How do you add the creative 'motion jig' to shots?

M

Mavoz

Well-known member
I recently saw an interview where they used this creative 'motion jig' in and out throughout the shot instead of a traditional locked down tripod shot...

... not sure of the technical phrase for this effect...but it is everywhere on tv / film etc. these days.,...the creative 'live action' style jerks of movement...

So how actually is this achieved? I was always taught a tripod provides a more professional look...but this effect seems all the rage.

Do you simply 'wobble' the camera like crazy...using a lens that is a bit wider to hide some of the movement?

Is this done with steadicams so it looks more fluid?

Can you actually simulate this in post on some shots...where using positional keyframes you add some 'fake' but gentle movement to the shots?

Would appreciate any tips on the best way to achieve this without it just looking like dodgy wobbly footage!
 
I believe most of this is done in post.

I also have to say that it always looks contrived to me.

Don't like it, and don't like shows that utilize it.
 
in my test case there was supposed to be "something" out there.. and was coming after her... a drugged illusion though...
 
I just finished a vid that called for a lot o that effect. I used Twitch in AE. I've used the motion section in Final Cut also. You have to crop the image in just a bit, and then keyframe the positioning. You can keyframe any direction, and you can also make it punch in. Twitch offers motion blur to the movement. If its a big move, it makes it more realistic looking. For an interview, with small moves, it wouldn't be necessary.It would probably look better to just handhold it and get it in camera though.
 
Thanks for the replies...much appreciated.

The effect I'm talking about is similar to the examples provided...but is also seen in a lot of tv drama where they will feature the actor in frame...but instead of just being a static shot...there will be a slight gentle 'wobble' to the shot...from memory I think a show like the Good Wife uses this a lot....just to add a sense of almost 'reality tv' to the shot...the particular example I saw was in the video below which was shot on a 7D apparently...I guess this is all just hand held...but maybe they've also done some keyframing in post too.

 
No kidding. It's really starting to bug me to see all these wonky white balance issues with DSLR shooters. Why, back in my day...
 
Gary Huff said:
No kidding. It's really starting to bug me to see all these wonky white balance issues with DSLR shooters. Why, back in my day...
Click to expand...

And all the in focus, out of focus, zoom in, zoom out, handheld, I don't what the F I'm doing direction and cinematography.
I mean in a way I guess it's a good thing. I would probably be more worried about my potential long term prospects in this businessif I constantly saw stuff that made me think "wow, this guy is really good" instead of "wow has this guy ever held a camera before?"
 
To the OP, this documentary has key framed circles to make it look more dynamic. I think it looks a bit fake. I could instantly tell it was key framed circles versus in camera movement. If your not sure on which you would like, then a locked off shot may be better because you can keyframe the movement, but I'd rather see a dynamic camera move.

 
You could use a hand held stabilizer - try to keep it as still as possible.

Around the seventh take you should start to see the desired effect.

No fair switching hands.
 
gonzo_entertainment said:
And all the in focus, out of focus, zoom in, zoom out, handheld, I don't what the F I'm doing direction and cinematography.
I mean in a way I guess it's a good thing. I would probably be more worried about my potential long term prospects in this businessif I constantly saw stuff that made me think "wow, this guy is really good" instead of "wow has this guy ever held a camera before?"
Click to expand...

Honestly I like the handheld look and the white balance. The point of creating art is something unique. I'm, more than 100% sure they could have used a tripod and white balanced correctly, but the colors and handheld movement matched perfect. I'm very hard on a lot of things I see, and that to me looks great.

Art has no boundaries..
 
Sure, but at it's core all art is also a craft that requires a LOT of technical skill and knowledge. I have an old school aesthetic. I like Rembrandt more than Jackson Pollock.

John Cassavetes was doing "documentary style" going handheld and racking focus all over the room 30 years ago and actually doing it with some style and purpose. This isn't something "new". Now it's mostly a convenient excuse for not wanting to take the time to learn how to do anything else. Attributing a lack of skill and knowledge to an artistic "choice".
 
"The enemy of art is the absence of limitations"
-Orson Wells.
-(David G. Smith quoting Orson Wells in a sig)
 
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