Tripods and sliders (inc. cheap hacks)
Why do we need tripods and sliders?
Hand-held video often has a bit of a wobbly look to it, which can work well in certain situations. For example in action sequences or in horror movies it can be very effective. However most of the time we look for still camera set-ups or camera set-ups that move slowly.
If you’re looking to have a stationery camera, or shots that pan from right to left or tilt up and down, then usually you would use a tripod. And if you’d like more movement there are many kinds of device you can use including:
Track-based systems
The idea behind a track-based system is that the camera is mounted on a dolly, like a little train carriage, which moves along a track. In fact the word filmmakers use to describe a shot that physically moves with the action is tracking. Tracks can either be long large systems where the camera operator sits on a chair with the camera on the dolly, or very small systems like the slider in the image, where just the camera moves along the track. These systems are great for when you want the camera to move in a very specific direction.
Stabilisers and gimbals
These allow you to move the camera smoothly while holding it. There are large systems such as Steadicams that are designed for big film cameras, but there are many similar products available that allow you do stablise footage from small cameras or phones.
Did you know?
In the film world, there’s a whole department to ensure that the camera supports and movements work well. This is called the grip department.
Super-cheap tripod and slider hacks.
If you look online you can find cheap tripods for light cameras and phones. However you can also do a lot without spending any money, by just using what you
Simple tripod ideas
One of the easiest things you can do is just position your phone or camera safely on a table using books to get the correct height. For a phone, one of the cheapest and most effective solutions for a phone is bulldog clip. Yes, you can use stationery to make a shot stationary (sorry!). Just open it up, clip your phone into it carefully, and then adjust the legs to get the angle you want.
Simple slider and tracking ideas
How do you get great camera movement without sliders, gimbals or track and dolly. Again, use whatever you have in your house. Try securing your camera to an office chair with wheels, a baby’s buggy or a wheel chair. If the floor is smooth you can get some great shots. For small tracking movements, try putting your phone in a clip tripod on a piece of paper on a smooth table, and just drag it along.
If you keep it simple and use the things you have, you’ll come up with great solutions to make your film work.
At Chocolate Films we look into camera movement on our script to screen and music video courses. Get in touch to find out more about what we can do for your school or youth club. And if you live local to our base, check out what workshops are open to you.
