How is this done?

[Janos Belik]

Hello folks,

could you please tell me, how this is done? Please check this video:

http://vimeo.com/1492266

What I am trying to find out is, how those smooth camera moves are achieved. Some shots are probably from the plane, fair enough. But what about the forest shot at 00:27 or the lighthouse shot at 00:09?

It does not look like steadycam, it does not look like jib, it certainly is not on dolly. So how is this done? Camera moves smoothly above the ground, like it would be flying.

[Will Earl]

Forest shot is most likely a steadycam shot and the lighthouse shot is most likely from a helicopter.

 

There are a few ways to create these type of camera moves, you've listed a few already - steadycam, jib and dolly. It's also possible to achieve them using them helicopter mounts (for example - Tyler) or cable-suspended rigs (for example - cablecam or spidercam).

[Mark Dunn]

Reminds me of the speederbike chase in 'Return of the Jedi'. The plate was shot near ground level in a forest at 2fps, to give the effect of a high-speed chase in a forest with 1000-foot trees.

[Alfeo Dixon]

Forest is most likely Steadicam... good steadicam is seamless to good dolly or jib moves.

 

Lighthouse I would say is more likely a Nose mount such as a Wescam. A bit high for cables and to smooth for remote chopper

[Janos Belik]

Thank you guys for all your responses. So it looks like there is no trick to those shots.

Cheers,

Paul

[Brad Grimmett]

Reminds me of the speederbike chase in 'Return of the Jedi'. The plate was shot near ground level in a forest at 2fps, to give the effect of a high-speed chase in a forest with 1000-foot trees.

Those shots were done in "regular mode" by Garrett Brown and his Steadicam, FYI.