JCC1996 Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 Hi, We're putting on a production of Little Shop of Horrors and the venue we're using has amazing projection facilities. My friend and I (we generally do all the tech stuff for all school shows, concerts etc.) have pretty much been given a free rein with what we do with it, just to present our ideas to the teachers to get approval!! I have managed to borrow a green screen from a local primary school and we already have a very high quality camera. I'd like to create a video clip of our Orin Scrivello on a motorbike (which we have access to), like the one in the film, but I'm finding it surprisingly hard to find a moving background to superimpose this onto. Here is the link to what I want to achieve: It's just the first few seconds with the front on view, not the side on or going under the bridge. Does anyone know where I could find this background, or of another way to achieve this. Or is it something that only the professionals can achieve? Thanks Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timd Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 If you found a long road panorama and motion blurred it heavily, you might be able to get away with looping through panning across that as a background for the greenscreen. Probably needs after effects to do it though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCC1996 Posted April 26, 2012 Author Share Posted April 26, 2012 If you found a long road panorama and motion blurred it heavily, you might be able to get away with looping through panning across that as a background for the greenscreen. Probably needs after effects to do it though. Oh, I should have said that I only have access to iMovie or Windows Movie Maker. Thanks for the idea anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 Can't you just shoot your own from the back of a bike or car? However does iMovie do green screen? Or wmm? Or just project the background anfd do the bike for realOn stage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timd Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 Freebie editing packages won't do that. You can download a 30 day trial of the adobe suite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCC1996 Posted April 26, 2012 Author Share Posted April 26, 2012 Can't you just shoot your own from the back of a bike or car? However does iMovie do green screen? Or wmm? Or just project the background anfd do the bike for realOn stage I can definitely do green screen on iMovie. Its just finding that footage. I did think of shooting my own, but I thought of two problems. 1) The quality is likely to be pretty bad. What with it shaking and being filmed through a back window with the heated strips.2) The show is set in the fifties and I can't think of one straight stretch of road that won't have cars on it. Again, thanks for the ideas though. Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 The original Steve Martin video has the camera low down, pointing up at an angle to get the effect - Find somebody with a sports car with an open top. In the clip, the cars are behind the motorbike, just the high rise buildings going past. You can easily get that kind of footage. The quality doesn't have to be bad, in fact on wide angle, you can even do it hand-held - the original wobbles anyway. You can shoot through glass at a push and if the camera is close, you won't notice. Or you attach it to a moped with bungeys and small cushions - give it a go and don't be so defeatist! I've spent lots of time doing shooting from cars and it really is just a bit fiddly - that's all. Location wise - any main road through high buildings. In my area the local high street would work really well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCC1996 Posted April 27, 2012 Author Share Posted April 27, 2012 I never thought of using a convertible, but I'll give it a go in our car first with the camera close to the back window. I see what you mean now about shooting it from an angle that you don't see cars. I'll let you know how I get on. Thanks Joe The original Steve Martin video has the camera low down, pointing up at an angle to get the effect - Find somebody with a sports car with an open top. In the clip, the cars are behind the motorbike, just the high rise buildings going past. You can easily get that kind of footage. The quality doesn't have to be bad, in fact on wide angle, you can even do it hand-held - the original wobbles anyway. You can shoot through glass at a push and if the camera is close, you won't notice. Or you attach it to a moped with bungeys and small cushions - give it a go and don't be so defeatist! I've spent lots of time doing shooting from cars and it really is just a bit fiddly - that's all. Location wise - any main road through high buildings. In my area the local high street would work really well. Paul, I see that this is the sector that you are involved in so I thought I'd see if I could pick your brains a bit about this? How does filming from cars work from a legal and HSE point of view? Is it ok provided your are wearing a seatbelt and the camera is secured in some way? And so long as you don't distract other road users? Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sleepytom Posted April 28, 2012 Share Posted April 28, 2012 use a magic arm or a manfrotto suction mount to attach the camera to the front of the car. Use a remote monitor and a LanC controller to control the camera from within the car. Drive slowly and speed up the footage in post if needed. If you need to use a big camera then get creative with the scaffolding! http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/421463_10150655194633698_635308697_11203506_909085362_n.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossmck Posted April 28, 2012 Share Posted April 28, 2012 I've done similar once using an estate car and the camera on a tripod that's firmly anchored to several points in the boot, best done when it's quiet (early sunday morning if you're doing a city centre) as you will get a few strange looks, particularly from other motorists behind you. If you don't get away with the glass then you can always open the tailgate but be sure to keep the front windows open to ensure there's a good flow of air through the car and it doesn't fill with exhaust gases and do something to keep the number plate on display :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCC1996 Posted April 28, 2012 Author Share Posted April 28, 2012 Thanks for the advice everyone, but I'm thinking this is probably a bit over the top for what I'm able to do right now. I've decided to go for a more 'artistic interpretation' and instead of using a road I am going to use the corridor the leads to the auditorium of our venue. I'm just going to mount the camera on a trolley and wheel that along. I'd love to give a proper road shot a try sometime, but this isn't the time to do it!! Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 If you want to be simple - then google sticky pods. They are really amazing devices and you can stick a small video camera on one and just attach it to the back. My insurance company wasn't really very bothered - they just wanted the car to be legal. Discovery's are nice camera cars because you can open the back, and Landrover will fit a reverse facing seat if you wish - so you can put a cameraman in the rear, and they can remain belted up - then there are no problems with anyone interpreting it as a change to the manufacturers design. http://www.advancedcameracars.com/imgs/home_gall_crane2_large.jpgThese people are based at Denham aerodrome, next to Flying TVs hanger and I had a go in these beasts - the cameraman sits in the back seat and controls the rig with joysticks - scary at speed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peza2010 Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 One of the productions of little shop were going to do something similar, but a sound fx and orin walking out from the wings taking of a leather jacket was they way we went in the end... Nice and easy, and gave the right idea but I don't blame you for trying to art up that scene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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