Making small movies with special effects on a tight budget.
April 1, 2013 12:12 PM Subscribe
A see people use a harness to hold the camera to eliminate jerking, up and down sideways
Is there a way to get the same effect on a smaller budget? Or an inexpensive
harness for a rather smallish light weight camera.
Making special effects, like a robot walking around would add amusement to the deal.
I have a program called FxGuru on my phone, which can add some limited special effects
and I like that. But I would like just a little bit more control.
Hi there,
So I have wanted to make a few small movies for fun.
Mostly I want to learn more about it, gain an understanding
of the process, and see if my friends and I can have a bit of fun.
I have the hardware I think, camera, computer, memory cards etc.
A friend of mine has access to Adobe Premier Elements that we can use.
I have two questions:
1)
In most behind the scenes footage, cameras go on rails or something like that,
or the person has a "harness" that eliminates the "jerking, up and down"
of movement.
Is there a way to get the same effect on a smaller budget? Or an inexpensive
harness for a rather smallish light weight camera.
2)
Making special effects, like a robot walking around would add amusement to the deal.
I have a program called FxGuru on my phone, which can add some limited special effects
and I like that. But I would like just a little bit more control.
I know Blender is out there, as is AutoDesk and Lightwave but I am not smart enough
to use them, and for the commercial ones I dont have the money either. I cant really
start with a clean slate, Id prefer to start with a fully rendered robot I can control.
Is there such a thing as FxGuru delux type program for mac or pc?
A bunch of shrink wrapped fx that can be applied to existing footage?
Hi there,
So I have wanted to make a few small movies for fun.
Mostly I want to learn more about it, gain an understanding
of the process, and see if my friends and I can have a bit of fun.
I have the hardware I think, camera, computer, memory cards etc.
A friend of mine has access to Adobe Premier Elements that we can use.
I have two questions:
1)
In most behind the scenes footage, cameras go on rails or something like that,
or the person has a "harness" that eliminates the "jerking, up and down"
of movement.
Is there a way to get the same effect on a smaller budget? Or an inexpensive
harness for a rather smallish light weight camera.
2)
Making special effects, like a robot walking around would add amusement to the deal.
I have a program called FxGuru on my phone, which can add some limited special effects
and I like that. But I would like just a little bit more control.
I know Blender is out there, as is AutoDesk and Lightwave but I am not smart enough
to use them, and for the commercial ones I dont have the money either. I cant really
start with a clean slate, Id prefer to start with a fully rendered robot I can control.
Is there such a thing as FxGuru delux type program for mac or pc?
A bunch of shrink wrapped fx that can be applied to existing footage?
Or an inexpensive
harness for a rather smallish light weight camera.
An early issue of Make magazine had plans for a steadi-cam harness made from ordinary plumbing parts.
posted by OmieWise at 12:17 PM on April 1, 2013
harness for a rather smallish light weight camera.
An early issue of Make magazine had plans for a steadi-cam harness made from ordinary plumbing parts.
posted by OmieWise at 12:17 PM on April 1, 2013
You might take a look at this DIY project for a cheap, but apparently effective, stabilizer.
posted by hanov3r at 12:18 PM on April 1, 2013
posted by hanov3r at 12:18 PM on April 1, 2013
Best answer: Here's the article from Make. They say it costs $14.
posted by OmieWise at 12:19 PM on April 1, 2013
posted by OmieWise at 12:19 PM on April 1, 2013
Best answer: I've made a DIY steadicam harness similar to that one and it works great. Significantly improves the look of your shots. Use a small f-stop though, because pulling focus is obviously out of the question.
posted by ShutterBun at 12:25 PM on April 1, 2013
posted by ShutterBun at 12:25 PM on April 1, 2013
Best answer: the book you want is "Camcorder tricks and special effects" by Michael Stavros
get a real tripod. and some sandbags. There's a reason pro cameras are still big and heavy. They are intrinsically better because they are big and heavy. big and heavy=resistant to extraneous movement=more professional looking shots. lightweight camera+tripod+office chair with wheels=not-even-a-hot mess... +sandbags and/or fat guy=muuuuch better
posted by sexyrobot at 12:37 PM on April 1, 2013
get a real tripod. and some sandbags. There's a reason pro cameras are still big and heavy. They are intrinsically better because they are big and heavy. big and heavy=resistant to extraneous movement=more professional looking shots. lightweight camera+tripod+office chair with wheels=not-even-a-hot mess... +sandbags and/or fat guy=muuuuch better
posted by sexyrobot at 12:37 PM on April 1, 2013
Response by poster: Hey thank you all for tips on steadycams.
I will try the make build and see if I can
get something working :)
posted by digividal at 2:25 PM on April 1, 2013
I will try the make build and see if I can
get something working :)
posted by digividal at 2:25 PM on April 1, 2013
Daz 3D Studio is free, and has robot characters you can buy. It can do animation.
posted by Sophont at 6:09 PM on April 1, 2013
posted by Sophont at 6:09 PM on April 1, 2013
I saw a camera attached securely to the center of a surplus car steering wheel. You know how steady you can hold a steering wheel (because you have the muscle memory). Works amazingly well.
posted by Muirwylde at 1:10 AM on April 2, 2013
posted by Muirwylde at 1:10 AM on April 2, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Etrigan at 12:14 PM on April 1, 2013 [1 favorite]