Cheap (but good) camera tricks, magic, and special effects

[Guest Derek Elrod]

This week we have another 5 to 10 minute short film due. I'm hoping to incorporate something simple where people will be asking "How did he do that?" or "How did he make that look so real?"

 

For example, a car crash, or anything that makes an audience go Whoa!

 

Obviously I couldn't fake a car crash without a huge budget and hollywood trained crew, but are there any ideas of something I could with cinematography to write a story around that wow's an audience?

Edited October 22, 2008 by Derek Elrod

[Alex Donkle]

I think most audiences would rather have a good story and solid acting than dazzling special effects. "Stealth" would be a perfect example of this.

 

If you're looking at a car crash though, as a local towing company that handles totaled cars and see if they could help you out. A friend of mine had them drag a smashed up car out onto a dirt road and then took it back after they'd finished shooting all for free. And it's certainly impressive if you do it right. Like the opening of a "Lost" episode started with someone waking up with a cut over their eye, then the camera pulled back showing she'd been in a car crash. Look ahead and there was a hole in the windshield where her mother had gone through it, and she way lying in the street covered in glass and bruises. A helpful towing company, $40 in fake glass, and a good make-up artist and you could pull off that scene.

[Chris Keth]

Why don't you write a good script and make that film as good as it can be? That's quite a task for a novice, or a professional for that matter.

[Annie Wengenroth]

Some guy at SCAD blew up his car for his senior project. I didn't see the footage but I'm sure it was awesome. I don't know how he pulled it off. But yeah. Write a good script first. Then next year, progress to explosions and dramatic sex scenes. ;)

[Mike Washlesky]

I think most audiences would rather have a good story and solid acting than dazzling special effects. "Stealth" would be a perfect example of this.

 

If you're looking at a car crash though, as a local towing company that handles totaled cars and see if they could help you out. A friend of mine had them drag a smashed up car out onto a dirt road and then took it back after they'd finished shooting all for free. And it's certainly impressive if you do it right. Like the opening of a "Lost" episode started with someone waking up with a cut over their eye, then the camera pulled back showing she'd been in a car crash. Look ahead and there was a hole in the windshield where her mother had gone through it, and she way lying in the street covered in glass and bruises. A helpful towing company, $40 in fake glass, and a good make-up artist and you could pull off that scene.

 

 

Thats great advice man...

[David Rakoczy]

Why don't you write a good script and make that film as good as it can be? That's quite a task for a novice, or a professional for that matter. - Chris Keth.

 

Ain't that the truth! :blink:

Edited October 23, 2008 by David Rakoczy

[Chad Stockfleth]

ok. here is a link that shows how to make someone getting hit by a car. i hope you know afterfx.

 

http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials/advanced_car_hit/

[John Sprung]

One thing you might try is the expendable mirror trick. Set up a cheap mirror on a deserted road at a 45 degree angle, supported by something like breakaway balsa wood. It has to be fairly large to get a reasonably wide angle. Shoot from a safe distance off the side of the road, have all the windows closed on the car, and it can look like the car drives full speed into the camera up until it hits the expendable mirror.

 

Of course, be very careful with all this stuff, lock off the camera and cork in the battery from far away. You don't need to operate, it's too dangerous.

 

 

 

-- J.S.