>> ^MonkeySpank:

The eye movement is normal, and it compensates for the head bob when the dog runs so that little scruffy here has a smooth vision while bouncing. We do the same thing when we walk, but to a lesser extent because our head doesn't bob as much. Some birds don't have a moving eye in the socket, and would require stop-and-go motion while walking, such as pigeons, or head/neck rotation/panning for owls. Unlike humans, most birds have a refresh rate of at least 100Hz, so the effect cannot be compensated by rapid in-socket eye movement.


This is why you can tape a camera to a chicken's head and use it for a steadicam. No bullshit.

If so, they've spent millions on VFX getting the parallax right.

Though it does seem odd that they can afford guests like that but no Steadicams.>> ^deathcow:

Do they sell a camera mount with "optimal person wobble" , or perhaps in the editing room the wobble is applied as a mutating frame crop.

Tags for this video have been changed from 'models, steadicam, Bullet Time, photography, guns' to 'models, steadicam, Bullet Time, photography, guns, filter, hey man nice shot' - edited by xxovercastxx

Yes, not a steadicam, but a very cool little device.

That's not at all a steadicam, but super neat nonetheless.

Tags for this video have been changed from 'chicken, head, tracking, steady' to 'chicken, head, tracking, steady, steadicam' - edited by calvados

Totally disappointing. When I saw "Chicken Powered Steadicam" I expected some shaky video from the chicken running around with a camera on it's head (maybe accompanied by some yakety-sax). What was the point of having a "steadi-cam" on a chicken's head if you're just gonna hold on to it? I don't care if his head stays in place when you twist him from side to side, put him down and let him run!

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>> ^Lolthien:
not sure there wasn't some sort of cut there.


giggle.

Thank you! Thought you'd enjoy it. (the song)

In reply to this comment by blankfist:
*promote

We shot it with the Panasonic AG-HVX200. I've seen stuff shot with that camera that looked way better, and way more film-like, but we were constantly in a rush and never really had time to properly set stuff up. Which is probably just a convenient excuse. It's true though!

And yeah, the steadicam shot did turn out pretty nice (and that's actually one of the only things I actually paid for, outside of food and various little things like props). I've always been a really big fan of long steadicam shots, so if this really is my last film I'm glad I got to do that.

As for the length -- it definitely is way too long. I probably should have let someone else have a crack at it. The original cut was 37 minutes though, so I did manage to cut some stuff out.

Anyway, thanks for the comments. When do we get to see your film?

Very impressive, Sarzy. I especially liked the long handheld (steadicam) fluid master shot down the hall. I do like it when movies take their time to tell a story like that. Hopefully it won't be the last film you make. In this industry, even calling cards aren't enough. I have friends who are doing some big shit right now, but that's not helping me out at all. It's a tough industry, but to enjoy it is to need to pursue it doggedly.

I think the biggest gripe I'd have with it is the length. It may behoove you to consider using an editor outside of yourself. I cut a rough assembly of my movie, then handed it off to an editor. My rough assembly was just at two hours and ten minutes. The final cut is now just under 90 mintues.

I think all heist movies should have actors with Canadian accents. I think you did an excellent job, hombre. Keep at it!

By the way, what did you shoot this with?

1. I'm not actually a chimp.

2. I have a political science BA even though I'm completely apathetic when it comes to politics.

3. I am (was) related to Edward Said.

4. I hate the word "foodie."

5. I am a foodie (for lack of a better word).

6. I slept with the lights on until my first year of university.

7. I once played a racing game in an arcade with John Tesh.

8. I went to film school.

9. I'm abandoning my dreams of becoming a filmmaker and going into law school in September (assuming one will accept me).

10. One of the highlights of my life (recently at least) was actually hiring a steadicam operator for a recent short film I made (which will probably end up being the last film I ever make).

11. The most times I've ever seen a film theatrically was Punch Drunk Love (seven times).

12. I've been playing videogames since the Atari, and would definitely call myself a gamer, though I've probably only finished maybe 20 or so games all the way through.

13. I am way more of an introvert than I'd like to be (ie. I'm distressingly shy).

14. Stanley Kubrick is a god to me.

15. I cannot stand people who use the word "guesstimate".

16. I've only watched three movies at home in the last two months thanks to the humongous time-sink that is World of Warcraft.

17. The first thing I ever downloaded was a picture of Andrew Dice Clay from a BBS. It was mind-blowing.

18. I made my first website, a Duke Nukem 3D fansite, in 1996. You can still see it at the internet archive (http://web.archive.org/web/19981205233542/http://members.aol.com/knusair/duke3d/duke3d.htm).

19. When I first heard about 3D cards, I thought "a card just for 3D graphics? What a ridiculous idea, that'll never fly." I bought my first 3D card (a Monster 3D) a couple of years later.

20. I can't stand watching or playing sports of any kind (even hockey, which means I can never truly be a Canadian, despite being born here and living here all my life).

21. I can't stand the taste of beer (see above, RE: not a real Canadian).

22. My family is Palestinian on both sides, though I rarely tell people that to avoid the inevitable discussions/conflict.

23. I wear a Mickey Mouse watch.

24. I've never been in a fight.

25. I would like to one day travel to every country in the world, with the exception of the super-poor and/or scary ones (ie. I have no real desire to go to, say, Afghanistan).

I saw this at the Toronto Film Festival. It's more of the same for Gus Van Sant (flowing steadicam shots, long stretches with no dialogue, etc) but I loved it. I thought he went too far with Last Days, which was just dull for the most part, but this one was actually really compelling and really good. My favourite of this batch of films (Gerry, Elephant, Last Days, and Paranoid Park) is still Elephant, but this was a close second.

Wow, some nice steadicam work at 1:33.