With a focus on lighting and camera movement, we set out to capture some footage. For a start, we set up a dolly rig, which I’d never actually worked with before. We focused on using movement within the shot and how this can be used to effect. We practised having the camera and movement of the subject align as if they were mirroring each other’s movement, having the camera lead and having the camera follow. Each produces a different effect, and we discovered which is most appropriate based on the actions captured in the shot.

The first shot we produced followed the movement of the subject (Gabe) almost precisely as he moved. As he was centred in the frame, we found that the most appropriate movement would involve keeping him in the middle of the frame to continue the aesthetic. I found that this shot, even though it was a continuous single shot with similar framing throughout, gave three very distinct frames which could have existed as separate shots but were made more comedic and effective by remaining in a single shot. We later tried the same sequence of shots to test whether having Gabe follow the movement of the camera would be as effective but it didn’t communicate the framing as well.

After this we tested more elaborate movements with the camera, combining pans, tracks and tilts to shift focus from different subjects within the shot. We found that these sorts of movements need to be thoroughly calculated, and that you need to mark essentially every point at which the camera needs to end up. This resulted in 3 or so people being behind the camera – one to primarily drive it, one to ensure that the focus was pulled to the right setting and one to check that the camera was stopping at the right points.

I enjoyed using the dolly rig and now realise the creative potential you have with really fluid movement. I’m not sure whether I’ll make use of this with what I choose to produce further down the track as I feel that a handheld feel might compliment the style of footage a little better.