Help with short film

[Haleatron]

Hi everyone,
i'm a third year film student working on my final major film.
It's a short British gangster film centered around a car and the different people who steal it.

I was wondering if anyone had any tips on Directing the camera within a car, positions and ideas for keeping shots fresh throughout.

thanks.

 

[clang]

Most shots will need to be shot from outside the car - there just ain't much space inside to wave a camera around

Some shots can be perhaps be through an open window (and you may be able to remove some window glass?), but others will probably need to be through window glass - expect lots of hassles with avoiding unwanted reflections.

I presume some shots will need to be while the car is moving - so you'll definitely need to look at various external camera rigs, perhaps faking the whole thing by mounting the stationary car on a moving trailer. Or at the cheaper end, cameras mounted on suction caps on the bonnet. Some people have also had great results with greenscreening to create moving backgrounds outside the actually stationary car, but greenscreening can be a whole nightmare of its own.

Live sound is likely to be terrible, especially if the car engine is running.

 

[Haleatron]

Thank you, brilliant advice. i didn't think about the sound problem at all.

I'm using a Canon 550D/ T2i so il have a bit space in the car to shoot.

 

[j1clark@ucsd.edu]

Here's an example using external shots, and on-bicycle mounted segments...

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?229031-Day-in-the-life-of-a-Bicycle-Short-GH13-film

 

[Haleatron]

Thanks, Awesome video its actually the kind of idea my film is going for but in a car.

 

[j1clark@ucsd.edu]

Thanks, Awesome video its actually the kind of idea my film is going for but in a car.

The beginning title sequence for "Lord of War"(2005), has the 'life' of a bullet traced from the factory to eventual use. It makes for an interesting lead in to the story.