Mixing stable and handheld shot

N

nocry

Hi,
I'm trying to achieve a shot but I failed all my tests and I'm wondering if you know some special equipment name.

The idea is that the camera is moving forward and following the actor on tracks (I don't want steadicam as I need perfect stability, and I don't really use tracks but the fotomate vt7005d tripod http://www.shootvision.com/en/video/video-tripods/tripods/video-dolly-tripod-fotomate-vt-7005d) then switch to a handheld camera very quickly like at the begining of Spike Lee' "She Hate Me" when the doctor commits suicide. In the movie, the shot begins stable but doesn't move, making it much simpler to shoot.

My problem is that I don't know how to make the transition quick enough without noticing the manual quick-release plate removal. Does anyone know if there is such thing as a "in-between handle" which we would fix on the quick-release plate (like a glidecam handle) and by pressing it, it will unlock itself from the plate?
 
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At first I thought about it, but even trying to reproduce the shot in She Hate Me (without movement for the stable part), I couldn't get enough stable without a tripod. I can't sit either, the camera need to keep the same height when switching to handheld mode.

This may sounds stupid but the only thing I can think of what I would need, is the kitchen tool : http://www.dorkadore.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Ingenio-range.jpg
When pressing the lateral buttons, it unlocks itself from the pan. I would be great to have the same system for filmmaking :)
 
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I haven't seen the shot so I'm not quite 100% sure the exact look you're wanting.

I'd go for a Steadiop on a dolly who simply steps off the dolly at the appropriate moment. You could then move and stay incredibly steady, or have your steadiop 'float' a bit and give it a bit more handheld feel.

You could give it a go with a Movi as well
 
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The Kessler quick release looks like it pretty much lets you lift straight off, rather than having to slide the camera out. That might be an easy solution.

The real trick is going to be slinging it up from tripod mounted to handheld without a lot of jarring motion though, regardless of the solution you opt for.

A happy medium might be to opt for a monopod. Seat the camera op on a stool or something on a dolly, camera attached to a monopod for stability. At the appropriate moment, have the camera op stand up, bringing the camera with him/her as they do so. You could position them so that there is a shoulder mount just above their shoulder when seated, so that as they stand, the camera naturally comes along for the ride, but the monopod provides good stability while seated. A monopod being pretty small shouldn't get too much in the way for the remainder of the shot, and that extra bit of weight hanging off the bottom of the camera would help steady the handheld portion a bit too.

Worth a test at any rate.
 
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Thank you all for the great advices.
I'll try the monopod idea, as I already have what to try, I didn't think about it.
The Kessler Kwik Release looks awesome too, I never heard about it!!

The Movi M10 doesn't correspond to my needs but it's great.
How do you guys know about all these things? I realize I'm still in a primitive state of filmmaking gear...
 
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nocry said:
How do you guys know about all these things? I realize I'm still in a primitive state of filmmaking gear...
Click to expand...

I have a fairly analytical mind, as a software developer, and coming from a family of engineers.... so the monopod/shoulder-mount thing for me was just a logical progression from what some of the others had already said.

As for the kessler mount, I just saw it on a recent episode of filmriot. ;)

Basically, pay attention to everything, you pick things up along the way. :P
 
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Actually, an easyrig is probably the easiest solution, and if you rent it, will stay very cheap.

Sit on the dolly with the camera on the easyrig, and then just step off - you can then have the camera as still or shaky as you want.

Just make sure you lay proper dolly track and use a proper dolly and it should work a treat.
 
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