Kevin Kelly

The project is not very far along, but I need to start getting my "ducks in a row", as they say.

AJ, that appears to be a good idea. I will keep it in mind. My experience is zilch with something like this. Safety concerns will make or break this.

The boats would be about 40'-50' (12m-15m). Most filming would be on open water. The character falling into the water when transfering between boats, would be shot in a narrow field of view. I would like to show water movement and the splash, with one boat moving alongside the other. I think using a stationary prop showing the partial side of one boat, and winching a partial prop of the other boat past the stationary one would realistic enough. Just need water flow, and enough depth to make it look real.

I have a script that would require a nighttime scene were the principle actor would fall into the water when jumping from one moving boat to another moving boat. The water must appear to be moving (5-10 knots), with a single wake from a passing boat causing the fall. Since safety is paramount, I would think shooting in a water tank would be best. So, what water tanks are available for filming in the United States. Will the described scene required special facilities? Are there specialized production crews that do this type of work? Any ballpark estimates on how much this would cost? Any ideas to minimize expenses? Thanks.

Of course you can! Beyond the basics of "Lights, Camera, and Action!", you really don't need much else. Daylight will do for lighting, take your pick of cameras, and have a story to tell. You don't even need sound. (It's been known to work before!) If you want to make a film professional, then you need to have knowledge of what makes a professional film. That's what being a student is all about. Learn as much as you can about all aspects of movie making, and don't stop learning. It is fabulous to have the internet, and forums like this. And then, as David said "Practice, practice, practice." Make mistakes, refine your skills, and shoot some more. Digital cameras are great for this. There are all sorts of work-arounds for when you don't have the best equipment. Experiment and have fun! Kevin

Most cinema lenses have about a 300 degree rotation from near focus to far focus. Typically, follow focus units for these lenses are geared 2:1. So, does a normal setup like this mean a 150 degree rotation on the follow focus wheel? I've noticed that some follow focus units have a 1:1 gear ratio, to be used with dslr and still lenses. If you have a lens with a 180 degree focus range, and use a 1:1 gear ratio follow focus, does that mean you get a 180 degree rotation on the follow focus wheel? In general, if the follow focus is matched to the lens you are using, are there any advantages or disadvantages to each combo? Kevin

The track width is 300mm on centers.