i believe thats the proper term to it, given by Afronosky. He used it in such films as pi and requiem, anyways....
i think scorsese invented it, i was watching mean streets today and some of the shots are totally similar to those of a snorricam...
mean streets was made way before afronoskys films, 1973.
anyways, anyone know of some good Snorricam techniques? i wanted to try and experment with some methods.
(for those who do not know what im talking about, its where the camera is attached to a rig thats attached to the actor, it can be in front or even behind. Its about shoulder height, it follows the actor steadily as they walk.)
i have experimented with some home built steadicam stuff, but im really trying to solve a problem, CREATING A LOW BUDGET SNORRICAM!
Posts: 67 | Location: MI | Registered: March 02, 2005
What I do to get those types of shots is actually have the actor hold my glidecam in a steady position. No one can see where his or her hands are because it's a low angle (or sometimes level) close up (or medium close up).
I love Snorricam shots! You got something in mind that might work? I'm willing to bet you could make a rig out of PVC pipe that would just go over the shoulders pretty cheap. Lemme know if you come up with anything.
ya Trespasser, ive done that, and only that, i still wanted a more hands free way though... ther is a whole snorricom reel on the Pi dvd, its about three mins long. its sweet. i found this picture online a few moments ago... it might help for ideas. i have no idea who this kid is, i think he goes to full sail though. http://www.fatkidstudios.com/images/images_pictures/misc/snorricam_01.JPG
i say lets brainstorm!
Posts: 67 | Location: MI | Registered: March 02, 2005
oh im sure it could be done liek that... ive never watched malcom x...
are you thinking of the shot that hitchcock made famous?
where the actor is simply still and the background zooms up or away...? the actor could be moivng to, but there is a great difference in the background.
Posts: 67 | Location: MI | Registered: March 02, 2005
"Isn't that done by putting the actor and the camera on a dolly? As in the shot in Malcom X."
A real Snorricam shot moves the camera with the actor's hips/waist. In Requiem for a Dream when Tyrone is running through the alleys, it moves with every step. It's a different look from simply placing the camera and actor on a dolly, since the camera is physically moved by the actor's motion.
We built one of these things for a music video I shot a couple of years ago. I don't know if I remember the specifics too well, but we rigged it out of a weightlifting belt, 2 metal rods, 2 wooden rods, a couple of pvc 'T' corner adapters, some cardboard and a bunch of gaffers tape. Ours was a slightly special circumstance because our lense options were limited and we needed 5 feet for focus as a consequence. The gist of the design was that the metal rods were securely fastened around the armpit region, while the 2 wooden rods would rest around the hip area in the pvc connectors which were fastend to he bottom of the belt. Obviously, all 4 rods met about 5' in front of the artist where the camera was fastened to the end (Screwed into strong cardboard). Hopefully that helps.
I don't know who first used one of these rigs either. I recall seeing the effect in the film Seconds (1966).
Nota "Drivin' this short bus to a brighter future" Mono
Posts: 665 | Location: Los Angeles, Ca. U.S.A. | Registered: October 31, 2002