Car Commercials Effect Question? at DVinfo.net

James Emory · February 16th, 2003, 06:20 PM

Does anyone happen to know how the effect on the latest car commercials is done? This is an effect where the camera seems to be attached to the car maybe 4-6 feet away, as if on a pole, and looking back at the car as it does 180s and 360s but showing absolutely NO vibration. At first it appeared to be blue screen but the wheels are spinning and reflections of the environment are present on the paint. Any ideas?

Richard Alvarez · February 16th, 2003, 09:19 PM

Yes, I saw it done.

They put a camera, on a pole, about four to six feet away.

To be fair, it was on a special shock mount, and they cleaned up the pole in post so it didn't show, but you pretty much figured it out.

There might be other ways , but I couldn't tell you about those.

Bill

Charles Papert · February 16th, 2003, 09:20 PM

I have seen pictures of these rigs attached to the frame and cantilevered out from the car body to impressive distances. They are apparently beefy enough to prevent vibration.

Robert Knecht Schmidt · February 21st, 2003, 08:51 PM

James may be referring to Pontiac's "Fuel for the Soul" campaign (the ads with the James Brown music). Those exterior action shots may be camera rigs, but they may also be CG with environment mapping. I Googled around to try to find the company that produced the spots, but no luck.

James Emory · February 21st, 2003, 10:56 PM

Well I think it's been copied a few times but where I saw it first was the new Mitsubishi spots with cute girlies inside. I could understand a camera rig on a pole looking back at the car, but how is the shot kept so rock solid with all of that movement. That's why I thought is was a hemisphere blue screen maybe with a turn table but the wheels spin and turn. They did a damn good job that's for sure.

February 16th, 2003, 06:20 PM	#1
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	Car Commercials Effect Question? Does anyone happen to know how the effect on the latest car commercials is done? This is an effect where the camera seems to be attached to the car maybe 4-6 feet away, as if on a pole, and looking back at the car as it does 180s and 360s but showing absolutely NO vibration. At first it appeared to be blue screen but the wheels are spinning and reflections of the environment are present on the paint. Any ideas?

February 16th, 2003, 09:20 PM	#3
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	I have seen pictures of these rigs attached to the frame and cantilevered out from the car body to impressive distances. They are apparently beefy enough to prevent vibration. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

February 21st, 2003, 08:51 PM	#4
Robert Knecht Schmidt Wrangler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,933	James may be referring to Pontiac's "Fuel for the Soul" campaign (the ads with the James Brown music). Those exterior action shots may be camera rigs, but they may also be CG with environment mapping. I Googled around to try to find the company that produced the spots, but no luck. __________________ All the best, Robert K S Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

February 21st, 2003, 10:56 PM	#5
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	Where I seen it! Well I think it's been copied a few times but where I saw it first was the new Mitsubishi spots with cute girlies inside. I could understand a camera rig on a pole looking back at the car, but how is the shot kept so rock solid with all of that movement. That's why I thought is was a hemisphere blue screen maybe with a turn table but the wheels spin and turn. They did a damn good job that's for sure.

February 16th, 2003, 09:19 PM	#2
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Yes, I saw it done. They put a camera, on a pole, about four to six feet away. To be fair, it was on a special shock mount, and they cleaned up the pole in post so it didn't show, but you pretty much figured it out. There might be other ways , but I couldn't tell you about those. Bill