Filmmaking filter: How do I convey a character pounding on a door?
October 27, 2022 7:11 PM Subscribe
Making a short film for a contest. In one scene, the character pounds on a door in an effort to get out. In real life, the door is not strong enough to take a pounding :) How do I convey this action on film without breaking the door? Video examples on youtube welcome!
This is a low-no budget affair so I can't do anything fancy! Thanks so much for any hints and help.
This is a low-no budget affair so I can't do anything fancy! Thanks so much for any hints and help.
Shoot it side on, force the perspective and have them pound the wall.
posted by Iteki at 7:23 PM on October 27, 2022 [8 favorites]
posted by Iteki at 7:23 PM on October 27, 2022 [8 favorites]
Piggybacking on jonathanhughes: Shoot from the exterior of the room (or whatever it is) and add sound effects in the post
posted by whisper_robin at 7:24 PM on October 27, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by whisper_robin at 7:24 PM on October 27, 2022 [3 favorites]
Two shots:
1. the character's fist about to pound the door, then cut
2. the door from the inside, shaking, with big thump noises
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 8:11 PM on October 27, 2022 [7 favorites]
1. the character's fist about to pound the door, then cut
2. the door from the inside, shaking, with big thump noises
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 8:11 PM on October 27, 2022 [7 favorites]
Have the actor hold one arm horizontally just in front of the door, then have them make pounding motions with their other arm held vertically, but with each blow stopped by the horizontal arm. Frame the shot tightly so that you don't see the horizontal arm, just the fist and upper forearm of the vertical arm. Add pounding sounds in the edit.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 8:12 PM on October 27, 2022
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 8:12 PM on October 27, 2022
Shoot from the door's perspective, so the character is facing the camera and their pounding fist is coming right at the lens.
posted by theory at 8:46 PM on October 27, 2022 [7 favorites]
posted by theory at 8:46 PM on October 27, 2022 [7 favorites]
Seconding Fiasco da Gama's suggestion. My suggestion is for an alternate shot #2: cut to the person inside, jumping to the sound of the pounding.
posted by cendawanita at 3:13 AM on October 28, 2022
posted by cendawanita at 3:13 AM on October 28, 2022
Response by poster: All good ideas! Thanks so much!!
Theory, when you say shoot from the door's perspective. How do I set that up? Is that like a shot of the door by itself first then a shot of the pounding fist coming at the lens?
posted by storybored at 8:01 AM on October 28, 2022
Theory, when you say shoot from the door's perspective. How do I set that up? Is that like a shot of the door by itself first then a shot of the pounding fist coming at the lens?
posted by storybored at 8:01 AM on October 28, 2022
OK, this might be silly, but maybe have the actor place their fist against the door and then pull their arm back quickly. Film that and play it in reverse and now they're pounding on the door. I'm pretty sure I saw a behind-the-scenes clip of some show where they did a similar reverse trick to simulate someone's face smashing into the steering wheel in a car crash.
posted by mpark at 9:44 AM on October 28, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by mpark at 9:44 AM on October 28, 2022 [1 favorite]
wide shot of actor approaching the door with raised fist.
tight close up of the actors face expressing the frustration of wanting let out.
actor mimes beating on the door so that the actor's head moves naturally...add foley of a door pounding.
posted by mmascolino at 10:19 AM on October 28, 2022
tight close up of the actors face expressing the frustration of wanting let out.
actor mimes beating on the door so that the actor's head moves naturally...add foley of a door pounding.
posted by mmascolino at 10:19 AM on October 28, 2022
Show the actor approaching the door with a raised fist. Tight shot of miming hitting the door.
Show a close up of where the door meets the jamb and move closed the door in and out from the other side ("rattling the door"). There's usually enough slop in doors that you should see motion in the door. Dub in the pounding in time.
posted by plinth at 12:52 PM on October 28, 2022
Show a close up of where the door meets the jamb and move closed the door in and out from the other side ("rattling the door"). There's usually enough slop in doors that you should see motion in the door. Dub in the pounding in time.
posted by plinth at 12:52 PM on October 28, 2022
Theory, when you say shoot from the door's perspective
I'm not Theory, but:
1. Put the camera pretty much anywhere where you can see the actor and door. Shoot the actor raising his fist and going to pound the door but stopping right before hitting it (to save your door).
2a. If the door opens outward (away from the actor) then simply open it, put the lens where the door would be and film the same as above but now the actor's hand is "striking" the air next to the lens and then sub in the sound of pounding matched with the striking.
2b. If the door opens inward then you have to "cheat the shot" by putting the camera in front of the door and pointing it such a way that the audience can't tell there's now a few feet between, and do the same as 2a.
2c. Regardless of which way the door opens, do step 1 and then move the camera to the other side of the door and film it vibrating (just push it with your hand on the other side), simulating it being struck, and sub in the sounds during the cut.
posted by dobbs at 7:37 PM on October 28, 2022
I'm not Theory, but:
1. Put the camera pretty much anywhere where you can see the actor and door. Shoot the actor raising his fist and going to pound the door but stopping right before hitting it (to save your door).
2a. If the door opens outward (away from the actor) then simply open it, put the lens where the door would be and film the same as above but now the actor's hand is "striking" the air next to the lens and then sub in the sound of pounding matched with the striking.
2b. If the door opens inward then you have to "cheat the shot" by putting the camera in front of the door and pointing it such a way that the audience can't tell there's now a few feet between, and do the same as 2a.
2c. Regardless of which way the door opens, do step 1 and then move the camera to the other side of the door and film it vibrating (just push it with your hand on the other side), simulating it being struck, and sub in the sounds during the cut.
posted by dobbs at 7:37 PM on October 28, 2022
You might be able to find some inspiration in this classic scene from The Shining
posted by McNulty at 2:09 AM on October 29, 2022
posted by McNulty at 2:09 AM on October 29, 2022
You could also have a production assistant on the other side of the door pushing back, if the concern is the door is going to move too much. You could also prop the door closed with a 2x4. How weak is the door?
posted by MythMaker at 9:12 AM on October 29, 2022
posted by MythMaker at 9:12 AM on October 29, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
• Pound it lightly and put the sound effect in in post
posted by jonathanhughes at 7:18 PM on October 27, 2022 [2 favorites]