flares in 'private ryan'

claudio rietti · January 21, 2006

the infamous opening sequence of 'saving private ryan' has some strange flares coming mostly from the bottom of the screen upwards and they dance as if they were flames. they seem to affect the highlights mostly. Could you tell me if that was done in post or with a filter? Also, the shaky handheld camera...was some of that also done in post? I just can't imagine how those shakes were all so precise in every shot. It's almost as if they attached some sort of vibrator to the lens, but that would most likely throw the focus off. How can one achieve these two effects in camera, if possible?

Shawn Murphy · January 21, 2006

I don't personally know the answers, but I believe I found a lot of info on this question by doing a search in this forum for "Saving Private Ryan", look through the many threads that come up, some look to be specifically directed at your questions.

~Shawn

Stephen Williams · January 21, 2006

the infamous opening sequence of 'saving private ryan' has some strange flares coming mostly from the bottom of the screen upwards and they dance as if they were flames. they seem to affect the highlights mostly. Could you tell me if that was done in post or with a filter? Also, the shaky handheld camera...was some of that also done in post? I just can't imagine how those shakes were all so precise in every shot. It's almost as if they attached some sort of vibrator to the lens, but that would most likely throw the focus off. How can one achieve these two effects in camera, if possible?

Hi,

The flares were created in camera by mis-timing the camera shutter, so that the shutter was partially open whilst the film was advancing.

A search will give you more details.

Stephen

John Holland · January 21, 2006

Plus all the coating was removed from the lens used so flares from anthing hot was made more apparent . john holland .

Phil Rhodes · January 21, 2006

Hi,

And yes, they had a mechanical shaker.

Film cameras are reasonably tough, but I can't say I like the idea much!

Phil

Nick Mulder · January 21, 2006

.. and if I'm correct the really low shutter angles to make the scene strobe/flicker ?

Stephen Williams · January 21, 2006

.. and if I'm correct the really low shutter angles to make the scene strobe/flicker ?

Hi,

The 45 degree shutter was for other scenes, giving a very sharp image.

Stephen

Matt Butler · January 21, 2006

You can see the effect occasionally on cinema screens where a poorly maintained film projectors' movement

is out of sync between the shutter closed timing and the movement pull-down.

I believe it's called *shutter- ghosting*.

cheers

Edited January 21, 2006 by matt butler

claudio rietti · January 22, 2006

thanks so much for the responses. this is definitely not the kind of thing i can pull off as i am working with a fixed shutter.

claudio

Stephen Williams · January 22, 2006

thanks so much for the responses. this is definitely not the kind of thing i can pull off as i am working with a fixed shutter.

claudio

Hi,

Whats the camera? The shutter just has to be mis-timed, on some cameras its not that much of a problem like a Mitchell or Ultracam. With modern Arri cameras its just software.

Stephen