Introduction: Driving Scenes

About: HS Student that is going into Nuclear engineering next year.

This is a casual step by step tutorial on how to film action driving scenes.  


Step 1: Equipment Required

Although this Instructable requires some more expensive software and equipment, there are still some substitutions for these more  "expensive items".

Adobe Premier 
- Cam Recorder (HD)
Vehicle 
- Tripod
Steadicam (Mo-Flo)
- Boom Mic (optional) 

Step 2: Camera Positions

When filming driving scenes you want at least two cameras. Trying to film an action driving scene with on camera can cause complications because there will only be one angle per sequences and one scene will require a lot of sequences. When using two or more cameras however, it is easier to maintain continuity and film a scene with less sequences. In general: more cameras = easier to film = better continuity = better scene.

For action driving scenes you want to have more camera angles. The more camera angles you have, will create a more dynamic scene, also faster cuts and more angles simulates a more intense feel. Even though you may film from an angle for the whole sequence you may only cut to it for 2 seconds in the finished product. This is because fast cuts and short angles sequences help simulate a more intense scene.

Possible Angles: 
Inside Car
Above Car
Road Level
Window Level
Vertex of Turning Point
Oncoming

Inside the car the possible shots are, driver from the side, driver from the back, back window to road, front seat to front of the road, rearview mirror, side view mirror. 

For an above the car shot it would require a rigged vehicle or a crane. These shots are used for when a car enters the scene. So if there was a puddle of water on the ground and that car came into and out of the shot by splashing thought that puddle and that started the sequence; then that would be an appropriate use of the above car shot (crane).

Road level shots can be used for oncoming and for starting the scene. They are useful for having the car enter and leave the scene.

Window level shots are the same as the shots for the inside of the car.

Vertex of turning point requires a tripod to turn. The fixed point of the camera should be on the vertex and the point of interest should be the car. 

Inside the car and vertex of the turning point are illustrated below. 

*When filming the driving scenes the person does not have to drive too fast because the footage is sped up in the editing phase.* 

Step 3: Editing

The editing for car scenes is quick and easy so don't be overwhelmed. However you will have to know how to:

- keyframe
- cut and move
- import 
- adjust audio, brightness and contrast.

Phase 1: 

Import all of your usable shots and scenes into premier.

Phase 2: 
Separate and cut all of your shots so they fit properly and are in the order you want.  You want to make sure that your shots are the appropriate length and that you are not at one angle to long. To cut and change your clips, move the time cruiser to the desired start or end point and move the edges of the clips to the cruiser. (The mouse pointer will change icons when your on the edge of the clip.) To zoom in and out of the timeline use "ALT+Scroll Wheel".

Phase 3:
Adjust your clips speed. (I adjusted all my clips speed to 200%) When adjusting your clips speed you will have to readjust them after the affect has been completed. Right click the video clip, then select, "duration/speed" and increase your speed and hit enter.

Phase 4:
Adding effects such as; brightness, contrast and blur. Select the 'adding effects" then drag and drop the appropriate effect on to the appropriate clip. Then above the effects chart will open and there you can change the settings of that effect. 

Phase 5:
To adjust volume you drag and drop sound effects you have imported and mute the original clip volume. Now render. 

Step 4: Finished Product

Here is my finished product. I used two cameras, a tripod, a steadicam and one actor. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfGVfzeOhrI