Does anyone know any good websites for making camera dollies? PLease help! My friend and I need to make one!
One of the most common dollies for low-budget filmmakers is a normal wheelchair - ideally one with inflatable tyres (which you let down to help reduce camera shake).
Ben C.
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filmmaking.net
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Benjamin Craig
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Anything else? Anyone have a website with directions etc??
yes i do, if a cheap and simple dolly is what you're looking for than,
simple door way dolly is the ticket. Well, let me rephrase that, if you're going DV this is ideal. it's light and attaches straight to stix, which gives gives allowences for breaking down and setting up from scene to scene. If you don't want to pay for it at the film eqip. shop they're really easy to make...oh i just saw on the net that there is also a even more simple way to make a steady cam for under 14$...crazy huh?
what i would do in this case, is to get my camera man to sit on the wheelchair and then put one those small tripods on his lap. That you can get a more steady shot.
By the way, do you know where can you get those unflattable wheel chairs.
?;)?
the more independent, the finest
the more independent, the finest
If you're going the wheelchair route over uneven ground (i.e. outside, on gravel, over bodies, etc. etc.) and are happy with single direction movements, I've found that putting a few pieces of gutter down and rolling the wheelchair down that works. You can hook them together with a few screws and pieces of pvc pipe....or y'know whatever.
Personally, I use an OFFICE CHAIR with wheels..you know the ones used in front of computer system? The ones that turn around 360 degrees? You can either attach the camera to it, or you can have someone sit on it and somebody else moving him around. Very effective and cheap.
If the scene consists of someone running ( or filming a moving car), you'll need something that goes faster, so what shall you use?SKATEBOARD! Yes, if you know somebody you knows how to skate, it's a great way to film people running or moving cars. Have you ever seen a skate video? Usually, the guy who's filming is skating too. it's very efficicient.
If you want a more sophisticated dolly, check out this website:
http://www.matthawkins.co.uk/special_fx/sfx_camera_dolly.htm
