How did they do that camera work in Requiem for a Dream?

ProfessorChaos

ProfessorChaos

Active member
I'm wondering about the camera work in Requem for a Dream...there are many shots of this kind...like when Jared Leto(main character) is walking around the city and you see his Head and shoulders right in the middle of the frame and it continues to follow him around the city but his head and shoulders position never changes and the background is in fast motion..probably 2x.....anyone have any ideas on how this camera work was done?
 
It is called a Snori cam, and was invented for Matthew Libatique for Pi. If you check out the DVDs, you can see some documentaries about using them. You can replicate this technique in some cases by having the subject place a hand on a monopod, with the camera facing them, and the D.P. behind the camera, matching movement. Not perfect, but you can get a similar effect.
 
profnoxin said:
It is called a Snori cam, and was invented for Matthew Libatique for Pi. If you check out the DVDs, you can see some documentaries about using them. You can replicate this technique in some cases by having the subject place a hand on a monopod, with the camera facing them, and the D.P. behind the camera, matching movement. Not perfect, but you can get a similar effect.
Click to expand...

They also used the rig quite extensively in 'Any Given Sunday.' They're not cheap, and they're very specialized, but if it's what you need then there's no substitute!

David Kuznicki
Production Manager, WGTE-TV30
 
well since that show fear on mtv which ran for like 3 years i think they might have gotten cheaper or easier to design.
 
wouldn't the glidecam on the body pod try to compensate for your movements and ruin the effect?
 
All you need is a tripod. Crank the head up, make sure the legs are out(like a normal standing tripod), grab it and hold it against your body(the tripod should be halfway to being upside down), hold the two legs to your side but put your arms under the two tripod legs and keep hold of them. The third leg usually is up against your stomach or lower abdomend area. The camera should be facing down towards your face, if not you could just adjust the head. You can also lower the head so that it points directly towards your face, so that you can easily look into the camera. Sorry if the instructions are hard to understand, but it is sorta' hard to explain. This is the steadiest way I know of and I have used it on many pieces, my last music video had made use of this technique. I discovered it one day when I was bored and messing around with my tripod. It is really, really steady but you can't shoot too wide because the camera will catch your arms holding the legs. I've also experimented with the version where it's behind the person, but that is way too difficult to explain. I might be able to post some pictures if anyone is really interested. It beats paying a bunch of money for the real thing, all you need is a tripod.
 
somone has made one..using a backpack and a piece of plywood and some brackets.....and a tripod..
you attach the tripod to the plywood square by using brackets that the tripod legs attach into. U attach the plywood to the backpack so u can ware it..on the back or front...
 
depending on the level you need, you can throw your cam into "steady shot" or what not, flip the viewfinder (if your cam can) 180 degrees, hold the camera out with your arm and just shoot yourself looking out of the corner of your eye.

Yes, of course this is not as good as a rig... but it's free. I'm sure Robert Rodriguez would have done it in El Mariachi were it as popular back then lol :)
 
Robert86 said:
All you need is a tripod. Crank the head up, make sure the legs are out(like a normal standing tripod), grab it and hold it against your body(the tripod should be halfway to being upside down), hold the two legs to your side but put your arms under the two tripod legs and keep hold of them. The third leg usually is up against your stomach or lower abdomend area. The camera should be facing down towards your face, if not you could just adjust the head. You can also lower the head so that it points directly towards your face, so that you can easily look into the camera.
Click to expand...

tryed it. very cool :cheesy:
 
profnoxin said:
It is called a Snori cam, and was invented for Matthew Libatique for Pi.
Click to expand...

While that specific rig may have been invented for Pi, the effect has been around much longer.
The first time I ever saw it used was in Frankenheimer's Seconds (1966)

It was used in the opening sequence at the train station.
Very cool effect.
 
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