How do I do a shot like this in a chase scene?

I

ironpony

Carbonite Member
Me and my DP have been trying to come up with a way, but cannot so far. In the clip the scene is 3:40 in:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BwG45I03NA

As you can see the camera is shooting the front of the guy who is running. We cannot get a steadicam where you wear it around your back, in order to shoot behind you as you run. So how did the camera person of that movie, do a shot like that?
 
Steadicams can look backwards, shooting past the operator's shoulder. I don't think this was a Steadicam shot, though - the actor seems to be at a full-tilt sprint, not an easy thing for a Steadicam operator to outpace. I think it's just a dolly shot, or maybe a handheld camera on the back of the moped they already had there.
 
Yeah the full pacing is another factor too. I was told before that steadicam's are better for chases than dollies though.
 
ironpony said:
...steadicam's are better for chases than dollies...
Click to expand...

Why? Did you just accept that as fact without knowing the reasons?

"Better" in any given circumstance would depend on many factors. I'm curious about the context of that statement.

I'm always curious when someone says "I was told" about something that isn't always black and white. The biggest thing I have learned in my career - Be Flexible!
 
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Yeah but then I have to find someone willing to lend out their motorcycle. But I guess if that's the best way. I was told that the steadicam is more steady, than a dolly, especially on sidewalks with cracks.
 
Okay thanks. Well I did some more research and some people say that the dolly is better. But what if an actor goes up or down, out of the frame, which happens sometimes during action scenes. A steadicam you can still raise up or down, if you have to where as a dolly can move around, but your height is locked to a certain height, where as a steadicam you can quickly adjust height on the fly, if need be right?
 
Oh and here we all are again.

Ironpony, you are getting quite the non-film-school education here!

The key is not which is "better", it's what look you are going for as well as what your route allows. Rickshaws are great for smooth ground; if the camera needs to traverse rough terrain quickly, then an ATV will be best. If you still want an "aggressive" action look, the operator can work handheld or even hardmounted via hihat etc. Lots of bumps but again that may be part of the look, as many action films are shot these days. The look in Diva was slightly bumpy but that was a function of the time (Steadicams were still a little exotic for low budget films when that was made). For a smooth look, Steadicam can be hardmounted, and can transform the worst terrain into a pretty glide. And yes, handsfree Segways have become popular in conjunction with Steadicam.

If the path is unmanageable by any vehicle, the operate can run with Steadicam but is limited in speed and length of shot by his own stamina. As noted above, shooting a preceding fast moving shot is a function of rotating the lens 180 degrees, running forward and shooting backwards, but this will generally result in a less controlled shooting style than when the operator is hardmounted on a vehicle.

Given a reasonable terrain, it is indeed possible to shoot on a dolly. Usually in this instance multiple grips are used to get up enough speed, with one focusing primarily on steering. A crab dolly such as Sam links to above delivers the most control but is a lot heavier than a Western dolly, with sticks chained down to the platform.

There are many other ways to achieve this kind of shot these days...gyro stabilized heads, cable cams etc.
 
Of course I would be suprised if you have the budget for any of this stuff - I thought I was rich until I got interested in 'the smoothly moving camera'

Incidentally as I get better at sequential shooting (shoot to edit) I move the camera less

I would suggest

A sticks based dolly on track - no booming, no curved shots

A steadicam and operator

and maybe some stuff like a wheelchair to push pull him/her (dont spring that on them on the day)

a great story

You can do a lot with this

S
 
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Okay thanks. It was said on here that steadicam operator would likely not be able to move it as fast as a dolly, but wouldn't a steadicam be faster than a dolly though, since you are not pushing a cart?
 
It's a lot easier to "push a cart" fast than it is to move quickly with a Steadicam - although I wouldn't slight dolly grips with such a description of their craft.

If you want really practical advice, some information about what camera and budget you are working with would be beneficial.
 
I am using the Canon T2I and possibly the T3i, or either or, or both. It depends on which shot. My budget so far is 25,000 and I hope not to exceed that.
 
That shot - head on to the actor - won't work with a dolly unless you're willing to optically remove the tracks in post. They are going to show on a long run like that. This was shot from the back of a motorcycle or ATV.
 
I know real movie dollies can roll on a smooth surface, but look at the camera movement at 3:51 - that's not a dolly. I agree with wgzn, this was shot from a steerable vehicle with the operator sitting backwards as he shot.
 
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