I want to make a film about cycling.

[Globalti]

I loved the Rapha film Two Broad Arrows:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmFM_UWxdDo

...probably because my own cycling mad son is of similar age and appearance but also because I love the wide empty scenery of Northumberland and the simple, strong story. However the Rapha film was professionally made with a crew and many technicians and the best equipment. Mine would have to be made with amateur equipment, perhaps a Go-Pro or borrowed video camera. I would add music because I think, correctly chosen, good music enhances a scene. My film would be about friendship and loyalty in a cycling context and would be about a test of loyalty in a race (I was fascinated by Matt Seaton's explanations of cycling aliiances and etiquette in The Escape Artist) but a secondary purpose of the film would be to comvey the thrill of riding fast in a pack, much as you see so well when pros mount Go-Pros on their bikes.

I guess I would need help from a cycling club or group of pals prepared to give up a day to being ordered around and made to re-run shots. I would need a couple of actors with characterful faces. I would need to borrow or hire a camera then learn how to edit and add music. All I have at the moment is a vague idea of a plot and a photographer's eye for composition as well as a wide and varied repertoire of favourite music.

Any thoughts, comments, suggestions?

 

[Dec66]

I'm not in a club, so can't help there... But if you want some inspiration...


View: https://youtu.be/zxBTVU9JDrA

 

[MichaelW2]

Making a film that is watchable by anyone who is not a close genetic relative is a much harder task than it first appears.
Most Youtube movie-ettes are watchable for the interesting content and despite the production values.
To make a movie that has emotional appeal and looks pretty, you need to deal with storyboard, camerawork, editing. You need a compelling narrative with a beginning, middle and end. You need to avoid film-school cliches such as overly-long shots (unless you are David Lean). Editing is the hidden craft that few movie watchers understand.
Go-pro and phone videos are all good enough for this purpose.
I suggest you start your movie making at a really simple level, to master the basic elements. Maybe a 1-3minute short using one actor, one bike and one short journey. Maybe a cycle trip to the corner shop to buy a paper with an element of tension, will our protagonist be tempted by a cycling magazine or a mars bar.

 

[jonny jeez]

I loved the Rapha film Two Broad Arrows:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmFM_UWxdDo

...probably because my own cycling mad son is of similar age and appearance but also because I love the wide empty scenery of Northumberland and the simple, strong story. However the Rapha film was professionally made with a crew and many technicians and the best equipment. Mine would have to be made with amateur equipment, perhaps a Go-Pro or borrowed video camera. I would add music because I think, correctly chosen, good music enhances a scene. My film would be about friendship and loyalty in a cycling context and would be about a test of loyalty in a race (I was fascinated by Matt Seaton's explanations of cycling aliiances and etiquette in The Escape Artist) but a secondary purpose of the film would be to comvey the thrill of riding fast in a pack, much as you see so well when pros mount Go-Pros on their bikes.

I guess I would need help from a cycling club or group of pals prepared to give up a day to being ordered around and made to re-run shots. I would need a couple of actors with characterful faces. I would need to borrow or hire a camera then learn how to edit and add music. All I have at the moment is a vague idea of a plot and a photographer's eye for composition as well as a wide and varied repertoire of favourite music.

Any thoughts, comments, suggestions?

I really enjoy making films and would love to do the same.

From my limited experience though, you need to be prepared to invest a lot of time... Not just your own time but others. Filming scenes from different angles, with the same light can take days...literally revisiting a scene the next day when the sun is in the same spot to take a panning or dolly shot.

If you can get hold of a good digital dslr, then much of the hard work can be sorted really quickly.

Unless you and those you entice into the project, can invest time and take it seriously, the best you will end up with is edited head cam footage (or similar).

Looking at the rapha film, the scene wher he stops to wash in the stream, is probably two or three days worth of shooting. The light at that time of the day will move on in 15 minutes, so the dog shot, the river shot, the cattle grid shot and the hill riding were probably all separate days

 

[jonny jeez]

If you are interested in dramatic scenery, Terry Abrahams has moved from a head cam filmest to a full on film studio, his work is stunning and some of his early stuff provides an insight into the complexities of location filming.

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCl8G8fNGTz1hlZ41z9ZUm8w

 

[benborp]

Get hold of some equipment and experiment with seeing what shots are possible, especially those that you have already imagined. See what is necessary in terms of bike handling skills for gaining a good shot. Establish how long it takes to setup the camera for each type of shot. Maybe spend some time editing this random footage together to try to gain an idea of what works in a sequence with some music and what tells a story well. You could set yourself the challenge to tell various cycling short stories in five seconds. 1. Losing the wheel in front. 2. Cresting a climb. 3. Working together....etc

Nail down the plot. Storyboard the film - this doesn't need to be a work of art, but you will need it to efficiently work with a group of people to get the shots you want. Storyboarding will also tell you which shots you need so that you can schedule the shoot. Filming a group of people needs discipline, having an accurate list of what needs to be achieved will make that easier and give you the authority to stick to your vision - there is also never enough time when filming, a schedule lets you prioritise shots and know how badly the shoot is progressing. You can still improvise but with the backup of a storyboard and schedule you will have a much better chance of being able to use footage that comes from moments of inspiration.
Being familiar with concepts such as crossing the line and establishing shots will help make sure that your sequences can be spliced together. Even on large productions action sequences are a real headache and someone usually has to step in to stop a scene being shot back to front. You will achieve four times as much in one day if you have a realistic schedule before hand. Shooting out of sequence will save huge amounts of time where it is most precious.

SAFETY
Some people do weird stuff when a camera is about and under pressure of getting a shot. Be really careful when directing other people. Risk assessment sounds boring and overkill for getting a group of mates together to help out but this setup sounds ripe for the 'unexpected'. As for permission to film, go-pros and an activity that people do regularly sounds perfect for guerilla film making.

 

[jhawk]

I suggest you check out Iohan Gueorguiev's channel on YouTube. He's made some fantastic videos...

https://www.youtube.com/user/istarusIG

 

[ClichéGuevara]

I saw a clip where a cycling group use a drone camera for their rides. I guess it could work for a film?

No idea at all on prices though.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Great idea,but check local regulations as to drones. I saw a nice parrot drone with camera for under a grand US. Some great rail fan videos using drones out there, delay in block productions comes to mind.