Shaky-Cam


After Cloverfield, I never want to watch a "movie" with this type of filmography again. I put "movie" in quotation marks because a film with shaky-cam (as I call it) doesn't deserve to be called a movie. Here are my listed complaints:

1) People with motion sickness, or similar conditions can't watch (I'm not one but shaky-cam might give me motion sickness...jesus christ).

2) Shaky-cam makes a film more of a theme park ride than a movie. The only positive effect (the negatives being nausea and confusion) that shaky-cam adds is an excitement factor. It can almost literally put you in the main character's shoes; however, there are other methods to instill empathy in an audience that are just as, if not more, effective than shaky-cam.

3) Actually, now that I think about it, there is no excitement factor. It's like watching someone playing a first person shooter, except the player isn't there, so you don't get to see his reactions.

reply

I don't mind shaky cam too much, I like it if it adds intensity to a scene (eg Pulp Fiction - looking for the adrenaline/Mia's OD) but during fights when you cannot see the hits really bugs me. Found footage films are fine as long as I'm interested enough in the story

reply

Agreed.
There really is no reason to use it anymore.
Just shoot the film normally.
Doing an entire movie in the found footage shaky cam thing is just lazy filmmaking.

reply

It wouldn't be fair to call the filmmakers lazy per sé. What most filmmakers do, they do with a purpose. The shaky-cam obviously has a purpose, but that purpose doesn't fit with what a film should be. I get that they're trying to think outside the box and be 'innovative', but this method simply doesn't effectively portray what I believe the filmmakers want convey to their audience, which is a first person perspective. Like I said previously, the 'technique' (if you can call it such) may literally let you see through the character's eyes, but since you are not in control of their actions, like you would be in a video game, it makes no real difference. In a video game, the first person perspective helps to create a connection between the player and the events happening on screen because they are happening to the player. In a film, the first person perspective does nothing but grant the audience a different vantage point from which to view events. It does not add much, if any, emotional connection to the character on screen. In fact, I would argue that it detracts from the emotional connection to the character because the audience is unable to see their facial expressions and body language (which is a huge part of human interaction and relationship formation in daily life).
Sometimes it can provide a thrill factor, but if an audience sees enough of the same technique, they easily become jaded toward it. What really draws audiences in, in my opinion, is the heart and soul of a movie. For all I care, the film could be grainy and have no color; however, if the film contains substantive, deep, evolutionary characters, as well as an engaging and complex (different from complicated)* plot, then I am more than likely to become intellectually and emotionally invested in it because it has substance.
The best films, in addition to having the aforementioned traits, have a soul. This soul contains a message for the audience that it wishes to convey by showing rather than telling. It is not a common adage, maxim, saying, etc, but an experience that many of the human race can relate to, but may not be able to be expressed in so many words.

Having detailed what a good, and great, film should contain, I find it pertinent to mention that I do not hold anything against films made solely for the purpose of entertainment. As long as that is the focus of the film maker during his creative process, the film should turn out to be of high caliber.
What I abhor the most is when filmmakers try to make their creations profound and revolutionary and in the process stray from the path of true film making. They are 'try-hards', as one might say.
I would enjoy a film that is honest in its simplicity much more than one that tries to be something that it is clearly not. The latter is frustrating and agonizing. It feels like I am watching a sports team that tries so hard to be great, but consistently snatches defeat from the jaws of victory.

reply

I understand your point.
Thank you for making such a detailed response. Nice to see that on IMDB.

The problem with these films is that they are too shaky. That seems like too easy of a statement, but it really is true. I can operate a video camera better than 99.99% of the people holding cams in these movies. You can portray a first-person view without that camera being held by somebody with parkinsons.

I don't even remember the name of it, but some cheesy alien movie released in the last couple of years, but the guy doing the filming was actually a FILM student who wanted to direct movies. But he still struggled to produce a clean shot without the herky-jerky camera.

I just think you can present a movie in FPP without having the actor being complete amateurs at the actual filming process. Shaking or jerky movements doesn't make it more realistic, it just makes it more annoying.

For me, it's an easy gimmick for directors to use.

reply

I understand this coming from people who have motion sickness. However, when it comes to certain genres, I think it adds up to the intensity if done well (Cloverfield was actually one of the most intense films I have seen and it was only because the found footage bit was so well produced - the same goes for the first two REC films, Chronicle and personally I loved the first PA and even Blair Witch)..

Don't get me wrong, some of my fav films come from PT Anderson, Bergman, Tarkovsky, etc...however, when it comes to action/suspense/horror films all i want is pure adrenaline and well constructed action and shock value and with the exception of Die Hard 1 and 3, Terminator 2, The Raid 2, Bourne Ultimatum, I think my top10 popcorn filcks would be predominantly 'found footage' films...

This is just my two cents...

That being said, can't wait to see this one...

reply

I appreciate your standpoint; however, my point still stands that movies that try to be something more, but fail miserably in the process ('try-hard' films), then I can't stand watching them.

reply

For me, Cloverfield would have been even better if they'd just shot the film normally. Let the actors and the monster be the stars - not the gimmicky camera thing. Just my opinion though.

reply

I personally think Cloverfield would just be another generic "big monster attacks major US city" movie if it had been filmed the "normal" way.

reply

Absolutely agreed!
There are too many movies filmed this way and I don't want to watch them any more. I don't see the excitement factor here. It can be pretty boring actually...

reply

Some may say that there are too many movies filmed with non-shaking camera, why would anyone keep watching those?
I personally like this kind of movie, since it's easier for the viewer to feel like he's there, in the middle of the action.

reply

Luckily for you there are thousands upon thousands of movies out there shot in the non-shaky cam way for you to enjoy.

reply

One of the major points for using this style is to hide the budget constraints. If you shake it enough, people won't notice a quick cut between a supposedly long jump.

reply

Cloverfield was a great film...Most people agree that it is THE best shaky cam type movie out there.

1. This one's easy. If you have motion sickness or suffer while watching shaky cam, then stay away from it. Luckily, people with motion sickness are in the minority. And what's great is that you can easily stay away from these films because there is an enormous collection of 'normal' type movies to choose from.

2. It's still a movie. Just different style. It's more intimate, more immersive. These types of movies are really going to be meant for VR technology in the future.
Even now, with something like an Oculus Rift, it would be much better than viewing on a normal screen, especially if the field of view was cropped and you could turn your head in every direction to reveal more of the footage.

3. Technically, you're the one filming, it's your character. That's the point. It's the reactions of those you're filming that is important, not your own.


"By what right does the wolf judge the lion" - Jaime Lannister

reply

I HATE Shaky-Cam™ with a passion. I just cannot those films that have it

__________________
You've never known happiness until you're married; but by then it is too late.

reply

shaky cam will come with found footage movies, dont watch them

reply

I have motion sickness and I can watch found footage moives just pisses me off that you can see dick all

reply