How to Film Motorcycles
Motorcycles are fast, loud and out of control. So are the people who ride them supposedly. Shooting the vehicles in a film is a little bit harder than shooting a car. You can control the speed of a car and still make it look like you are going really fast if inside the car. But with motorcycles, there is no inside. If you are comparing it to other vehicles, there is a way to make it look faster while at a slow speed for safety and quality picture. But at a high speed by itself, it is hard to get the person riding on the motorcycle in emotional context. A film that gets the cyclist in a great emotional context is Kill Bill. The way the motorcycle scene is shot to show emotion from the cyclist to the people in the car is a perfect example of editing emotionally. The motorcycle has to be given personality when being shot and the actor/actress has to look comfortable riding it. First if all, the actor or the stunt double riding the motorcycle has to take a course in riding a motorcycle. The course is three months long and at the end, they will get a license to ride a motorcycle. Once they are trained to ride a motorcycle, they should be trained to ride for film. Turning corners fast, being able tot ride and listen in an earpiece for directions, these things have to be learned and practiced before getting on set to shoot the film. All safety precautions should be taken for the crew and the actors. Just as when shooting a car commercial, you must have the right equipment to place your cameras on so that they are secure and stable. Car mounts can be placed on vehicles following or riding beside the motorcycles. You must decide on a certain speed by have the vehicle with the camera go a little faster to stay ahead of the motorcycle if in front. Helicopters are often used here as well so that you can get an overhead view on the road. But you need to know the right lenses to use for such a distance. A wide angle lens is best to get the overview and sharpness when the speed is at its highest. During close-ups when the cyclist is moving forward, you should choose a high-speed lens to capture the quickness of the motorcycle. In The Matrix Reloaded, they use very high-end equipment and high-speed lenses to capture the vehicles in a high-speed freeway chase. Although most of it was computer generated, they did need to shoot a lot of the scene on the motorcycles. The cars were mostly generated to create the idea that the motorcycles were moving at maximum speed. Practice makes perfect. Have your actors practice more than you would normally because motorcycles are more dangerous than bigger vehicles especially on the road. If they are stunt people, have a designated time for them to be able to practice their stunts. When you get on set, make sure that your area to shoot in is clear of civilians and crew members are at a safe distance. After you have taken your shot, you should always check to see if the driver is okay. Sometimes actors or stunt people will not tell you how they are so that they can get the shoot over with. But it is imperative that if they feel tired, heat exhausted or anything else unhealthy, that they take a break and come back when they're ready. Good shots of a motorcyclist all have to do with the kind of story. Easy Rider is all about the lone motorcyclist type of shots. Riding high and happy on their motorcycles, taking in the air and having the wind blow in their hair. Kill Bill has a scene that is all about anger and making it with determination to your destination. The colors are bold, dark and some even bright. The eyes of the driver are important to the story. When you're shooting with a vehicle in the picture, you must take time to d each and every shot properly. For every page, you should be shooting a day if a motorcycle scene is in the mix. So be safe, take your time and pay attention to your shots so that they will edit together properly. Choose the right equipment lenses so that your shots will be in focus and smooth.
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