MovieChat Forums > Special (2006) Discussion > why not use a tripod?

why not use a tripod?

posted 15 years ago by MandyOne
7 replies | jump to latest

i didn't really get the use of shaky hand-held in shots where he's just sitting down or the camera is not meant to be moving at all. did they just forget the tripod at home? bad filmmaking.

[–] drawmyfoot 15 years ago

As I saw it, the shaky camera work was used to show Les before he had his 'powers'. For the most part, whenever he used his 'powers' the camera was steady. I thought this was a great touch...

[–] voltronics77 15 years ago

There was some shaky handheld work with a cheaper camera too when he was getting use to his super powers. During those shots I feel like it was a way to show how awkward he must have felt facing the world as a "superhero." It was his greatness that was overwhelming to him and made him feel like he didn't belong where before he was so used to being ignored in the background.

[–] spartafan2002 15 years ago

yes. a pile of money, great actors, an entire crew, etc. were assembled, and every day for a few months, the director forgot the "tripod" and is a bad filmmaker.

REALLY?!

[–] Eponymous-2 15 years ago

Because the director wants everyone to know how much of an "artiste" he is. It's just not artistic if you're not making it harder to watch the movie.

"My name is Paikea Apirana, and I come from a long line of chiefs stretching all the way back to the Whale Rider."

[–] Filmsweep-by-Persona 15 years ago

As a dogme fan, I was barely aware of the "shaky" camera. The film had its problems, sure, but the camera work was fine. It's really old-school to ask for a tri-pod simply because it lends itself more to your film-watching tastes.

[–] Dnique729 15 years ago

I didn't give a thought to the shaky camera. Many movies and TV shows are done that way now. I did think that the film was great because it didn't rely on cheap special (pardon the pun) effects or high costing CGI. It lent a sense of realism when Les would show he had super powers. Like it would be that way if someone had those powers for real. No forcefield shield or electricity coming from ones fingers. Great all around.

Dnique729

[–] Screen_Queen 13 years ago

I totally agree. Maybe it's because I've been watching a lot of Friday Night Lights lately, but I didn't notice the shaky camera at all. It didn't detract from my viewing experience one bit. And like you, I love how they didn't resort to CGI effects, instead going full traditional with wires and camera angles. That way we were able to fill in the scenes with our own imagination, thus participating in part in Les's world.

I only do it with superheroes.