Steadicam Shot at beginning by theMonch

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Steadicam Shot at beginning

POSTED BY: THEMONCH
UPDATED: Monday, October 17, 2005 05:24
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Monday, October 17, 2005 3:16 AM

I didn't see it mentioned anywhere else and thought it was worth doing so. If you pay attention during the scene where Mal walks throughout the ship at the beginning of the movie, it is one long Steadicam shot throughout. This means on big long take. This is a very difficult thing to achieve in such a apace like the interior of Serenity. The lighting has to be done very specifically, the blocking and timing of characters to make it feel natural, keep the camera in focus, etc. I just wanted to give kudos to the cast and crew on this one. It was very impressive, yet had a natural feel.

Note: If you don't know what a steadicam rig is, it is a vest with a mechanical arm attached to carry the camera to disquise the movements of the operator.

theMonch

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Monday, October 17, 2005 3:29 AM

PIZMOBEACH

... fully loaded, safety off...

Thx for mentioning this. It blew by me the first time because I was paying so much attention to the dialogue (and I was just gassed to be sitting there) but I had a feeling. Second time I looked for it and watched for where the first cut would happen (cargo bay, River?). You're right - imagining myself as an actor that wouldn't come into the shot until toward the end means a lot of pressure to not flub the timing or the line - if you blow it then EVERYONE has to back up and start again (and the rest of the cast gets free noogies the rest of the day).
I'd guess that JW used that technique to make the ship seem real and not just a collection of sets, and keep the screen energy up with all of the movement...and it's a cool thing to pull off!

Scifi movie music + Firefly dialogue clips, 24 hours a day - http://www.scifiradio.net

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Monday, October 17, 2005 3:42 AM

BISHAMON

I was very impressed with that shot, as well. I am suprised it hasn't been talked about more.

Apparently, it was actually two long shots. It's mentioned in the Trivia section on IMDB:

"The first shot took 30 takes, the second took 16 takes. The seam between the two shots is when the camera turns from Mal walking down the stairs to Simon following him."

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Monday, October 17, 2005 3:46 AM

THESOMNAMBULIST

Hey well spotted :) It's one of Joss' famous 'oners' as he likes to call them.

If you listen out on his commentaries of Buffy, Angel and Firefly, he'll mention how he loves doing these. It always allows the actors to 'spread' there wings a bit. It's always impressive as you say, especially in regards to the lighting.

(D'you remember the one from Goodfellas where they enter in from the back of the kitchen into the club? Excellent stuff!0

Joss also did one for Objects in Space, right at the end where yet again it ended with the camera on River looking at the bouncy ball.

Anyway you're absolutely right, it's impressive from all involved and I think it holds up well with many that have taken place in cinema history.

Nice one

The
Somnambulist

www.cirqus.com

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Monday, October 17, 2005 4:16 AM

GIXXER

A few critics mention it. It's a pretty good indication that they know what they are talking about.

If they notice it, they mention it. If they mention it, they remark how well executed it was. Also it's subtle - you hardly notice it being done to you, and is the best way of doing an introduction to the crew.

And, although one of the gimmickiest moves in cinematography, there's no element of "Look what I can do!" that lesser directors might have crowed about.

By then they'll usually be pulling on a coat that "looks kinda brown."

A good bet they'll also throw in a reference to Orson Welles and "Touch of Evil" (Treat yourself. The intro is a classic benchmark tracking shot, and it's a great movie.)

G

Quinlan: Come on, read my future for me.
Tanya: You haven't got any.
Quinlan: What do you mean?
Tanya: Your future is all used up.

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Monday, October 17, 2005 4:30 AM

SEP7IMUS

Darn right, "Touch of Evil" set the standard!

I noticed it right away in "Serenity," though in that hey-waitaminnut-is-this-all-one-shot? way. The second time I was looking for it, and you CAN spot the seam, but it's well done.

Since we're discussing cool shots, how about that "Vertigo" - style spinning shot around River and then Jayne?

You go, Joss!

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Monday, October 17, 2005 4:47 AM

DERANGEDMILK

Glad, you mentioned it, I thought it was a brilliant way of introducing newbies to the ship, as well as just being flat out cool. I was impressed.
-e

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Monday, October 17, 2005 4:51 AM

LOGGERHEAD

Quote:
Originally posted by Sep7imus:
Since we're discussing cool shots, how about that "Vertigo" - style spinning shot around River and then Jayne?

You mean the one that ends with Jayne saying, "They all died for no reason," then the camera freezing on Wash?

Yeah, caught that the third time through

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Monday, October 17, 2005 5:24 AM

CYBERSNARK

The initial oner also ties beautifully to the initial VFX shot around Serenity herself; I consider them both to be part of the whole "victory lap" scene that various reviewers have noted.

It also serves brilliantly to anchor River in the reality of Serenity.

I mean, before that, in the prologue, we start with a narration --no, wait, it's a flashback --no, still wrong, it was a dream sequence --aha, now it's an action scene --WTF?!? It was all a security recording?!?

And now we're on Serenity. No deceptions, no sight gags, no sudden reveals --this is reality. And there's River, in the middle of it --literally, 'cause that catwalk might well be at the exact centre of the ship-- but not actually belonging there. . .

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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