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About AFT
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AFT On the Set

AFT
1-Ton Package
Lighting
Grip
Effects
Cameras
Camera Support
Car Mounts
Sound
Expendables
Light Comparisons

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Car Mount Systems
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click to see sample footage (3mb quicktime) |
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features:
A very simple rig with three mounting points that secure the
camera above and below. Two suction cups support the camera plate with
a third cup locking down the camera top.
The sample
footage shows this rig while cornering.
straight talk:
This rig provides a solid camera platform away from the car but isn't
absolutely still. Small vibrations will still get to the camera and appear
in the frame. Some cinematographers like a little bit of frame
movement to give the scene a sense of motion (as opposed to a process
shot on a blue screen stage.) To reduce vibration further:
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Support the lens with a rod system.
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Travel at slower speeds.
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Add a wind cowling ahead of camera to
direct the air stream away.
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Choose your roads carefully
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Rent a car trailer.
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Secure the camera to the vehicle:
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Prepare car by cleaning surfaces where suction
cups will be affixed.
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Prepare camera plate by bolting two baby pins to
the base - one on the "inside-front" corner and another on the
"outside-back" corner.
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Attach the suction cup that will support camera
plate to vehicle.
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Use a grip head to attach camera plate to suction
cup.
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Attach another suction cup above and behind camera
plate to provide vertical support.
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Add grip heads and 24" steel rod to secure further
secure the camera plate. Create a little tension between
points by slightly stressing the steel rods between grip heads.
This creates counter-tension between in the system to reduce the
common wobble that would otherwise occur.
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Mount and position/focus the camera.
Secure the camera from wobbling:
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Add a camera starter pin to the top of the camera.
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Attach a grip head to another suction cup, slide
onto the top-mounted start pin, and secure to vehicle.
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Adjust counter-tension between all elements to
further reduce wobble.
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Double-check all connections for tightness.
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Grab the camera plate and rock it. The
entire vehicle should rock without the camera moving at all relative
to the vehicle.
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I can pre-assemble this rig for you to simplify your setup.
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