2015Operating forum
Camera movement techniques and footwear considerations for shooting on roller rinks
What the thread found
- Roller rink floors are not particularly slick and suitable for wearing regular grippy athletic shoes without special precautions
- Rickshaws work well for low-angle chase shots on roller rink floors
- A skilled skater operating a gimbal on skates can capture dynamic footage that would be difficult to achieve with a rickshaw, including fast backwards-to-forwards movement with talent
- Roller rink floors have similar dolly-friendly properties to dance floors, allowing for complex dolly movements
- High-speed turns on skates with a steadicam rig can cause the sled to pitch due to g-forces, which can be compensated by increasing drop time
- A small gimbal rig with a compact camera is advantageous on crowded public skating rinks for mobility and maneuvering around other skaters
Depends on
- Experience with roller rinks varies by location and specific venue conditions
- Steadicam operation on skates requires significant skating skill and experience
- One example involved a public skate scenario with heavy traffic, which presented safety and logistics challenges
- Director format preferences may limit gimbal options on some productions