Steve Laramie
Veteran
The director wants a 90 second long take for a chase scene through the city ( on foot). I am using the glidecam 4000 and hvx200a for this. How do I make this good?
how to pull off a 90 second long take
- Thread starter Steve Laramie
- Start date
Andrew Brinkhaus
Veteran
Hah. Agreed. 
Steve Laramie
Veteran
Well im sure hell say ok turn that corner and the guy will pull out the gun and I want you to get a medium close up while hes shooting. My main concern is strategy. this may sound unprofessional but my main concern is tripping and recking my rig. So the question is really for steady cam tips.
taormina
Hates to Rent
The director needs to block the scene in front of you with actors so you will know what to do!
Anytime you operate a steadicam you should have a couple guys wrangling and guiding you (if you are walking backwards)
And then do a couple shooting rehearsals to see what it looks like.
Anytime you operate a steadicam you should have a couple guys wrangling and guiding you (if you are walking backwards)
And then do a couple shooting rehearsals to see what it looks like.
Joseph Stunzi
Veteran
Steve,
Are you concerned about doing this shoot with the Glidecam 4000? Do you have a vest for it? The Smooth Shooter or the X10 system could remarkably improve your results!
Are you concerned about doing this shoot with the Glidecam 4000? Do you have a vest for it? The Smooth Shooter or the X10 system could remarkably improve your results!
Tim Joy
Veteran
90 seconds isn't that bad, even without the vest, but you are gonna have to practice A LOT with the glidecam to do it well.
Use tape to make a "T" on a wall and practice keeping it center frame while walking to and fro.
A spotter really helps, especially for reverse shots.
If you have to pull focus or zoom or exposure, forget it. Shoot wide angle.
Chase scene sounds like running. ... Not easy to do when you're a beginner. If the director wants super smooth, use a dolly, or a wagon, or a shopping cart, and ride in it while a grunt pushes you around.
Use tape to make a "T" on a wall and practice keeping it center frame while walking to and fro.
A spotter really helps, especially for reverse shots.
If you have to pull focus or zoom or exposure, forget it. Shoot wide angle.
Chase scene sounds like running. ... Not easy to do when you're a beginner. If the director wants super smooth, use a dolly, or a wagon, or a shopping cart, and ride in it while a grunt pushes you around.
Joseph Stunzi
Veteran
Why not shoot with your glidecam on a dolly or something other alternative. I can see shooting with the GL4000 on an inexpensive wooden dolly and then as you reach the corner stepping off and going for the CUs and what not of the actors. I dunno it really all depends on what the director wants
Steve Laramie
Veteran
I am completely un experienced with my glidecam. Just got it balanced yesterday. I have the for arm brace but nothing else. Do you think some cheepo thing like a shopping cart would really work? I will definitely have 1 or 2 guys spotting me with the shot so the camera doesn't die ha. Its also not guaranteed to be a long take. We were considering having 5-6 cuts two of witch being on a glidecam.
Joseph Stunzi
Veteran
well... you will soon see that the Glidecam is not something to mess around with. The GL4000 will wear your arm out. Even with that arm brace. Try to use it on the shopping cart or cheap dolly. It will definitely help you out with steadiness. Heck... I'd even fly up there if you wanted some help!
GageFX
Carbonite Member
Practice, practice, practice. You need to put in a good 20+ hours practice before you shoot anything serious. I've shot with different rigs, but personally I owned the Merlin and DVX and I practiced for an hour or two every day as I learned the rig. There really is no substitute for practice, AND make sure you spend more time practicing SLOW, SUBTLE moves as anyone can RUN with a rig and have it look decent. It's a long, slow push that is hard to master. It will also condition you for holding and controlling it for long periods of time.
I have a 5 minute long continuous shot in Hollywood - going down into the subway, a two minute subway ride, then walking up, out of the subway to Hollywood Blvd. The Hollywood/Highland station is quite a trek from the subway cars - one small flight of stairs, alot of walking, then 3 MAJOR flights of stairs. It was rough and I was exhausted when we reached the top, but it was doable.
I also had a running street chase planned but never got around to shooting it. It sounds similar to what you need. The plan for mine was to rollerblade to shoot the chase.
Here is test footage for the chase: http://vimeo.com/1372503
The camera goes crooked since I had a very large matte box on the camera that was catching major air and tilting the camera. It's not perfect, but it shows what's possible.
And, one last thing: I no longer have the Steadicam, but Ihave replaced the DVX with an HVX. If I still had the Steadicam I would do this with the HVX in a second.
I have a 5 minute long continuous shot in Hollywood - going down into the subway, a two minute subway ride, then walking up, out of the subway to Hollywood Blvd. The Hollywood/Highland station is quite a trek from the subway cars - one small flight of stairs, alot of walking, then 3 MAJOR flights of stairs. It was rough and I was exhausted when we reached the top, but it was doable.
I also had a running street chase planned but never got around to shooting it. It sounds similar to what you need. The plan for mine was to rollerblade to shoot the chase.
Here is test footage for the chase: http://vimeo.com/1372503
The camera goes crooked since I had a very large matte box on the camera that was catching major air and tilting the camera. It's not perfect, but it shows what's possible.
And, one last thing: I no longer have the Steadicam, but Ihave replaced the DVX with an HVX. If I still had the Steadicam I would do this with the HVX in a second.
Tim Joy
Veteran
Ha ha. I saw your trick. I've used rollerblades before too. If you can skate well, it really works. That was cool.
Neal Buconjic
Well-known member
Gage,
Was that shot on the Promenade? Nice maneuvering!
Was that shot on the Promenade? Nice maneuvering!
GageFX
Carbonite Member
Thanks Neal. You know 3rd St?
It was interesting. One thing I find very interesting is how rude people are. If I were just walking up the street and saw someone coming, especially someone with a Steadicam, and ESPECIALLY someone with a Steadicam and rollerblades, I would show some courtesy and move. Seems people just dont care at all.
I did Steadicam shots up Hollywood Blvd, when it wasnt even crowded, and people would seem tourists would go out of their way to get in the way, then complain if I got too close. Finally some guy, a random guy, came up in between shots and offered to be a spotter and shoo people out of the way. Taormina is absolutely correct - to do it right, you should have a wrangler. Since I was stealing shots in an area unfriendly to guerilla shooting, I kept it as low-pro as possible.
(And to be clear, I dont expect the world to stop for me, you just need to see how rude people can be. It didnt even make sense.)
It was interesting. One thing I find very interesting is how rude people are. If I were just walking up the street and saw someone coming, especially someone with a Steadicam, and ESPECIALLY someone with a Steadicam and rollerblades, I would show some courtesy and move. Seems people just dont care at all.
I did Steadicam shots up Hollywood Blvd, when it wasnt even crowded, and people would seem tourists would go out of their way to get in the way, then complain if I got too close. Finally some guy, a random guy, came up in between shots and offered to be a spotter and shoo people out of the way. Taormina is absolutely correct - to do it right, you should have a wrangler. Since I was stealing shots in an area unfriendly to guerilla shooting, I kept it as low-pro as possible.
(And to be clear, I dont expect the world to stop for me, you just need to see how rude people can be. It didnt even make sense.)
Neal Buconjic
Well-known member
Yeah, I've been to 3rd St a number of times.
It's an great destination to people watch - oh who am i kidding - to meet women!:thumbsup:
We should have gone for a pint while I was there in June.:beer:
It's an great destination to people watch - oh who am i kidding - to meet women!:thumbsup:
We should have gone for a pint while I was there in June.:beer:
emretufekci
Well-known member
A few rules about operating with rigs for long takes.
-Safety walk to clear debris on the ground
-Walk and block with out gear
-Walk with gear and spotter (and you AC)
-Work out timing separate from blocking with the actor to determine where to take beats for you to navigate corners/angles and it helps your AC with focus.
If you have never used a stabilizer and need to do long takes:
-Dont do it
-Take classes
-Practice practice practice
-Then do it
If you have never had lessons with a stabilizer I would recommend not working with your rig as you will pick up bad habits. Learn it the right way and you will learn to operate safely.
PS: What I have stated applies for full size rigs with vests and arms. I have not ever operated a handheld unit, so certain things might not be relevant.
-Safety walk to clear debris on the ground
-Walk and block with out gear
-Walk with gear and spotter (and you AC)
-Work out timing separate from blocking with the actor to determine where to take beats for you to navigate corners/angles and it helps your AC with focus.
If you have never used a stabilizer and need to do long takes:
-Dont do it
-Take classes
-Practice practice practice
-Then do it
If you have never had lessons with a stabilizer I would recommend not working with your rig as you will pick up bad habits. Learn it the right way and you will learn to operate safely.
PS: What I have stated applies for full size rigs with vests and arms. I have not ever operated a handheld unit, so certain things might not be relevant.
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