The opening credits - How was it done?

[Dr. Manhatten]

I was able to rewatch the opening credits recently and it still floors me everytime. Also, I'm a filmmaker and was commissioned to do a music video for an R&B singer, and the general concept is that it's about a girl in love with a man, but she's hesitant because her previous boyfriend was fairly explosive. I'm trying to do a video that's similar in tone to the credits, strangely enough, but was also trying to find out how they did some of the tricks in it. Like how everyone was practically still but the camera was still moving, with only slight movement. Was there a video anywhere about how they did it?

 

[BeserkerHilf]

1.) Camera was overcranked. that much is just common sense.

2.) Camera was on a dolly track to push in or out depending on the shot.

3.) The flash bulb was a prolonged flash.


I'm also a filmmaker and you can really see how simple it all really is.

 

[Hellrider]

1.) Camera was overcranked. that much is just common sense.

2.) Camera was on a dolly track to push in or out depending on the shot.

3.) The flash bulb was a prolonged flash.


I'm also a filmmaker and you can really see how simple it all really is.

Yea it is pretty simple... And to add to that, it was recorded at high frame rates, slowed down in post production.

 

[Deadshot59]

Doesn't seem too insanely hard, but it was stunning.

Also, find your own style.

 

[BeserkerHilf]

Yea it is pretty simple... And to add to that, it was recorded at high frame rates, slowed down in post production.

yea, that's what overcranked means. and there's no slower it down in post, it's just naturally 60fps or whatever they shot it in.

 

[CrimsonMist]

the normal frame rate is 24 fps or 30 fps(i'm not too sure). In the case of the opening credits to Watchmen, it was filmed at a faster rate(we'll say 60fps, or whatever they shot it in).

Filming it in 60, the film records the image faster, so if you played it back at 60, the images would move very fast. So what they do is they play it back at the normal 24, slowing down the image significantly, hence slow motion. If they filmed it at 15, and played it back at 24, the images would move faster.

so to sum it up, the higher you crank it, the slower it'll be when played back normally. The lower you crank it, the faster it'll be.

 

[DChero]

It's 24 fps for film and 29.97 for video (in the states).

I know I didn't add anything, but I can't pass up a video comment. Heh.