It might come as a surprise that supercars don’t look fast on the screen. Top Gear recently revealed the secrets to capturing high performance authentically in fast cars.
While fast cars may have the ability to race down the runway at high speeds, they typically fail to look that fast on the screen. The Series Director of Top Gear, Jon Richards, is a BAFTA-nominated Director who broke down the various aspects that go into taking shots of high-performing cars on the camera. These shots are visible in F1 Racing, Drag Racing, and even car montages created by automakers. Richards has given a quick summary of how the combination of skilled camerawork, an amalgamation of capturing the best movements and real speed can create magic on the screen.
Technology has made it easier to create the perfect montage of shots for the screens using ground and aerial views. Here’s a look at the secrets revealed by Top Gear on how cars can look fast in a video uploaded to the show's YouTube channel.
Shots From The Ground
There are many shots taken from the ground for a closer view of the car and its speed. The Jousting Shot is one of the easiest. During the shot, two cars drive towards each other in a head-on scenario that provides safe close-up speeds. The second aspect is the Bag Drop where the camera sits on the deck facing the destination while the other one drives by the location to get a two-camera split shot.
As the cars going down the runway don’t look quick, there is a need to exaggerate the texture and shake the camera through the Side Profiles. This aspect helps track the side of the car down the long perimeters. The most important part of a power test is the Movement. When the car and shot move simultaneously, the zoom, rack, and focus help capture every move into the frame.
Shots Taken From A Safe Distance
At Top Gear, safety is the major concern. Using a Robot Dolly called Agito, the shots captured from the edge reduce the risk of a crew member getting hurt. The Cinema Drone provides angles that cannot the camera cannot capture. They are maneuverable and quick at reporting from every corner.
Two other aspects of capturing the high performance are Racing Drone and Real Speed. The video mentioned FPV Indigo to be one of the best racing drones used to take shots of racing events. All the camerawork goes behind the curtains to capture the ideal montage.
One-shot doesn’t do justice to the car, and it is vital to use every possible camerawork to capture the high performance in cars. It is important to combine multiple shots to showcase the real speed of supercars. When every shot is in the right order, the true essence of speed shows on the screen.