Faking a jungle at DVinfo.net

Josh Bass · April 2nd, 2003, 05:01 PM

I'm going to be shooting a fake Army of One commercial, and I need anyone's advice on how to make a foliage-y, forest-y area look more jungle-y. There's plenty of trees about, as well as some deep grasses, and tangles of brambles and whatnot about, but somehow I don't feel that it looks like something from Platoon or one of those movies. I want this place to look more gritty and treacherous. Any tips? Obviously, keeping the pretty blue sky out of frame is essential (unless the day's overcast).

There's no budget, and the schedule will probably be pretty tight. I thought shooting at night would help, but none of the lighting available to us is battery powerable, and generators and the like are out of the question. We have a fog machine available, but offhand I believe those are not battery powerable either (I could be wrong though). Anyway, given all this, any advice? Any tricks in camera or in post?

Keith Loh · April 2nd, 2003, 05:05 PM

Ummm lots of crawling shots? Lots of jarring handheld as you follow close behind a troop of soldiers?

John Locke · April 2nd, 2003, 05:10 PM

The second "Ace Ventura" set in Africa was actually shot outside San Antonio, Texas. They used tight shots of jungle-looking clusters of foilage and also put big ferns amongst the native foilage in some places (that stand out like a sore thumb if you know the Texas landscape...but it works in the movie). Plus, they took some stock shots of Africa and weaved them into that footage.

Keith Loh · April 2nd, 2003, 05:35 PM

Oh another thought. Forced condensation on the lens filter.

Josh Bass · April 2nd, 2003, 07:38 PM

How do I accomplish the condensation without hurting my camera?

Also, keep in mind, it's an army of one (this is part of the humor) so there's no other soldiers besides this one guy. Ferns sound good.

Oh, and were the recommendations for night, day, or either?

Greg Vaughn · April 2nd, 2003, 07:48 PM

Heck, make it easy and just shoot in daylight through a green filter or two and give it a "night shot" look. Might actually be kinda cool.

G

Josh Bass · April 2nd, 2003, 07:52 PM

Green filter? NIght shot? Do tell. My friend told me to white balance to 3200K using the indoor preset on the XL1s, which tints it blue. Still doesn't look like night to me though.

Keith Loh · April 2nd, 2003, 09:41 PM

On the condensation. Maybe a steam or mist on the outside filter, not on the lens itself.

Josh Bass · April 2nd, 2003, 11:34 PM

Gotcha. I have a CaVision mattebox as well, that accepts 4x4 filters. Anything I could shove in there that would help?

Zac Stein · April 3rd, 2003, 01:29 AM

what really helps is the sound. Do a lot of research on ambience and specific noise to a jungle it makes a massive difference.

zac

Josh Bass · April 3rd, 2003, 01:40 AM

Do those Army of One commercials have ambient sound? From what I remember it's just the voiceover and maybe the sound of Godsmack selling out or some other heavy rock in the background. We're attempting to closely emulate the feel of these commercials.

Zac Stein · April 3rd, 2003, 02:00 AM

all you need is lots of mud and wind then, some greens, closups and the appearence of a lot of wind, and guys yelling heaps, well moving their mouth anyways.

zac

Dan Holly · April 3rd, 2003, 11:09 AM

There has to be some kind of "tropical garden or rain forest" in your area. Sort of a botanical garden or green house kind of deal.

See if they will let you shoot there after hours.....just an idea...

Josh Bass · April 3rd, 2003, 02:46 PM

I've been told our local bird sanctuary is good place. I'll have to see.

Keith Loh · April 3rd, 2003, 02:50 PM

Tread softly :)

April 2nd, 2003, 05:01 PM	#1
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Faking a jungle I'm going to be shooting a fake Army of One commercial, and I need anyone's advice on how to make a foliage-y, forest-y area look more jungle-y. There's plenty of trees about, as well as some deep grasses, and tangles of brambles and whatnot about, but somehow I don't feel that it looks like something from Platoon or one of those movies. I want this place to look more gritty and treacherous. Any tips? Obviously, keeping the pretty blue sky out of frame is essential (unless the day's overcast). There's no budget, and the schedule will probably be pretty tight. I thought shooting at night would help, but none of the lighting available to us is battery powerable, and generators and the like are out of the question. We have a fog machine available, but offhand I believe those are not battery powerable either (I could be wrong though). Anyway, given all this, any advice? Any tricks in camera or in post? __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

April 2nd, 2003, 05:05 PM	#2
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	Ummm lots of crawling shots? Lots of jarring handheld as you follow close behind a troop of soldiers? __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

April 2nd, 2003, 05:10 PM	#3
John Locke Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Austin, TX USA Posts: 2,882	The second "Ace Ventura" set in Africa was actually shot outside San Antonio, Texas. They used tight shots of jungle-looking clusters of foilage and also put big ferns amongst the native foilage in some places (that stand out like a sore thumb if you know the Texas landscape...but it works in the movie). Plus, they took some stock shots of Africa and weaved them into that footage. __________________ John Locke SursumFilms.com

April 2nd, 2003, 05:35 PM	#4
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	Oh another thought. Forced condensation on the lens filter. __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

April 2nd, 2003, 07:38 PM	#5
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	How do I accomplish the condensation without hurting my camera? Also, keep in mind, it's an army of one (this is part of the humor) so there's no other soldiers besides this one guy. Ferns sound good. Oh, and were the recommendations for night, day, or either? __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

April 2nd, 2003, 07:48 PM	#6
Greg Vaughn Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Kansas City Posts: 46	Heck, make it easy and just shoot in daylight through a green filter or two and give it a "night shot" look. Might actually be kinda cool. G

April 2nd, 2003, 07:52 PM	#7
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Green filter? NIght shot? Do tell. My friend told me to white balance to 3200K using the indoor preset on the XL1s, which tints it blue. Still doesn't look like night to me though. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

April 2nd, 2003, 09:41 PM	#8
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	On the condensation. Maybe a steam or mist on the outside filter, not on the lens itself. __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

April 2nd, 2003, 11:34 PM	#9
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Gotcha. I have a CaVision mattebox as well, that accepts 4x4 filters. Anything I could shove in there that would help? __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

April 3rd, 2003, 01:29 AM	#10
Zac Stein Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 730	what really helps is the sound. Do a lot of research on ambience and specific noise to a jungle it makes a massive difference. zac

April 3rd, 2003, 01:40 AM	#11
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Do those Army of One commercials have ambient sound? From what I remember it's just the voiceover and maybe the sound of Godsmack selling out or some other heavy rock in the background. We're attempting to closely emulate the feel of these commercials. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

April 3rd, 2003, 02:00 AM	#12
Zac Stein Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 730	all you need is lots of mud and wind then, some greens, closups and the appearence of a lot of wind, and guys yelling heaps, well moving their mouth anyways. zac

April 3rd, 2003, 11:09 AM	#13
Dan Holly Major Player Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 336	Josh There has to be some kind of "tropical garden or rain forest" in your area. Sort of a botanical garden or green house kind of deal. See if they will let you shoot there after hours.....just an idea... __________________ Dan Holly Anchorage, Alaska

April 3rd, 2003, 02:46 PM	#14
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	I've been told our local bird sanctuary is good place. I'll have to see. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

April 3rd, 2003, 02:50 PM	#15
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	Tread softly :) __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery