gladitor filming

[manwithplan]

just a quick question for all you readers out there;

does anyone know how ridley scott got the really sharp image effect in gladiator that is used in the first battle scene and in some of the latter gladiator fights? I really like the effect but i have no-idea how it was done! Im guessing it could be done with the speed of the film but i suppose it could be done in post production as well...

thanks guys (and girls)
C.

[Jimsimm]

That is something that I always wanted to know...cheers!, anyone on this board worked with panavision cameras?

[his Dudeness]

Hey Jimsimm - I haven't worked with Panavision, but I heard it somewhere. Either Ridley Scott said it on the DVD commentary, or I read it in a book.

I like using high shutter speeds a lot on DV though - I love the clarity of the image, and it also makes retiming footage a lot easier!!!

[cash]

isnt it under cranking, i dont know am pissed

[his Dudeness]

He might have undercranked as well, but I don't think so........I definitely think he used the same 45 degree shutter as Spielberg used in Private Ryan.

[shirt]

I think it was a 45 degree shutter as undercranking causes too much light loss, therefore everything is live when undercranking... the light loss makes it very difficult to add in cgi, etc. properly...

[his Dudeness]

This was done by using a 45 degree shutter angle on the Panavision.

If you want to do a similar effect with a DV camera, you can select a high shutter speed (such as 1/1000th second) if your camera has this facility. This does cut down the amount of light which hits the CCD though, so its best used outside.

[manwithplan]

cheers everyone. I managed to grab a copy of the gladiator dvd and Scott talks about it on the commentary - there's your answer as well dudeness!