Locking the camera

I'm a complete n00b when it comes to SL moviemaking, although I have done a little real life editing and suchlike.

What I'm trying to do is to lock the camera in a certain position, and then move. I know how to rotate the camera view, but as soon as I move my avatar in any way, the view moves right back to the default position of behind head, looking forward - which, naturally, rather messes up several of the shots I have in mind.

I'm told that there are 'scripts' that can lock the camera, although I haven't been able to find any yet.

I can't figure out why it's not possible to just lock the camera where you put it, until you choose to reset it or move it somewhere else.

One particular scene I have in mind is a movement scene in a vehicle, but taken from a side (with the view scrolling past) or from the front, looking back at the driver and the road behind. I don't want a 'passengers view, and although I know I can do this with two avatars, I don't have the second computer (or person) to enable me to do this. Naturally, the output would be recorded via FRAPS and then imported into my movie editing software where I can make the necessary adjustments.

Can anyone point me in the right direction, so that the camera will too?

Broccoli

Hi, a quick way is to make a cube and sit down on it, edit the cubes position and tilt to line up a shot ( you can do this while sitting on it ). If you are trying to film yourself though you might want to get a friend to operate the camera or to be an actor for you while you film.

I make a product which has this function. Search for "Bijocam" in Search Places or Classifieds.

Okay, back to the roots:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7B0gGFfjk4

Thanks for the link Nimrodia... I have the 'move texture' freebie script but hadn't thought about using it in that manner.

We've gotten hold of the Bijocam and will give that a go.

Broccoli

I'd be interested to hear your experience/results. Currently the nearest PC to mine is in the next room and the mac refuses to install SL. I'd be terrible at trying to explain to an actor what I want them to do, or to a cameraman what I want to film I spend far too much time faffing around and experimenting to work with other people!

There is a 'free' script available (a couple actually, but one would suit you better) at Yandi's JunkYard (spell check), that is based on a old script written originally back in 2004, it allows you to choose several camera positions and apply camera bounce etc.. never fully understood the 'worm' camera, unless I wanted to check the foundations of my building . Its has been updated to include a HUD menu making it safe for idiots like me