Intentional Shake

[m0nkeybl1tz]

I'm sure this must've been brought up before, but I was just wondering how to accomplish that sort of...natural shake. I'm not sure if there's a name for it, but a bunch of shows (like The Office and Arrested Development) use it to achieve a sort of faux-documentary look. Thanks!

 

[William_Robinette]

1) Take the camera off the tripod.

2) Hold it in your hands.

 

[J.R. Hudson]

1) Take the camera off the tripod.

2) Hold it in your hands.

Best post of the year.

 

[Cliff Wildman]

1) Take the camera off the tripod.

2) Hold it in your hands.

if that's not 'shaky' enough, walk around a little, or cough while you're shooting.

 

[m0nkeybl1tz]

So really, there's not technique to it? It doesn't really seem shaky enough when I'm just holding it, but it gets too shaky when I try zooming in a bit. But maybe I just need practice...

 

[Cliff Wildman]

play with the zoom and practice shooting until you get what you want. i don't think there's a real secret sauce to this one other than camera op experience.

 

[Zak Forsman]

there is an art to handheld camerawork. as with most things, a sense of rhythm and dexterity comes with practice.

 

[Beat Takeshi]

For a music video I just shot this weekend I did a fast hand held shake to the camera and I used a high shutter speed to help make it look hectic. I think also the key is in the edit to make the motion seem even more hectic.

 

[Ryan Patrick O'Hara]

if that's not 'shaky' enough, walk around a little, or cough while you're shooting.

LOTS of coffee or RedBull...

and yes having a longer focal length can accentuate the shake/unsteady hand held look. Wide focal lengths tend to cover up hand held wobble.

 

[Capt Quirk]

Hire an intern to tickle the camera op.

 

[seunosewa]

Hire an intern to tickle the camera op.

No, no, no. Hold the camera in your hands and do your best to keep it perfectly stable. There's going to be a little shake, which will come off as natural. If you're deliberately trying to shake the camera, the shake will be excessive and fake.

 

[eureka]

Tickle is good, it works really well....lol

 

[Blaine]

1) Take the camera off the tripod.

2) Hold it in your hands.

I love this post.

 

[m0nkeybl1tz]

How about lowering the frame rate? I just shot some footage with my digital camera, and it actually looks perfect. Or is it because it's lighter?

 

[Gohanto]

One big difference I've noticed when shooting handheld is the weight of the camera. When I have a shoulder mounted camera the handheld just naturally has a more professional quality to it.

Maybe duct tape some weights to your camera.

 

[gco]

I'm sure this must've been brought up before, but I was just wondering how to accomplish that sort of...natural shake. I'm not sure if there's a name for it, but a bunch of shows (like The Office and Arrested Development) use it to achieve a sort of faux-documentary look. Thanks!

There is a name for it. It's called: "ANNOYING"!
It is quickly becoming one of the most overused and annoying nuevo-BS-camera techniques. I have seen it in night time drama shows, local news and even episodes of Masterpiece Theater if you can freakin believe that!! Regardless of how good your story line is, I can't think of a more effective way to get your viewer to change the channel.
I saw a camera guy for a news crew doing it. He was using his entire body to move forward and back, left/right, up/down. Don't know that there is an official term for this "technique" but it certainly does "suck"!

 

[Batutta]

I believe in Saving Private Ryan (in addition to "taking it off the tripod and holding it in your hands') they taped cordless drills to the cameras, which allowed them to dial in the desired amount of shake with the speed controls.

 

[Billy Pilgrim]

Try turning off the OIS too, if you want it to be shakier.

 

[Charles Lowthian]

As pointed out above, if the camera is heavy enough, hold it without intentionally 'shaking' it. That should be enough, and pending on subject/part of script (as voiced above) will result in a success or a bad choice for handheld.
If the camera is not heavy enough (eg: a lot of 'prosumer' video cameras), then again, as above, weigh the rig down.

 

[maestro1d]

This effect is achieved quite simply:

A) Bring your washing machine to set, sit on... and film. OR,

B) Bring 10 year old Truck needing tune-up, sit on hood and repeat last step from A, above. OR, (most effective):

C) Stay up all night packing gear, drink too many beers while packing gear, ARGUE WITH SIGNIFICANT OTHER in morning why you stayed up all night for this low/no pay shoot, make 2 pots of strong coffee and consume to counteract effects of staying up all night drinking beer.

Find way to film set driving at least 20 mph over speed limit during rush hour traffic. For maximum effect, do not gas up car the week before the shoot, and guess at fuel level before entering car in morning.

DO NOT EAT BREAKFAST. DO NOT DRINK WATER.

After you arrive, have quick fight with director over the fact that you only have time for one take because of how late you are, then immediately grab camera and film. DO NOT WHITE BALANCE CAMERA. Use wrong IRIS setting and DO NOT FOCUS.

ABSOLUTELY DO NOT engage OIS unless you are using a tripod, in which case:

USE OIS and be sure and zoom in and out repeatedly and have your subject move back and forth towards camera, waving hands a lot... don't worry, by now you won't remember or be able to find the OIS button- these mistakes will come naturally after the previous night of beer embrace/sleep deprival preparation.

VERY IMPORTANT... Make sure to continually remind yourself that money is riding on this shoot and your next gig recommendation from the crew you just met is on the line...

And that's it folks... Easy Peasy! Award winning shaky quality guaranteed!

Note, for maximum effect, combine filming from hood in step B and argument with director from step C... at the SAME TIME!

rogar-BigGrin(DBG)