Dynamic Chase Scenes
Click to EnlargeInteractive Tutorial Content
To view the tutorial video for Dynamic Chase Scenes and download project files to work along with the tutorial, click here.
Introducing an exciting new feature from Videomaker: Interactive tutorials! Every month these articles will link to an on-line training video and clips you can download to recreate the effect or technique. See the end of this story for the link.
If you make a car chase using only one camera angle, it will be the world's most boring chase, no matter how fast the cars are going. The key to making chase scenes work is an abundance of coverage. The more cuts in the scene, the more effective it tends to be. Adding the right soundtrack to accompany the visuals finishes off a more effective action scene. Videomaker's first mag and online tutorial will cover the technique of making exciting chase scenes.
As a director with any movie, you want to keep your story's perspective in mind. If your story focuses on Veronica, female spy aged 25, then your camera angle choices should reflect her point of view, or POV. If she is dominant, the lower camera angles looking upwards toward her will convey a sense that she is tall and in charge. The POV, is not always on the perspective of the main character, but you justify what's known as the "God" point of views as how that character interacts with them.
Tricks: Slo Mo, Handheld and Fast-paced Action
In the 1980's, action scenes used a lot of slow motion and were mostly on sticks. Ever since 1998's Saving Private Ryan, the tendency for action scenes has been a more handheld "realistic" or documentary feel. This has spilled over to action TV shows like Firefly and 24, plus movies like the Bourne series. Handheld camera angles establish a reckless feeling, and tripod shots feel smooth. The current fad of handheld puts the audience into the story, with a "you are there" feel.
For chase scenes, you should use a variety of angles to convey a sense of fast movement. Getting as much coverage as possible gives the editor more control. The concept is that, in an action scene, things happen faster and people will think faster, so it is acceptable to cut faster and convey more information in less time.
Car Chase
The Setup: International jewel thief Vivian has just heisted diamonds and police are pursuing her as she races off in her red BMW.
For a car chase, you can get shots of all kinds of things to make it visually more interesting and convey a sense of speed, even if you drive mostly 25mph. Make a list of things to shoot that relate to speed and the story.
The shots (listed below) might comprise only 30 seconds of screen time or less, but they could take half a day or more to shoot.
Caption: Here's an action sequence broken down shot by shot. With the right pacing and the use of cutaways and closeups, you can make the action seem faster than it really is.
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