Helmet/POV Cam editing tips

Andy_L wrote on 2/18/2010, 7:37 AM

I'm producing skiing and climbing videos integrating footage shot with a helmet cam and a handheld camcorder. I find that the POV stuff is really immersive and continuous in feel, and it's hard to cut from it without disrupting the flow. It's hard to go from POV to handheld cam, and it's hard to cut POV to POV in different moments in time.

I'm definitely at the start of the learning curve here, and my end result is basically just scrapbook/home movies for my site, but still I like to try to keep growing. Any suggestions on how to do better would be appreciated. Example here:

http://www.sierradescents.com/skiing/2010/02/16/san-antonio-ridge-traverse.html

Comments

Earl_J wrote on 2/18/2010, 8:55 AM

Hello Andy,
quite the adventure... my palms didn't get sweaty, but I did find myself shying away from the edge at times... (grin) ... I'm glad it is an adventure you can speak about now and not one that has been documented by the major news networks... (wink)
I also noticed that much of the snow you spoke about was actually ice. . . not fun so far from the bottom... thanks for sharing it.
* * *
I would recommend using any movie technique indicating the passage of time ...
a fade from one scene to the next (1.5 seconds or so); or a crossfade with just a bit of dark in the middle...
Additionally, if you change the POV from the helmet to the handheld, don't try to hide it; make it an obvious change so the viewer recognizes it for what it is. If it is subtle, the viewer may not realize it and get confused as to how it happened once the change becomes obvious.
Unless you are trying to disguise it...
For instance, the shots of you watching your way down a slope and then using the handheld to shoot someone following you down - although aburpt, they were not disconcerting because it was obvious what was done ... you came down and then turned around to film the skier behind you.
Just my two cents... which may or may not be the proper technique... we'll see - I'm sure you'll get lots of hints, tips, and suggestions...
* * *
You've come to the right group to ask about it... I'm certain you'll get a satisfactory solution from one of the independent film makers or professionals (to imply that they work for someone in abroadcast or film editing role) here (never to imply that independent film makers are not professionals) ...

Until that time... Earl J.

amendegw wrote on 2/18/2010, 9:16 AM

Awesome! Do you have death wish? I was clinging to the arms of my chair. This comes from a guy who must spend the morning on the bunny slope before venturing to the intermediate runs.

The only suggestion I would have is that the helmet cam footage was rather jumpy at times (to the point of distraction). You might do a search on "Deshaker" in this forum and see what that process can do. Some shakiness adds to the effect, but too much is a distraction.

Beautiful scenery, too,
...Jerry

richard-amirault wrote on 2/18/2010, 8:07 PM

I would suggest adding a fur wind shield for the handheld camera. At first I thought I was hearing *thunder*, but after a while I realized that it was wind noise.

farss wrote on 2/18/2010, 9:40 PM

Thoroughly enjoyed watching that video, thanks.
My gut feeling is trying to make it better would kill it, at least for me. Sure your could have some great helicopter shots, the whole Discovery channel deal going on. Thing is I always feel that looses the sense of real danger. If there's a copter to fly a camera there's one to rescue you. If there's a big crew manning serious cameras then there's got to be hot drinks and a feed on hand. Instead your video has the real Blair Witch feel to it and I mean that in a good way. Even the wind in the mic adds to the reality of a few men in the middle of nowhere. It is what it is.
Only thing I had an issue with was I didn't really have a clue where in the world you were or how far you'd progressed, one ridge looked the same as the next. Maybe a map or a satellite image from Google would fix your adventure to a place. Using this device gives you a reason for a cut, you stop for a quick break, cut to map or aerial still to show where you are on your journey and cut back.

Bob.

Andy_L wrote on 2/19/2010, 9:51 AM

Guys, thanks for the tips! Cutting to a topo map is a great idea. One of the challenges with the helmet cam is that there's no "B" footage to cut away to. I appreciate the comments. This was in the San Gabriel Mountains, in Southern California, about 45 mi from downtown. No death wish for us -- but sometimes we do get a little ambitious. :)