Specific move

hey guys I am trying to achieve a specific move..

First I'd like to stay ground level with a city, camera pointed straight on at some people in the street. next I want to start dollying backwards (which I can easily do in flycam) ,but here's the tricky part:

Next I want to actually start going up, so it sweeps up to show a bird's eye view of the people in the city, all the way up so we see the city completely from above, like a bird looking down.

So, from ground level- straight on angle to a bird looking down all without cutting. Is this possible? I have the filming path tool but it's a little tricky I think sometimes, is that the best way? Is this possible in flycam at all?

Thanks guys!

Here's an example of what I believe you are describing:

http://taolodge.blip.tv/file/425957/

You just need to set up your axises the way you want them in
the flycam settings.

- Infrared

hey Infrared!

Cool video, but not the effect I'm looking for.


What I'm trying to do is have the camera travel eye level- so its as if it looks straight ahead it does not look up or down. It looks eye level with the say, beautiful person, in front of it, moves backward, then suddenly it starts to move up, then suddenly it begins tilting downward as it goes up to still keep it's perspective on that same beautiful person it was just shooting, and it goes up and up a helicopter taking off, still on that same perspective of the beautiful person as they get smaller and smaller until they become a crumb.


camera ==0 O person

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0 person


so does diagrams in one seamless movement without cutting. So ground level shooting a person then it starts to move up and the lens tilts down to see the top of the persons head while still moving up.

Sorry, it's just really hard to explain. Hope that helps!

Hope someone knows a solution?

thanks guys!

Ah...now I know what you're describing. I'm at work now (no SL!). But I'm thinking that it might not be possible to lock the cam on the AV you're shooting at in flycammode. Because the shot would require tilting the camera. Furthermore, I have a cheap USB joystick that only can use 4 axises. The Space Navigator might work.

If I wanted to do this I would probably use Geuis Dassin's Filming Path. Prior to flycam functionality in SL, I exclusively used Filming Path. It offers a lot more precision but it takes more time to set things up for a shoot than using the flycam method. But it could do such a shot easily.

There are also other cam tools, but I haven't done much experimenting using them in "follow mode" in conjunction with flycam mode.

It might be possible with just the flycam. I'll play around later tonight and let you know if I discover anything. =)

- Infrared

To use the many axis in Flycam mode, you first have to have a device that will control more than the 8 axis of the average controller (pan, strafe, zoom in/out, up and down) you also need tilt and yaw functions controlled.
You also need to uncheck 'Auto level'.

If your controller doesn't support enough axis controllers, have you thought about swapping say the pan/strafe axis mappings to use tilt and yaw for that shoot?

Hi Ariella --

Tried a few things; but with the flycam alone I wasn't able to achieve
what I think you want.

However, I dusted off my Filming Path tool and shot this clip which
is what I think you are trying to achieve. My FP is a bit old now, which
is why you see some side to side shaky movement.

[Geuis provides free updates and I've asked him for one as now I'm
interested in playing with Filming Path again.]

Filming Path is indeed something every serious SL machinimagrapher
should have in their camera bag. =)

Here's the short clip (that stream of smoke is from my pipe...haha)...
imagine your actor is the green pyramid.

http://taolodge.blip.tv/file/1063986

- Infrared

Infrared, that's exactly the type of move I'd like to achieve. Thank you so so much, I will play with the filming path tomorrow!

Thanks AWM! I will actually consider getting a better joystick. Mine is a cheapy one

Hi - the SpaceNavigator 3D could do that move for you quite easily - here's a small film I took to see how it moved in comparision to my mouce: http://headburroantfarm.blip.tv/#974327

Filming Path is a great tool - you will need build and script rights in the location though.

The SN a lovely bit of kit and not expensive (£40).

Hope this helps