Poor Man’s Process

Outline

There are several widely adopted methods used as alternatives to shooting scenes in a moving vehicle. Outside of the obvious safety concerns, recording sync sound of the actors’ performances is also challenging in a moving vehicle or on a process trailer.

Below is a brief overview of the most commonly used alternative production process shots for synthesizing a moving vehicle.

Please consult with your instructor-of-record and the Coordinator of Film Production Services for advise regarding your specific production.

Overview of the Process

The process photography is a widely used, specifical effect (SFX) filmmaking technique to simulate driving in a controlled environment. This primarily accomplished by using various, in-camera lighting techniques on a stationary vehicle such as overhead streetlights, on-coming head lights, and other moving light gags.

While typically done within the black void of a sound stage, this can also be accomplished in private parking lots or driveways that have relatively dark environments around them. Camera movement and sound design also signficiantly helps to sell this filmmaking technique.

Why typically used for night time, scenes taking place during daylight can also be accomplished using skyblue backdrops or just keeping background elements out-of-focus and minimally framed.

The primary benefit to this process is the ability to control the enviroment for sync sound recording, makes for easier reset and continues takes, and is overall a much safer approach for productions with limited budgets and experience.

Rear Projection

Using video projectors and screens, adding moving backgrounds of actual exterior plates to the process can dramatically enhance the realism of the shot. This can be done for either night or day scenes with some simple planning ahead and thoughtful shot design.

Chroma Key Compositing

Using green or blue screens to add moving backgrounds is also a common visual effects (VFX) technique added to the process. This is similar to video project but allows for the background to be added later in post-production. The advantage of this is not burning-in the background, giving the filmmaker options after the fact.

Green screens are often setup in the control of a sound stage but can also be staged in private parking lots or driveways.

The technique requires filmming plates of the background of each scene in advance and then matching the lighting to correspond with each plate. VFX applications such as Adobe After Effects is used to composite the background plates into each shot and to remove and add any artifacts to help sell that the vehicle is moving.

Virtual Production

The introduction of LED display panels offers a notable alternative to both green screens and rear projection processes as they can also be used as lighting and reflection sources.

When combined with modern, RGBW+ LED lighting instruments, pixel mapping, camera tracking, and virtual sets hosted in gaming engines; productions are able to create dynamic volumes with outstanding potential.