What type of dolly would I need for this effect?

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ironpony

Carbonite Member
I was thinking for doing chase sequences in movies, I would use a steadicam since dolly's are rough on the road, and I cannot afford 50-100 feet of tracks and that kind of permission on my budget. But I was told my a guy who has had some experience, that you can get special dollies with tires that are shock absorbing enough to get rid of shakes, in all the rough parts of the side walks and ground. I have looked around but not sure what is really good, and what isn't. Any ideas on what kind of dolly I should be looking for specifically? I am also looking for a tripod or something for doing totally still shots as well, so if I could get a contraption, that can sort of serve both purposes, that will be nice as well, but if not, what's the best dolly? Also I find it difficult to follow focus while operating a steadicam. Is there anything I am suppose to be doing more specifically? Thanks.
 
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Ill adress your comment on follow focus.... Youre not supposed to be touching your camera when steadicamming. Both hands on the rig...
If you need focus changes you hire an assistent and wireless follow focus gear. Or get a lens with auto focus
 
There are certain shots I want to get where a car won't work, unless I spin the car, 360 degrees during the chase, which would get me into quite a bit of trouble I think. Some shots, a car would work, but others won't. My DSLR doesn't have an autofocus on video. I was told before never to use autofocus on video, since the camera is not smart enough to do it well though. I'll try to shoot during the day, and do the day for night thing, in order to get more focus and won't have to pull focus. But for running and panning the camera, would a steadicam or dolly be better for less shake?
 
You're looking for something like a doorway dolly, they have big pneumatic/air filled tires that help smooth out some bumps. Obviously I'd never reccomend rolling that on concrete, it still would be shaky depending on the speed, but we've rolled on concrete with a matthews dolly and it was fine in a few cases. You can also try to lay down plywood to help smooth it out

Ideally what you'd want to do is mount a steadicam on a car, but that may not always be possible
 
Okay so even the tires will still make it shaky. Will a steadicam be less even when doing parts of the chase on foot?
 
ironpony said:
Okay so even the tires will still make it shaky. Will a steadicam be less even when doing parts of the chase on foot?
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Yes the steadicam is the way to go, but make sure you are using a good steadicam (not a flycam or anything). I'd recommend finding a steadicam operator and hiring them for the day, usually they should have a rig and operate it way better. So you'd essentially have a dolly shot on the street.

But on Steadicams you can't get too tight, I've operated before and even me with some experience, going around 50mm+ is sometimes pretty difficult, the rig has to be balanced PERFECTLY for that, or you'll see a lot of swinging, so thats another downside. On the dolly you can get very tight and still get very smooth shots
 
To add to the conversation, you could try getting a hold of a Segway. If I understand correctly, you're on a surface that a Segway could travel over. There have been plenty of Steadicam shots done on Segways with great results.

Also, unless you know how to use the Steadicam, don't just rent it and think you'll figure it out. Hire someone who is an operator. It will be money well spent and save you hours of frustration. And don't expect your op to do things out of reason (such as pull focus or change zoom while shooting), a lot of people make this mistake, as Legrevedotcom noted. You need a pro AC to do that. OR you have to use autofocus or shoot around f16. That's another mistake amateurs do (some pro filmmakers too!). They insist on a small aperture, while not realizing a Steadicam op can't pull focus without a pro AC on a remote. In the near future something like the new Canon T4i with the STM lenses might solve this problem using facial recognition and follow focus. Still needs to pass the acid test.
 
Actually most people I know who are good with cinematography where I live have not used a steadicam unfortunately. If I cannot find an expert I will buy one, and whoever wants to make the movie the most, can practice.
 
+1 Steadicam + Segway. I acted in a shoot where a guy had one of those. He got amazing shots and could spin on a dime with that thing. Of course the challenges focusing described above persist. Maybe you can build a dancefloor with masonite and use a Matthew's roundy round. It's a doorway and crab dolly put together. It ain't cheap though.
 
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