Shutter speeds for zombie music video

R

Rob Dunlop

New member
Hi guys.

I'm shooting a zombie music video on a 5D this weekend.

There will be a 30-60 second intro with no music, just acting / dialogue, filmed handheld.

Then the music comes in and the main part of the vid will be people singing into camera, walking towards me as I walk backwards, using a handheld steadicam (CMR Blackbird). Cut together with this footage will be quick dramatic cuts of several hundred zombies walking down the street, screaming into camera, etc.

Anyone got advice on shutter speeds, to give energy but hopefully not a headache for the viewer? I was thinking maybe 1/80 for the intro then 1/250 for the main vid. I'll be shooting at 1080p 25fps.

Thanks!

Rob
 
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The shoot is tomorrow and I could really use some advice from anyone who's shot action before. I've done some tests but I find it hard to objectify the results. Is 4 minutes at 1/250 going to be annoying to watch? Should I stick to 1/80 except for maybe a few specific shots? Will steadicam stuff look weird at 1/250? Thanks!!
 
I would just stick to the general rule of thumb, x2 whatever the FPS, so in your case, 1/50th...
 
David - no time for that in this case. It's not a professional gig, I'm not being paid, there is no client and rehearsals are not possible. People are travelling to an event, the London Zombie Walk, and I'm using it as an opportunity to make a cool youtube video. I want it to look professional of course, which is why I'm posting here for advice. This was the last time I made one of these vids: http://youtu.be/lGrOUlmNl10 with no chance to see locations beforehand and no knowledge of what characters I'd be working with, just a rough plan of what to film for the intro. Because I'm never quite sure who can come on the day or what they'll be wearing, or even where we'll be filming, I have to wing it, mostly!
 
I would be careful with your exposure, as in that video you linked to, a lot of the shots were over-exposed, and just stick with the rule I posted earlier, you really cannot go wrong, if you want any sort of motion blur, just go lower than 50, no reason to really go above 120 if you're not shooting higher than 60fps.
 
Liam - thanks for your input. I know the 180 degree shutter rule, and I've always shot 25p 1/50s. The reason to go faster than 1/50 would be to inject more energy / edginess into action scenes, as in Saving Private Ryan etc. I'm just wondering whether a faster shutter speed is sustainable for the whole video or if it would prove distracting. Also, would it look weird with steadicam footage, steadicam being about smooth movement and fast shutter speed giving a staccato effect. I could of course play it safe and stick to 1/50 but I was hoping people here had had experience with the same kind of material.
 
I would just stick to the general rule of thumb, x2 whatever the FPS, so in your case, 1/50th...
Click to expand...

I think you guys are missing it here...

It's totally fine to shoot with a high shutter for the whole thing. 1/250th might be a little extreme. Just think that usually when people use a cut shutter, they go 90 degrees, maybe 45, but that's pretty extreme. For 24fps, a 90 degree shutter would be around 1/100. So, maybe to get some sort of variation go between 1/80th and 1/125th. Maybe shoot a little at 1/60th if you want things toned down.

While shooting the entire thing at 1/250th might be a little annoying, the only question is, will it be effective. I think it's much better to try and figure out when you really want that high shutter effect, and pump it up at that time. It's much better to use it when you really mean it, rather than to just use it whenever you think it's sort of a right time.

I would question your use of the steadicam as well. If you're shooting high shutter, why use a device that makes your shots smooth? Do you not want it to have a little movement to it? If you have to do a lot of walking backwards, maybe consider getting a wheel chair and that could solve the only potential problems I see with shooting it handheld.
 
Thanks RyanT. I ended up shooting at 1/80 for dialogue and steadicam and 1/160 - 1/200 for the gnashing flailing zombies. Then right at the end of the day, my camera bag got stolen. Still got all the video, but all off camera audio is gone, along with around £3K of equipment. Insured but still quite depressed.
 
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