Hello, this is my first post. I am the President of GoldBlade Studios. We are in the process of creating a War Movie (No title yet). But I want some soldiors in the background because since this is an Indie movie with a couple of friends, I don't have much of a budget.
Anyone have any suggestions for a guy that doesn't do 3D :P? Thanks!
- GoldBlade Studios
Masking would be the best choice if you dont have a lot of costumes. Heres a video on how they did in saving private ryan http://www.beyondhollywood.com/saving-private-ryans-beach-scene-on-the-cheap/
"Imperfection equals Realism"
Where are you? What country/state?
There are WW2 reenactors all over the place and I would suggest contacting them. They come with their own equipment (sometimes that includes tanks*, usually it includes jeeps and armored cars, always it includes uniforms and weapons) and most have a pretty good attitude.
You could either (a) arrange to have some actually there when you film (b) arrange to shoot one of their events in order to get original stock footage to use in the background (assuming you shoot your actors in front of a green-screen). (c) A combination of both.
It might also be very useful to see if you can get some of your actors kitted up in the appropriate gear (units often have a spare or two so interested friends can come out with the hope they'll get hooked and buy their own gear later) and join in an event or two. This could get them experience in moving around in the gear naturally, a source of info on how and why the gear works (the stupid things that cover your bootlaces are called gators and they go on for this reason and in this way) and allow you to potentially shoot some of that footage during an event and have it actually star your actors in somewhat unscripted running about and shooting (blanks of course).
Even some of the stuff shot around the barracks or milling about during breaks could be useful. Especially if you find one of the groups that goes for accuracy to such an extent that they create historically correct packaging for their meals.
Oh, and if they sniff that you have a lot of money they will ask for more. If they know you've got none they will be easier to deal with. As you can probably tell I hook up with such a group now and then and we had a History channel team running about during an event shooting us just because they needed some new WW2 type footage.
* footnote. One of the Russian tanks modified to be a German tank that was used in Saving Private Ryan is owned by one fo the guys in a reenacting group in Northern California. They've also got a Czech half-track painted to look German. A Stuart tank. A Russian tank. Also armored cars and jeeps and at least one motorcycle and truck. And if they ever get them all out at once it is awesome.
RJSchwarz
Thanks!
I will do masking. I had everything all shot except for those scenes where my soldiors come in. Thanks!
- GoldBlade Studios
I remember you RJ schwarz posting this video on 3 or 4 guys filming a d day invasion then masking it. The results are pretty amazing. You should definately try this as if you can get it to turn out in the same way you have got a amazing result and saved alot of money in cost of extras.
http://kk.org/ct2/2008/01/extraless-films.php
Thanks
Rob - UK
Rob - UK
