How To Shoot Under Water Scenes
How To Shoot Under Water -- The Difficulties and Dangers
Shooting under water has its dangers and it has its advantages. It can be a long and difficult process. The first thing to get to get think about what you want to actually shoot. I'll use an example for reference. We'll shoot part of a film called Her Compact Disc. A girl drops her compact disc in the pool and her boyfriend jumps in to save it. While underwater, he sees a dead body in the water.
So you'll be using a pool. Even if you were shooting at a lake or in the ocean, the ideal is the shoot in a pool if you will be seeing underwater. It is the clearest type of water to shoot in because of the chlorine. Some beaches have clear water but they are few and far between. It's also easier to get light down there as well.
Now that you have your story, you'll need to put the visuals together. Create your shots. Let's say we have eight shots under water. We will see the boy's legs and the dead body definitely. You'll have to create light so that the camera can see all the action.
Creating light under water is also different but there are many different options help. You can put Plexiglas on the bottom of the pool and deflect the light from lights that are set up around the pool. This wouldn't work in a lake or an ocean because the light would not carry through the murkiness.
A better way to create light under water is simply to shine the lights on the characters from above. You can use HMI's, 600K's or other very large and powerful lights. This is probably the best way to create light for a pool in the day time.
Another way to create light is by renting lighting equipment that is equipped to go under water. There are a few equipment places out there that have such equipment such as Ikelight Underwater Housing. The equipment has to be handled by someone who knows about electricity and light. They have to be knowledgeable about not only setting up lights but also about using this kind of equipment under water.
Ikelight, along with a few other companies like Light and Motion and gates Underwater Products also make the housing in which you will put your camera. The official term for this equipment is called underwater housing. It is not safe to put your camera in anything else like a bubble or a garbage bad when shooting underwater. You are more likely to damage your camera if you do not have the right equipment.
The underwater housing is just that. It is like a tent to put your camera in while going underwater. The camera will be able to see everything clearly. There are different types of housing for different cameras. Make sure you have a DP who can swim and who can hold his breath. Have him practice before going on the shoot. Also make sure there is a stunt person or a safety coordinator on set so that they can help to prevent accidents.
Make sure the make-up person gets make-up that is waterproof as well. Shoot all your dry scenes first and then go into the water. Make your actors as comfortable as possible. Keep plenty of towels around for the actors, the DP and his camera assistant. Also, the equipment around the pool should be firmly locked, sandbagged and monitored while shooting. Nothing should be at risk of falling into the pool.
Have a safety meeting before setting anything up outside. Whoever is in charge of the electrical nature of the shoot, have him check and set up the area. Things should be as safe as possible. Keep your first aid kit on set at all times, just in case.
If you are in a pool, the DP can wear his regular clothes as long as he has a change of them or doesn't mind being wet later. In a lake or an ocean, the DP is required of have on a wet suit or a diving suit. It's more practical for such a complicated shoot.
When shooting underwater, you should be as careful as possible. You should the shots as slowly as possible as well and be patient. It will take the wind out of some actors to shoot so much underwater and it will also work your crew very hard, especially those underwater.
Links:
www.ikelight.com
www.gateshousing.com
www.uwimaging.com
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