Shaki-Cam Problems

[Kieran Leonard]

Hey everybody, I am new to the group, so i guess i have a real newbie question. In about two weeks i start shooting my first major project (guess what a Horror flick), and i am having problems with keeping the camera steady during tracking shots, i have read the eejits guide to film making suggestions on how to make low budget Steadicam Alternatives but i have not as yet found any satisfactory alternatives, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, and i mean any -i am totally out of ideas.

Thanks everybody.

Kieran.

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'If i need you i'll know what rock to turn over'

[BlackArtsProductions]

when i was filming a tracking shot on one of my projects i came up with the idea of flipping a table over and having it roll on two lynx deoderant cans. placing the cam on a tripod and then putting it on the table underside made for a nice tracking machine.

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I told him not to jump...so he didn't. Damn! Don't you hate anti-climaxes.

[Mods]

LoL! Interesting method!

I've got a few:

1) A wheelchair. Honestly, they work wonders. Make sure you have a tripod too. If you've got a DV camera, you can attach it to the tripod, flick out the screen, sit on the wheelchair and hold it above you with the screen facing down toward you. This is good for face-height tracking shots. Get someone to pull you around. Watch out for cliffs.

2) Steady tripod. Attach your camera to the tripod as normal, and simply hold it like a bazooka, but so u can see through the flip screen. This one works with a normal camera too, (8mm). Don't let the tripod touch your shoulder tho. Keep your arms soft and walk around a bit, making sure your arms don't jolt. This IS possible and works nicely.

3) Bike mount. Get a tripod, secure it to the handlebars and heypresto. I'll put pictures of my bike mount up soon. Works nice indoors. Ok outside.

4) The arms. Hold your camera, don't let ur eblows touch ur body. Move slowly and simply keep the camera steady. Works more effectivly than you may think.

5) Car boot. Sit in a car boot and get someone to drive along in front of the action, if possible. Works nicely. Just use method 4 to keep the camera steady.

Anything else?

Mods

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Mark "Mods" Lovegrove
Anarchy Pictures

[Kieran Leonard]

Hey thanks Mark and BlackArts dude. I am going to try all those methods out tommorow i'll let you know which one produced the best results.

Thanks again, and any further suggestions gratefully accepted.

Cheers.

Kieran.

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'If i need you i'll know what rock to turn over'