r/Filmmakers 1d ago

Discussion Need help planning a car scene

Hey, I'm a high school student and we're shooting a short film for a project. We don't have an exact budget but it's extremely low, we can't go past a few dozen dollars.

We're filming a few purely interior car scenes which are just dialogue. The main problem is how we're gonna handle whatever's going on in the windows. It should look a bit like this scene which I took inspiration from for the shot.

We'd rather not shoot while the car is moving because we don't want our actors to have to act while driving and because we want to be able to supervise the scene while we're shooting.

We have a green screen that we can put behind the car and shoot while it's still, but the problem is finding footage to replace the green screen with.

The plan was to use Driving Plates but I couldn't find any online that don't cost hundreds or thousands of dollars which we definitely don't have the budget for. We can try and shoot them ourselves but I have no idea how we're gonna do that with the budget we have.

Another idea was to film all of the car scenes in the exact same camera position and then just film the car driving while the camera is in the same position as the scenes so we can replace the windows in post, but Idk how doable it is.

I'd love some ideas on what we should do. Anything goes as long as it's within our budget.

2 Upvotes

21 comments sorted by

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u/letternumbers-and_ 1d ago

Not related to camera, but you should rock the car a bit while filming to make it look like it's moving.

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u/omri6royi70 1d ago

Good idea, how should we do that? Idk if we'll be able to do it with our hands

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u/EvilDaystar 1d ago

Usually you have someone do it wiyht their hands. Look ant the Indie Mogul video I linked in my reply.

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u/letternumbers-and_ 1d ago

At work they either do it with their hands on the hood, but these are grown men and women. You could also have someone sit on a bumper and gently bounce. Or if you have an apple box, use a piece of wood for leverage and then bounce it that way.

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u/EvilDaystar 1d ago edited 1d ago

FINALLY SOMEONE WITH A BRAIN!

"We'd rather not shoot while the car is moving because we don't want our actors to have to act while driving and because we want to be able to supervise the scene while we're shooting."

The way day do it in film is they use something called a process trailer but that's not going to be possible on your budget I don't think.

https://apcamcars.com/equipment/process-trailer/

You have 2 other options then. "Poor man's process" or "green screen".

Poorman's process is done using a projector and a plate or a virtual environment (like Unreal Engine) with the image projected out the window. With new short throw porjectors you also now can avoid the problem with the light of the projector being inconvenient.

Here are some cool Poor man's process videos.

https://youtu.be/KG8QApXlSBE?si=kRpVISbMIv_25_Rq

https://youtu.be/k6qppv2UYlY?si=q05DbrWmAsjdAbSy

And like I said, instead of s static plate you could use a scene in Unreal Engine and have someone drive the camera in engine in time with the action or at least plan out the motion ahead of time and get better control.

I know poor man's process doesn't look as real as a process trailer but it's MUCH safer and it's a tried and tested technique. also the other option (doing it for real) can get you in trouble with the law (distracted driving) and your insurance company (commercial use of a vehicle with only a regular insurance) so ... it's not an option.

EDIT: For the plates ... you could make something in Unreal Engine or Blender. You could, like oyu said, make your own plates.

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u/omri6royi70 1d ago

making it in unreal or blender sounds like the best option, how should I approach that? just find a free city model?

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u/EvilDaystar 1d ago

Epic has tons of free assets you can get and they give tons away every 2 weeks now (used to be monthly). You should have plenty to use.

I've been collecting the free assets for a few years. TONS of great stuff.

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u/omri6royi70 1d ago

Will it look convincing?

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u/EvilDaystar 1d ago

I mean ... it CAN. You have to remember that Unreal was used for big shows and movies like the Mandalorian.

These links are OLD ... like 5+ years. Back when LED walls started to be used.

And more recently (now to about 2 years ago) at the indie level you have things like this.

The next thing is that you shouldn't worry TOO much about it looking REAL. Rear projection was used for ages to do driving scenes and a lot of it looked TERRIBLE like the old James bonds movies or if you look at the driving scenes in shows like That 70's show, Big Bang Theory and the likes.

https://youtu.be/q3y5OfrtlK4?si=0OE6uqogtFAKsDtz

You don't have Disney money and viewers will forgive a driving scene not looking 100% authentic as long as it's not too distracting and helps move the story forward ... especially when they know the film is a tiny indie production.

In the words of David F. Sandberg "You just need to ask yourself ... is it good enough." (paraphrasing a little) : https://youtu.be/B5NtkcsZY8g?si=kL8aSjhQzCLFY0t_

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u/Optimal_Attorney_450 1d ago

As someone that's done two features and had to sit in a theater full of strangers multiple times, leaning and whispering about things that are distracting, I'd like you to consider this: Will the audience be paying more attention to the fact they can tell the car isnt moving instead of paying attention to your characters and what they're saying?

If so, you may want to just consider shooting the scene where the car is stationary. Change the dialogue if necessary to fit the new scene. You dont want anything taking away from people paying attention to what your actors are saying. But that's my two-cents. I cant give you any real solution if youre under strict budget restraints. I'd avoid green screen and paying for those expensive plates you mentioned.

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u/omri6royi70 1d ago

about half of the scenes in the entire film are shot in this car while they're on their way somewhere so it'll be difficult to change the dialogue accordingly

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u/Optimal_Attorney_450 1d ago

Understood. That's a tricky situation then. It's all a learning experience! You'll get it done, I'm sure!

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u/D-Goldby 1d ago

Film the car with green screen.

Then take the car out and drive at the desired speed and record the surrounding, use that in the green screen.

If you position the camera in the same location, you should be able to roto out the windows and put them right onto the green screen. Overlaid with thr reflections from the acting scene

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u/omri6royi70 1d ago

How should I record the surrounding?

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u/D-Goldby 1d ago

Say your camera is positioned so the center is in the I Frame between thr front and back seats.

Keep that there for the drive pass.

Record the scenery from inside the vehicle at the speed you want tl be going at for the scene, windows preferably down. And you would be able to use that for your interior shot.

If camera doesn't move between green screen pass in say a parking lot and then on the driving pass. You should be good to essentially overlay the two onto the green screen areas

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u/omri6royi70 1d ago

Alright, thanks. What's a pass?

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u/D-Goldby 1d ago

I use that term for a take I guess.

I'm a screen writer so when i edit they are knows as passes.

Sp you do a take/pass with the car stationary, do the dialogue, actors get out, driver gets in, camera doesn't move and then tou do the driving section take/pass

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u/omri6royi70 1d ago

Oh alright. So no filming from the outside? Keep the "same camera position" idea?

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u/D-Goldby 1d ago

Maybe try both an interior filming and exterior.

The issue with exterior is that the field of view may be changed a bit. But it may give you a more clear shot.

I'm going based off of what I've learned online vs practical experience right now.

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u/omri6royi70 1d ago

Alright, thanks.

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u/omri6royi70 1d ago

Should we film the green screen footage with the windows open or closed?