You know that technique brought back by QT in Kill Bill from the old Kung fu and Bruce Lee movies of the superquick zoom onto a person's face when they walk into a room or something? ANyone have any ideas on how to make those perfect other than just a nice steady hand and lots of practice? I'm trying to do a joke Kung-Fu trilogy with my friends (20 minutes a piece or so) and we're trying to use a lot of these shots but I'm not too confident I can do them well. Anyone have experience with this crap? Think the Pay-Mae scene from Kill Bill 2. ;D ;D
Questions about the Kung-Fu zoom technique.
- Thread starter Revsta
- Start date
Jim Brennan
VHS Member Old Skool
Re: Questions about the Kung-Fu zoom technique.
My recollection of the hong kong ones is that they really aren't that steady. I'd just block it so that the final shot is the full length of the zoom, then use the servo zoom. Using a tripod of course.
My recollection of the hong kong ones is that they really aren't that steady. I'd just block it so that the final shot is the full length of the zoom, then use the servo zoom. Using a tripod of course.
Michael_Capulli
Active member
Re: Questions about the Kung-Fu zoom technique.
Even some of those wild zooms in volume 2 were pretty rough man!
Even some of those wild zooms in volume 2 were pretty rough man!
G
Guest
Guest
Re: Questions about the Kung-Fu zoom technique.
A)Turn off the powered zoom and turn it very quickly by hand.
B)Block your shot so your character's face end up in dead center of the wide shot. That way you dont have to reframe at all and when you quickly zoom you hit your CU perfectly and easily.
C)Also SOMETIMES its easier to do it in reverse. Meaning start with the CU and quickly zoom out. In post run it in reverse.
A)Turn off the powered zoom and turn it very quickly by hand.
B)Block your shot so your character's face end up in dead center of the wide shot. That way you dont have to reframe at all and when you quickly zoom you hit your CU perfectly and easily.
C)Also SOMETIMES its easier to do it in reverse. Meaning start with the CU and quickly zoom out. In post run it in reverse.
dvpixl
Veteran
Re: Questions about the Kung-Fu zoom technique.
running it reverse in post also means you have to make sure the character reacts in reverse to fit the original idea. im sure it's no big deal but small things like that can go real bad.
I agree that you have to practice, there's no quick fix to things like that except for having a fine blocking sequence for your actors.
all in all, its good that it looks a little sloppy because it adds to it. if it's too perfect, it looks corny. but a tripod should suffice.
I also noticed that those old kung fu movies barely cut. they zoom in and zoom out instead.
I just never noticed until I paid attention because it's done so well. and you never feel dizzy. it just makes sense.
running it reverse in post also means you have to make sure the character reacts in reverse to fit the original idea. im sure it's no big deal but small things like that can go real bad.
I agree that you have to practice, there's no quick fix to things like that except for having a fine blocking sequence for your actors.
all in all, its good that it looks a little sloppy because it adds to it. if it's too perfect, it looks corny. but a tripod should suffice.
I also noticed that those old kung fu movies barely cut. they zoom in and zoom out instead.
I just never noticed until I paid attention because it's done so well. and you never feel dizzy. it just makes sense.
Norm Sanders
Script Wrangler
Re: Questions about the Kung-Fu zoom technique.
Again, as mentioned by DvPixl, be careful about post unless it's well thought out in advance. If you speed up a slower zoom in post, you're also going to speed up your scene/actor's actions ... which may not be the Speedy Gonzales look you're going for.
Again, as mentioned by DvPixl, be careful about post unless it's well thought out in advance. If you speed up a slower zoom in post, you're also going to speed up your scene/actor's actions ... which may not be the Speedy Gonzales look you're going for.
mastermind
Well-known member
Re: Questions about the Kung-Fu zoom technique.
I don't think you want those smooth, what makes it look good is the way the zoom in really fast and then even slightly zoom out after and reframe. Makes it more dramatic.
I don't think you want those smooth, what makes it look good is the way the zoom in really fast and then even slightly zoom out after and reframe. Makes it more dramatic.