How to Film Driving Shots | Camera Rigging & Lighting 101

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Easily one of the most grip and production-heavy episodes we've done so far, Valentina and the crew are tackling one of the most common setups in filmmaking - the driving shot. Today, we're going to teach you the most cost-efficient way to professionally set up a car rig.

The key word is safety - everything that we're doing follows all SAG and production regulations, and no expense was spared when it comes to the safety of our talent and crew. That's why we have extra grip rigging, ratchet straps, safety chains, zip ties, a whole lead vehicle for the crew to operate, etc. And of course, our lighting was controlled remotely and battery-powered to give the impressions of street lights, moonlight, sunlight, whatever the situation called for. We prepared two looks for this shot - one during the day and one at night. If you don't have the money to shoot with a moving vehicle like us, hopefully the tips about lighting and camera placement will be helpful when you are shooting other methods for car shots, like poor man's process.

0:00 - Intro
0:28 - Story/Concept
2:06 - Safety/Logistics
3:34 - Rigging
5:27 - Lighting
6:11 - Video Villiage
7:47 - Scene #1
8:19 - Sidus Link
9:17 - Setup #2
12:07 - Final Result
12:39 - Outro

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Host/DP: Valentina Vee

Producer: Moses Israel Guerrero

Director: Tue Duong

Episode Cinematographer: Joe Adams

Editor: Matt Esteron

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Summary:
Aputure's YouTube channel provides free high quality cinematography, lighting, and filmmaking educational content to help you take your film projects to the next level.

[ImaginationFolder]

Poor man's process looks expensive AF 😂

[RapzoneProductions]

the most creative was the light on the roof which was fit with magnets & the red lights coming from the front as red hue very very creative full of knowledge which can be apply in our coming projects thank you V & everyone in the team!

[tyrustucker]

In Midsommar when they are traveling to the compound and the shot seamlessly inverts to being an upside down shot. Soooo awesome/trippy.

[SirRelith]

In Extraction (2020) they have this one shot where the camera is outside and the car backs up and does a 180, then the camera seamlessly enters the car through the widow and ends up in the back seat. It was so cool. I think it's creative because it really put me there in the moment and made it seem so real, despite how unreal that cam move was. It surprised me for how well it was done, how it seemed so fluid and natural. As an audience member i wanted to be in the car while they drove through the cramped city, and just as I wanted that boom, the camera flew into the car. It was great!

[aronbagel]

I'm not seeing Inception's Van chase sequence get enough love here! Using one dope car scene to affect (quite literally) multiple levels of the story, the environments in the deeper levels of the dreams, building tension all throughout the film, and helping the audience keep track of time? That's some incredible screenwriting, and it's gotta be my pick for most creative use of a car scene.

[MasterZig]

I love the car scene from Master of None S2E6. It is my favorite use of a car scene in cinema because it is very moving and daring. It is a 5 minute one-take. The first 2 minutes, Dev is talking to his love interest Francesca. When she gets out of the car, you as a viewer feel for Dev. They are perfect together, but they can’t be together. For the remaining 3 minutes, you are alone with Dev in his feelings of regret. It really tests the patience of their audience, first, because nothing happens, but you as a viewer will probably be able to relate to this moment and get a deeper connection to Dev. Brilliant.

[RangerStudios]

The scene in Children of Men where the camera literally flies in and through the car constantly while in motion, is probably the gold standard for a shot done inside (and outside) of a car. The smoothness is what really impressed me. Also, how it feels like we are there inside the car with them as the action progresses. Just an overall brilliantly composed shot.

[theXcut.movies]

Baby Driver opening scene. Lot’s of cool small details that all make sense!

[DanielTuriman]

I like the whole set up from key grip until finished

[louisbarrau]

the taxi driver scene are the best car scene in movies because, the lights, the ambiance, show how the character feels alone in his life. Sorry for my english, i’m french, but yeah, for me taxi driver has the best car scene in cinema.

[f.feldmeier]

I gotta go with the James Bond Spectre Car chase through Rome. The stunts, the lighting, the humor (with the Fiat 500) is just absolut world-class

[peterdallen]

The best car shot i have seen is in Children of Men, that thing is incredible and the way they achieved it was even cooler

[ArielleDomantay]

I’ve seen this around but children of men really takes the cake for car scenes for me. The one take and the camera going through the car. So insane, the amount of planning that went into jt

[OrangeALEX]

I really liked how "Children of Men" got a creative way to film a car scene. The camera is always inside with the characters and makes an unusual but great long take!

[huntreg]

The shot in Munich where they use the reflections of the windows to frame the characters and their dynamic is absolutely amazing!

[Pachiscruz]

Always loved Jason Bourne’s movies, especially when he drives the Mini Cooper. The closeups are so tight adding tension to the action scenes; also the shots to the gear shift leveler.

[visualpros]

I
loved I really loved "the Gateway" all the different hues and patterns used really set it off. Not crazy, but just so real.

[davidebianco]

Everyone mentioned amazing car shots but let's not forget the amazing 360 shot in the 2005 "War of the Worlds" during the highway scene! Just amazing skills going from wider shots with cars passing between camera and the main vehicle with the talents for more chaotic bits to close ups of every character in the car delivering their lines from every angle. And it all ends with a crane shot!

[RangerStudios]

Another favorite is the Helicopter crash scene in Terminator Salvation. The way they go from real copter rig to CGI and back, the way they whip the camera around and use green screen, is amazing! You really feel the violence of a crash.

[larramenpa]

Thanks for showing how to setup a car rig, i was never shown how to and was always wishing to learn !