PM me with details on how you can contribute.
 
Re: Helicopter Shot... help!

you really should get barry"s book, anyone that owns a dvx should get barry"s book . 1/24th is not really a standard shutter speed, it tends to cause moving image to smear. you might want to try setting it around 1/60, possibly even higher. you should be alright shooting in 24p, i wouldnt worry about 30p unless you are going to be doing some quick pans. as far as stabalization goes hopefully someone else will chime in . i wouldnt try to shoot hand held,it is extremley difficult in a helicopter they can be quite bouncy
 
Re: Helicopter Shot... help!

Start with a shutter of 1/50, that's the normal shuuter speed for the camera and test ahead of time your shots: exposure, focus, etc.... Wear a safety harness for you & camera and 4 blade choppers are smoother than others so look for one. Many helicopter shots use a gyro stabilzed system in a ball type case, look in American cinematographer magazine for the ads.

i don't know why 24p won't work unless your dive bombing the city in a Stuka.

Call your local TV news station and ask them for suggestions. They'll know the tricks and FAA flying rules, Homeland Security stuff...etc...

good luck!
 
Re: Helicopter Shot... help!

I have used 1/100 or 1/125 when shooting from the Helicopter with the door off before. Another problem might be vibration if the Heli is sitting there hovering. Are you just using the Heli to get a wide aerial view of the band? I hope your not going to be shooting tight shots from up there hand held! Hopefully the day you shoot it won't be windy and the pilot should know how to position the copter so that you can get a good shot but not be impeded by the wind. Usually that means that they need to climb to a higher altitude though. I have not used my DVX in the copter. I have experience shooting with a BetaSX ENG camera up there. Shooting with a higher shutter speed also makes the images look a little better and clearer if you need to slow some video down too.
 
Re: Helicopter Shot... help!

maybe you can look into renting some sort of stabalizer system? search around..someone posted a link to some little gyro type things that you mount under the cam...i even think they had smoe of them attached to helis....
 
Re: Helicopter Shot... help!

For stabalization....this may sound weird but we have used bungy cords suspended from the open door frame. The bungees absorbed the vibration of the chopper and we had no problem shooting out the door. I will point out that this was with a full size BetaSP, I haven't shot in a copter with the DVX yet.
 
Re: Helicopter Shot... help!

the internal DVX stabilizer can help removing the heli vibration ? DVrigpro ? glidecam ?

Ulisses
 
Re: Helicopter Shot... help!

a glidecam or steadicam will not work due to the prop blast and wind will buffeting the rig

Best thing is to speak to some heli-camera ops about how they would do it. speak to my friend ajvesak@truenorthentertainment.com
He makes his living a heli-cam op.

A tyler mount is about $500 per day, see if you can rig something like that.
 
Re: Helicopter Shot... help!

I've heard that the cinesaddles can work great to remove unwanted motion. check into those.
 
Re: Helicopter Shot... help!

[quote author=pookie link=board=Events;num=1105747442;start=0#6 date=01/14/05 at 22:01:34]No one ever bothers to search do they?[/quote]


Nope.
 
Re: Helicopter Shot... help!

I used to shoot from a chopper on a daily basis.
-Use OIS for sure, using some of the camera stabilizing products could help as long as you are able to still operate focus, exposure etc.
- the bungy cord will work only if the camera is heavy enough to weight the bungy- it's a counterweight relationship.
- Don't push in too much on the lens, focal length amplify's the camera movement.
- shooting, while cradling the camera with your arms (in a low position, rather than shouldering) will increase smoothness substantially. Love that LCD!

Most importantly it's crucial to communicate with the pilot about your shots and what you want. If he/she has experience flying for moving pictures, you're miles ahead.Golden hour shooting makes the heli shadow more of a challenge. The best use of a helicoter is to think of it as a dolly/jib/crane combo. Let the heli do the camera moves for you, use camera moves as fine tuning- especially with a small camera. This is why communication with the pilot is so important. Some helicopters are better than others for shooting, that's if your not using a Wes cam. I never liked shooting from Jet Rangers or Long Rangers- I much prefer Aerospatiales...

Your pilot will know all of the FAA guidelines, but a typical minimum municipal altitude is 1400 feet give or take a few hundred feet.

24P will be fine, as others have suggested use a higher shutter speed- 160th through 1/250th would be my suggestion, depending on your criteria.

Don't step into the tail rotor, you'll have a very bad day. ;)

Good luck.
 
Re: Helicopter Shot... help!

"- the bungy cord will work only if the camera is heavy enough to weight the bungy- it's a counterweight relationship"

I must say, and I've menyioned this in the past.....

I've never heard of any heli shooter ever recommend a bungy cord used in a helicopter, let along a pilot that would allow it.

A very odd statement for someone who used to shoot from a chopper on a daily basis.

Can I ask who/where you shot on a daily basis?
 
Re: Helicopter Shot... help!

I've seen the bungy cord idea used before, in fact in the behind the scenes bit in a mountain bike film called "The Collective". They were using a Bolex h-16, so it was not a huge camera. But you should make sure to have the camera securely fastened. I have also seen small gyro pods that attach to the bottom of the camera, don't know how well they work though. The top handle on the camera might make a good place to hang it from.
 
Re: Helicopter Shot... help!

I shot from a helicopter the first week I owned the DVX. Lesson learned. Don't shoot 1/24th shutter. Ever. Unless you need a specific look. You mentioned 1/24th being standard, but as LlyodXmas pointed out, the DVX standard is 1/50th. Or you could manually set it to 1/48th if you care that much. Anything slower will leave the shutter opened too long giving you smeary images. I learned the hard way.
 
Re: Helicopter Shot... help!

you guys are amazing.. thanks for you help. Its great how many responses you can get when the word "helicopter" is inserted ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top