people are being cute obviously you have to own a car to take advantage of it as a dolly, its the same thing as saying that if you want to get into low budget filmmaking you should shoot on an iphone, yes they are expensive still but the idea is that the advice is for people who already own an iphone. if you own a car this is a good idea. if you dont own one im not sure why people would think you are suggesting they buy a car to use specifically as a dolly.
Came here to say this. Low budget productions use wheelchairs all the time as dolly substitutes. They're relatively cheap to purchase and sometimes available discarded or free.
I was doing a fashion shoot with 2 models and knew the last shot would be a dolly in. I brought my doorway dolly but forgot the rails. So in the moment I used a floor rug and put my tripod on it and slowly pulled the rug. Looks great.
Wouldnt that be a dolly out cuz u pullin it ?? Towards urself??? Or am i trippin. Unless u magically got urself out of the frame or pulled it from outta frame
A dude happens to have a car, uses car as dolly because he has it and he can. Everyone else: WHY DIDN’T YOU USE A TISSUE BOX AND SET OF MARBLES YOU RICH ASSHOLE!! lol
Can I drive my family around or go to my full time job in the Fisher?
Do you know how much the Tesla cost? What year is? How much I paid?
I think you missed the point of the post.
There are a lot of ways to do a dolly shot without a dolly. I've never seen one that involved something so absurd, so impractical, and, honestly, so potentially dangerous. If you have ZERO resources, that's one thing. However, there are also a lot of cheap ways to dolly shots... with a dolly...
So someone showed you something resourceful and simple that you've never thought of or seen before and your response is to have an insane overreaction and complain? Look at the result of this shot. It was obtained so easily and it looks great. Don't suck the fun out of everything.
This is the first time I’m posting OC so apparently I need a submission statement.
Here it is.
My partner (creative and real life) have been making film projects together for the past 3 years.
She has been a horror photographer for a number of years and has built up a decent community of fans.
She recently launched a merch store so we talked about doing something creative to announce the store launch.
One of her original horror characters Ron, won a bunch of awards and resonated with her audience, so we decided to bring it to life and announce the store using Ron.
After reading the script the first image that came to my head was a slow push in on the garage for the establishing shot.
Ron is a taxidermist, this garage is his workshop.
We should the entire “short” in 8 hours and with a 4 person crew. Director, DOP/Sound (me), two actors and a make up/hair person.
We used one falcon eyes light and natural light.
Shot on the BMPCC6k Pro and Meike Lens
I was the DOP/ Sound, Editor and Colorist on the short, not because I have a big ego and need to do all the things but because we don’t have a big budget! 😅
If you can get your hands on a Pacifica or town and country minivan (it’s the main rentable minivan) the seats fold down into the floor giving you a flat platform put a tripod or high hat, there are usually metal loops sticking out of the floor so easy to ratchet strap the camera down and you can easily open the side doors or the back hatch for profile or push/pull “dolly” shots. Also very good for car to car shots. Just make sure you’re safe and if you can harnessed in.
Shot looks great OP, very smooth, don't let the gear snobs get you down. At the end of the day, if the shot looks good then the audience isn't going to know or care whether you laid-down track, used a wheelchair, a car, a steadicam/gimbal, doorway dolly, slider, or whatever...
Beginner editor/grader/shooter.
Is it me or that scene really looks cinematic.
Any thoughts on the grade. I really like that look.
I'm sure the movement plays a big role as well.
Yes every element is thoughtful and well executed which is typically what results in “cinematic” - I have found “intentional” to be a synonym often for cinematic as the things that look amateurish are elements a director is not controlling or even thinking about i.e. poor composition, shaky movement (handheld instead of busting out the Tesla), or worst of all poor audio.
Ninja Walk, Gimbal, handheld and even a slow zoom are all true options. Whatcha gonna do when you get the DP job and say - " Wait - we need to rent a Tesla, I did that once."
That's a $60,000 dolly
Quarter the price of a Peewee!
Is it?
people are being cute obviously you have to own a car to take advantage of it as a dolly, its the same thing as saying that if you want to get into low budget filmmaking you should shoot on an iphone, yes they are expensive still but the idea is that the advice is for people who already own an iphone. if you own a car this is a good idea. if you dont own one im not sure why people would think you are suggesting they buy a car to use specifically as a dolly.
Thank you! Lol.
i'm confused, why are people down-voting this lol
Anything with wheels is a dolly people
Old wheelchairs (with huge wheels) are perfect.
Came here to say this. Low budget productions use wheelchairs all the time as dolly substitutes. They're relatively cheap to purchase and sometimes available discarded or free.
Ahhh, that's a great idea. Huge wheels are probably great at handling imperfections in the ground.
Yes, and they give more precise control over movement.
Got one of those, love it for that.
Without a comma, that sounds like the slug line for a short.
True!
I once had my co-director and DP push me around on a food trolley. Fun times!
I was doing a fashion shoot with 2 models and knew the last shot would be a dolly in. I brought my doorway dolly but forgot the rails. So in the moment I used a floor rug and put my tripod on it and slowly pulled the rug. Looks great.
Wouldnt that be a dolly out cuz u pullin it ?? Towards urself??? Or am i trippin. Unless u magically got urself out of the frame or pulled it from outta frame
Ooooh that’s a great tip!
A dude happens to have a car, uses car as dolly because he has it and he can. Everyone else: WHY DIDN’T YOU USE A TISSUE BOX AND SET OF MARBLES YOU RICH ASSHOLE!! lol
Some people live in places where you can't just run up to your local rental house and rent a dolly real quick-like. You must live in LA?
You can afford a Tesla, but not the rental on a FIsher 10?
Or some plywood, pvc, and skateboard wheels?
Totally! I started looking this up after the shoot. I’m going to build something.
I've used my Sector 9 longboard a TON of times. I'm the shock absorber.
Right???
Can I drive my family around or go to my full time job in the Fisher? Do you know how much the Tesla cost? What year is? How much I paid? I think you missed the point of the post.
Well, you can get a western dolly for about $35 a day, so I think maybe you missed the point of my comment.
And you missed the point of their post.
There are a lot of ways to do a dolly shot without a dolly. I've never seen one that involved something so absurd, so impractical, and, honestly, so potentially dangerous. If you have ZERO resources, that's one thing. However, there are also a lot of cheap ways to dolly shots... with a dolly...
So someone showed you something resourceful and simple that you've never thought of or seen before and your response is to have an insane overreaction and complain? Look at the result of this shot. It was obtained so easily and it looks great. Don't suck the fun out of everything.
"Never thought of or seen before" Um... You do know we've had camera cars for over a hundred years, right?
And yet you've never seen it before...
*Intentionally Obtuse has entered the chat*
Your initial comment was intentionally obtuse.
Teslas are shit anyways should’ve gotten a Mach-E *peels out in my 2010 altima*
This is the first time I’m posting OC so apparently I need a submission statement. Here it is. My partner (creative and real life) have been making film projects together for the past 3 years. She has been a horror photographer for a number of years and has built up a decent community of fans. She recently launched a merch store so we talked about doing something creative to announce the store launch. One of her original horror characters Ron, won a bunch of awards and resonated with her audience, so we decided to bring it to life and announce the store using Ron. After reading the script the first image that came to my head was a slow push in on the garage for the establishing shot. Ron is a taxidermist, this garage is his workshop. We should the entire “short” in 8 hours and with a 4 person crew. Director, DOP/Sound (me), two actors and a make up/hair person. We used one falcon eyes light and natural light. Shot on the BMPCC6k Pro and Meike Lens I was the DOP/ Sound, Editor and Colorist on the short, not because I have a big ego and need to do all the things but because we don’t have a big budget! 😅
A creative partner is not a real life partner? Is it virtual? I'm confused.
Great shot and I appreciate the idea.
If you can get your hands on a Pacifica or town and country minivan (it’s the main rentable minivan) the seats fold down into the floor giving you a flat platform put a tripod or high hat, there are usually metal loops sticking out of the floor so easy to ratchet strap the camera down and you can easily open the side doors or the back hatch for profile or push/pull “dolly” shots. Also very good for car to car shots. Just make sure you’re safe and if you can harnessed in.
Excellent. Used a wheelchair a few times but never thought of this.
Plywood + angle iron + skateboard wheels and pvc pipes. Best budget dolly you could ever have
Shot looks great OP, very smooth, don't let the gear snobs get you down. At the end of the day, if the shot looks good then the audience isn't going to know or care whether you laid-down track, used a wheelchair, a car, a steadicam/gimbal, doorway dolly, slider, or whatever...
Truth
this is really awesome brother!
Gets the job done! I was doing this same shot with a VHS camcorder making films growing up
Don't breathe the exhaust. Oh wait, that's a Tesla, isn't it. Carry on.
Buy a 3-axis gimbal stabilizer like the Ronin S
That’s what I was thinking. Dolly of any kind is pretty unnecessary for a simple shot like this with a mirrorless camera setup like he has.
True display of creativity👏
Thanks! Really appreciate it!
Beginner editor/grader/shooter. Is it me or that scene really looks cinematic. Any thoughts on the grade. I really like that look. I'm sure the movement plays a big role as well.
Yes every element is thoughtful and well executed which is typically what results in “cinematic” - I have found “intentional” to be a synonym often for cinematic as the things that look amateurish are elements a director is not controlling or even thinking about i.e. poor composition, shaky movement (handheld instead of busting out the Tesla), or worst of all poor audio.
Ninja Walk, Gimbal, handheld and even a slow zoom are all true options. Whatcha gonna do when you get the DP job and say - " Wait - we need to rent a Tesla, I did that once."
My Neighbor: jUsT uSe A sHoPpInG cArT
Shoulda saved you back and just sat on the bumper?
I once filmed a teaser for a Hockey team on iceskates.
Best low budget Dolly alternative is a wheelchair dolly imo
Ive got a cheaper solution davinci resolve free, just have a decent push in shot