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Downhill longboarding film?

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Ehh...
Posts: 1897 - Karma: 1,423
So NS quick question for you. I have a friend that is wanting to be filmed for downhill longboarding. The question is I have never done any motion film from follow cams in a long downhill course. I will be watching some longboard edits to get a feel. But just wanted to ask and see if anyone had any knowledge they would care to relay from filming it?
11 years ago
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Forcillo
Posts: 3801 - Karma: 3,580
You have a couple options here.
Option 1: buttboard. Get on your deck with your bony ass (as far forward as you can manage) and coast. Foot brake to stop/slow down. This only works if you're really comfortable at speed, or they're doing slower freeride.

Option 2: trunk of car. This works really well for me, you pop the trunk of a car or truck, and sit down and film as you go in front of them. You'll need another person for this of course, to drive. Ideally another to spot the speed.

Option 3: skate. If you're good at downhill yourself, I for one am not, you can just have your camera on a glide cam and follow them while actually skating.

Option 4: gopro pole mount. I absolutely loathe go pros so I never do this, but you can just follow them in a tuck with a pole mount. Pretty self explanatory.

I am not responsible for broken cameras/people.
11 years ago
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Ehh...
Posts: 1897 - Karma: 1,423
ForcilloYou have a couple options here.
Option 1: buttboard. Get on your deck with your bony ass (as far forward as you can manage) and coast. Foot brake to stop/slow down. This only works if you're really comfortable at speed, or they're doing slower freeride.

Option 2: trunk of car. This works really well for me, you pop the trunk of a car or truck, and sit down and film as you go in front of them. You'll need another person for this of course, to drive. Ideally another to spot the speed.

Option 3: skate. If you're good at downhill yourself, I for one am not, you can just have your camera on a glide cam and follow them while actually skating.

Option 4: gopro pole mount. I absolutely loathe go pros so I never do this, but you can just follow them in a tuck with a pole mount. Pretty self explanatory.

I am not responsible for broken cameras/people.



Thanks for the disclaimer - gotta nice laugh out of that.

As far as out of the car shots ( which are probably the most realistic out of the 4 seeing that we are filming on DSLR's and POV Go Pros). Would maybe a hood mount or possibly moon roof shot or maybe even as far as a boom being a good option?

Also butt boarding? Safeness and speed from it?
11 years ago
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caderobinson
Posts: 1193 - Karma: 4,770
Also curious about this.

Like start the edit from the top of the hill and just have different shots of the rider going down the hill and finally ending at the bottem? Or is there a better way of organizing the shots to make an enjoyable edit?
11 years ago
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StokeFactor
Posts: 348 - Karma: 1,012
I did a longboard edit last summer, what I did is I placed myself at different places on the hill during the session and then recreated complete runs in post-production. I did a few follow cam but never for a whole run because when I gained too much speed my shots weren't that clean and I didn't to break my camera.
11 years ago
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StokeFactor
Posts: 348 - Karma: 1,012
didn't want*
11 years ago
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will_powder
Posts: 3194 - Karma: 5,445
FDMThanks for the disclaimer - gotta nice laugh out of that.

As far as out of the car shots ( which are probably the most realistic out of the 4 seeing that we are filming on DSLR's and POV Go Pros). Would maybe a hood mount or possibly moon roof shot or maybe even as far as a boom being a good option?

Also butt boarding? Safeness and speed from it?


Butt boarding is superrrr hard IMO. Cars or riding work the best
11 years ago
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rlee
Posts: 593 - Karma: 1,144
Roller Blades.

I've not got any video to show you but if you're comfortable enough, roller blades are great. You can get lower that you can in the boot of the car which is great for longboarding. Boot of the car works well too but I always felt like I had less control, as you have to communication between you and the driver for speed and where you wanna be.

If you're a good skater you can try that, but its one more thing to think about as the board is not attached to your feet and you don't want to fall.
11 years ago
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Ehh...
Posts: 1897 - Karma: 1,423
Good thoughts all. I will be trying out some of these ideas. I am concerned that I cannot go fast as the riders butt boarding and roller blading. The longboard riders I am filming are racers and they cook it hard. So I may be best to try to get a truck or maybe the trunk of car and do it that way.
11 years ago
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CrotchKiller
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caderobinsonAlso curious about this.

Like start the edit from the top of the hill and just have different shots of the rider going down the hill and finally ending at the bottem? Or is there a better way of organizing the shots to make an enjoyable edit?


that's what i did. I would have liked to get some follow shots from a car but it was just the rider and myself so i had to make due


A Daily Downhill from Mountain Vision Cinema on Vimeo.
11 years ago
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CrotchKiller
Posts: 9037 - Karma: 6,943
welp^ that was my one and only try at embedding on the new ns
11 years ago
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cwphoto
Posts: 2332 - Karma: 780
i'd say that forcillo was spot on. i made a few edits last summer before i really got into photography and editing, and i always butt boarded while i recorded. i never tried holding the go pro, as my collarbone was broke. not trying to advertise myself, but you can see what buttboarding looks like in my two edits. i never went too fast as its pretty sketchy. this summer i'm going to try to use a glide cam out of a car like suggested above.



http://vimeo.com/71711576


http://vimeo.com/72599629
11 years ago
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will_powder
Posts: 3194 - Karma: 5,445
connorwyckoffi'd say that forcillo was spot on. i made a few edits last summer before i really got into photography and editing, and i always butt boarded while i recorded. i never tried holding the go pro, as my collarbone was broke. not trying to advertise myself, but you can see what buttboarding looks like in my two edits. i never went too fast as its pretty sketchy. this summer i'm going to try to use a glide cam out of a car like suggested above.


Put a helmet on eh
11 years ago
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nutz.
Posts: 3150 - Karma: 6,717
^^ tell your buddies not to grab stinkbug, that'll wreck you when you're bombing a hill and trying to coleman to shutdown

also, you could always just follow and skate down it if you're good enough for that sort of thing/can footbrake while going super fucking fast.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkviQ41u0eQ

This whole thing was filmed with tripods and the dude holding the cam on a speedboard for the follow shots
11 years ago
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Ehh...
Posts: 1897 - Karma: 1,423
So I went out today and did my first filming of the downhill longboarders.


Found out that tripod seems to be the way to go and just have them do a few laps change corners and angles and seemed to work well.

However, I still have yet to figure out the follow cam actions. We tried to do it out the window in the car but it was so shaky I couldn't use hardly anything. I am trying to figure out maybe some rollerbar mounts for our ski rack? IDK if anyone has any ideas for follow cams in cars.
11 years ago
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No.Quarter
Posts: 5257 - Karma: 16,966
FDMSo I went out today and did my first filming of the downhill longboarders.


Found out that tripod seems to be the way to go and just have them do a few laps change corners and angles and seemed to work well.

However, I still have yet to figure out the follow cam actions. We tried to do it out the window in the car but it was so shaky I couldn't use hardly anything. I am trying to figure out maybe some rollerbar mounts for our ski rack? IDK if anyone has any ideas for follow cams in cars.


What kind of car?
11 years ago
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Ehh...
Posts: 1897 - Karma: 1,423
JakeSmithWhat kind of car?


Well I have my Subaru Impreza 2007 or my friends Honda Civic from the 90's era with luggage roller bars.
11 years ago
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plorr
Posts: 3131 - Karma: 515
FDMWell I have my Subaru Impreza 2007 or my friends Honda Civic from the 90's era with luggage roller bars.


If the impreza is a wagon, put the seats down and lay prone in the back of the car with the hatch propped open and kind of rest the camera on the floor of the trunk. That way you get way lower than with a tripod and its more stable than regular handheld.

I've used that technique before for shots for a car chase scene and it came out really good.
11 years ago
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Ehh...
Posts: 1897 - Karma: 1,423
plorrIf the impreza is a wagon, put the seats down and lay prone in the back of the car with the hatch propped open and kind of rest the camera on the floor of the trunk. That way you get way lower than with a tripod and its more stable than regular handheld.

I've used that technique before for shots for a car chase scene and it came out really good.


Actually thought about this today. It is an impreza wagon so I will have to see how that will work. As far as everything goes with camera placement we want to make sure that the camera is being supported by the car or by the hands holding in a tripod position?
11 years ago
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plorr
Posts: 3131 - Karma: 515
FDMActually thought about this today. It is an impreza wagon so I will have to see how that will work. As far as everything goes with camera placement we want to make sure that the camera is being supported by the car or by the hands holding in a tripod position?


Try putting one hand between the lens and the car and the other holding the camera body, that way you can pan and tilt to keep the framing where you want it without it being too shaky. Or if you really wanted to get fancy devise something that you can screw a fluid head into that would keep it really low down (a slider would work well actually if you have one)
11 years ago
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Ehh...
Posts: 1897 - Karma: 1,423
plorrTry putting one hand between the lens and the car and the other holding the camera body, that way you can pan and tilt to keep the framing where you want it without it being too shaky. Or if you really wanted to get fancy devise something that you can screw a fluid head into that would keep it really low down (a slider would work well actually if you have one)


So I think I might be able to just use my tripod and kick it down to almost flat I think I can get it close to just a foot above. I am just concerned about keeping it steady with bumps and speed adjustments
11 years ago
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Ehh...
Posts: 1897 - Karma: 1,423
First video bump:

https://vimeo.com/92408179

Did almost all tripod shots due to the fact that they were going close to 25-45mph downhill and could take corners faster than our car.

Thoughts comments critiques are always appreciated.
11 years ago
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cwphoto
Posts: 2332 - Karma: 780
FDMFirst video bump:

https://vimeo.com/92408179

Did almost all tripod shots due to the fact that they were going close to 25-45mph downhill and could take corners faster than our car.

Thoughts comments critiques are always appreciated.


I thought it turned out really good! Only things I noticed, which aren't even problems, just suggestions : I'd try to get a little bit more color next time. Personally, I love using cinestyle to play with colors. And a couple shots were barely shaky, nothing bad. All of the tripod shots were on point.

Definitely a really solid edit, I liked it! That looks like a really fun place to skate.


clicky

https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/707501/SLUT-CITY-SKATING
11 years ago
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Ehh...
Posts: 1897 - Karma: 1,423
connorwyckoffI thought it turned out really good! Only things I noticed, which aren't even problems, just suggestions : I'd try to get a little bit more color next time. Personally, I love using cinestyle to play with colors. And a couple shots were barely shaky, nothing bad. All of the tripod shots were on point.

Definitely a really solid edit, I liked it! That looks like a really fun place to skate.


clicky

https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/707501/SLUT-CITY-SKATING



Huge thanks for the response back. Color correcting is still a work in progress with me. It was difficult as well because lighting changed halfway through on us because the sun came over the mountain halfway through so it was little challenge trying to keep things looking consistently.

But as for the shakey shots, I do notice those as well. Mainly the problem is as soon as I get off the tripod the film quality goes to shit. So I am definitely looking at rigs/practicing free holding the camera to get better at it. +k for a view and response on this!
11 years ago
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t_nullmeyer
Posts: 311 - Karma: 1,604
I film longboarding all the time. I find there is a few ways to follow cam/film.
1. Buttboard- now you can either just hold the camera handheld, or use a glidecam sitting on your board. Im used to it, so ive been upwards of 40-50km/h.
2. Car follows- either use a car suction mount on the hood or back (around $70), or open the trunk and film out of that
3. Longboarding with them with handle rig or glidecam
4. Tripod shots for flyby

Wide angle will always look best, becuase it gives the illusion of going fast, and thats what we longboarders like.
11 years ago
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Ehh...
Posts: 1897 - Karma: 1,423
t_nullmeyerI film longboarding all the time. I find there is a few ways to follow cam/film.
1. Buttboard- now you can either just hold the camera handheld, or use a glidecam sitting on your board. Im used to it, so ive been upwards of 40-50km/h.
2. Car follows- either use a car suction mount on the hood or back (around $70), or open the trunk and film out of that
3. Longboarding with them with handle rig or glidecam
4. Tripod shots for flyby

Wide angle will always look best, becuase it gives the illusion of going fast, and thats what we longboarders like.


Thanks for replying - I know this thread may seem long past but I definitely in the need of ideas to keep this follow cam thing a going I never really figured out how to do it. I was just concerned about a suction to the hood being to flimsy to hold on a DSLR that weighs like 4-6 pounds (or 2-4 kilos for you Europeans.

I have just never done buttboarding but I feel like you have to be pretty proficient to get up to the speed you are talking about.


we are getting better than the first time we went. Much appreciative of the criticism as well as input on rigs.
11 years ago
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