The Making of A Bikers' Film

[stepheng]

The wisdom of this learned list is required !

I?m a keen non-commercial film maker and biker, living in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Been thinking for some time about doing justice to the biking fraternity by making a good quality film about the bikes, the people and why they (we) do it. Would like some advice on the best way to tackle it! ?eg as a story, documentary, to music ?

So?.

1.Anyone up for a couple of test runs to see if quality footage is possible (remember I am non commercial that means everything is done for the passion and maybe a few cups of tea!) and of course your copy of the DVD)
2.For best picture quality I?m thinking on the lines of a stable mounting in a vehicle (maybe pick-up?) shooting footage from pick-up/car to bike so that good pans can be done. Anybody had experience of this? Any decent locations ?... private land would be the DB?s ? old accessible airfields?
3.Rearward facing cameraman as pillion (but not too sure on the legalities?)
4.Interviews in any local biker meeting places. (The Hill, The Avalon etc)

Nothing too serious at the mo?. Just at the planning stage? but would love to give it a blast?

Stephen
078 777 82 616

[Supervox]

The only suggestion I'd make is, if you're thinking of making a documentary or even documentary style of film I suggest that (if you haven't already) watch On Any Sunday with Steve McQueen.

A modern day version could be a real winner !!

[stepheng]

Supavox......... That film could never be produced again!... Probably the best bikers film ever made ...... I often take inspiration from it.... If it was ever made again with the true passion as the original it would be an instant hit........ We can but dream....

cheers

[Warthog]

Sounds like a great idea! I would be well up for helping but I am a bit far south. If you are around this way gimme a shout!

[zunkus]

I think you should invest in a lipstick camera ala motoGP. You'll be able to stick that anywhere as it's small. Here's a link to my friend's TV program shown here in Malta.
http://www.paqpaq.tv/index.php?id=506
Might give you some ideas.

[stepheng]

Thanks Zunkus ...
that is some professional, quality film making ! ....
excellent bike to bike shots and fast pans as the riders come past the camera... smooth !
1st class use of a tripod on the trackside shots with some great shot composition and good music tracks.
the morphing of the bikes and riders was a pretty neat effect!
the interviews were well composed and of just the right length...

wonder how long it took to make and what kit they used?

certainly knew what they were doing!!

imagine that with everyday bikers !!!

[Lozzo]

I think you should invest in a lipstick camera ala motoGP. You'll be able to stick that anywhere as it's small. Here's a link to my friend's TV program shown here in Malta.
http://www.paqpaq.tv/index.php?id=506
Might give you some ideas.

Good bit of film that, and I understood most of it too :D. Seeing things like that helps keep my limited Maltese language skills up.

[zunkus]

Hey, its professionally done so it should be good. I work freelance for an advertising company as a designer/illustrator and the same company does TV programs and commercials. They mostly use Adobe Premier for editing, used AVID before which is much more expensive but the new premier is very very good and easy to use. My brother did this on his trial run of the program so as to illustrate it's ease of use...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCDYZJMAEAY
This is a video on our tour we did last summer.

Glad you liked the film Lozzo. Feel free to browse the site some more, there are some interesting things there. Those of you into the offroad thing should watch that space as there is a good film on KTM's competing in Austria coming next. Its exceptionally good with a lot of action using all types of camera footage.

[Lozzo]

Hey, its professionally done so it should be good. I work freelance for an advertising company as a designer/illustrator and the same company does TV programs and commercials.

You might know my cousin Claudia then, she's a make-up girl for one of the Maltese TV companies

[zunkus]

PM her details and I'll say hi for you, does she work for super1, net, smash or TVM?

[Tim in Belgium]

I'm reasonably near by and don't mind lending myself for a day, got a bullet cam too that takes quite good quality videos (until you load them up to You tube) so you could combine footage. Let me know if your plans progress at all. However if it's to be a semi-public DVD all riding will have to be to the letter of the law as always (unless on a private road).

PS I'll be at Croft on the 4th July if you want some track camera action too.

[metalmonkey]

You are too far away from me, otherwise I would give you a hand. I worked in TV for several years so I could you out via PM ect.

Before you even think about filming anything, make sure you know what your filming, what you want to get from it ect. It needs to be oraginsed, there is nothing worse then a disorganised shoot!

Who ever you film, get them to sign release films which says you can film them as well, or I have got people to say that on camera, both work but I prefer the relases form way.

What you gonna do with the film once its shot? You planning on getting into the film festivals ect. If so it will need to be a specfic lengh, ect delivery format.

Not sure about the rear facing pillon, but I would say don't do it at speed.

Good luck with it, let us all know how u get on!

[stepheng]

This thread's been dead for a while so time to revive it ...

2010 will be the definitive year for the making of the biking film!

anyone interested in being interviewed, show off their metal, riding skills or otherwise (just keep it clean !) I will endeavour to arrange a shoot with them.

The film will simply show "what biking was all about in our time" ...

cheers

[jambo]

To make a film you must already know your story, angle, or objective, otherwise you'll end up making a "fast bikes magazine" video. After which if you have any sense of self worth you'll kill yourself.

Torque and Bikerboyz spring to mind as 2 horrific hollywood lashups punted out in a desperate attempt to latch onto this cool biking thing. If you were to use people off the street you couldn't hope to get acting that bad but still, it's a risk...

I jest, but the first point remains the most relevant. If you're uncertain what story you're telling you can easily end up with a bunch of people showing off on their bikes, and no coherent reason as to why. Then it just looks like something produced to come free with the motoring equivalent of the daily star.

The very best of luck with your endeavours, I await the results with interest:thumleft:

Jambo

[philbut]

Sounds interesting. I remember this thread from before. Good luck with the project fella.

[ophic]

Sons of Anarchy on SVs? sounds like a larf :smt080

[Richie]

I don't ride an Sv anymore ;-). Still would be good though.

[stepheng]

thanks for the replies...

Richie : it can be any person, any bike, young old ....
the more varied the peeps / bikes the better

Jambo : absolutely agree ... but something like this is a tad difficult to fully storyboard if you do not know the actors, scenes (locations) etc ... but that does not mean I do not have a plan written down.... although it is to be a documentary on why peeps do this, there is always bags of room for creativity... I mentioned previously that in my humble opinion one of the best bikers film ever produced was On Any Sunday... made in the 1970's it really did capture what this fascination in our hobby is all about.

to make something like that film is a dream ... but very possible... some of the most interesting peeps I have come across are bikers and of all ages groups, backgrounds...

I do take on board your comments on how the film could turn out ....just a bunch of bikers doin their thing .... but depending on what material I can shoot sometimes...just sometimes, gems are uncovered that can give the film a purpose.

lots of work on my behalf I know.... but I'm certainly willing to give it 100%

[allantheboss]

I'd love to partake in anything of the sort!

I will be in Swindon until October, but thereafter I might be more north. Until then, if you're close by, I absolutely love to!

[sunshine]

use digital cameras for filming, then any illegal speeds etc can not me proven to court standards as the film can be edited to make it appear illegal, hence the show us your illegally pared bikes thread cant be used as evidence because the images could of been photo-shopped to look illegal parked for bragging rights

[jambo]

Good luck Stephan, you sound like you've got a vision, and I really hope you enjoy your experience. Lord knows I don't have any experience putting together a film or documentary, I've just been subjected to too many free DVDs. I'm genuinely looking forward to seeing how you get on. FWIW I think the idea of filming people at specific meets might work out well, rather than just filming individuals. You could get a proper cross-section by looking at things like the classic bike meets, race meets, Sunday hang-outs etc.

Jambo

[boot]

I've a reasonable amount of experience shooting and working on location, from helping out with music videos and films. It's been a while, but here's my 2p.

Firstly, I'd have a look at public liability insurance - if you are organising a shoot and someone involved has an accident, you could end up being sued, even if it's simply someone tripping over a camera bag.

Secondly, pick the area you're going to do it. Research and recon in given area are important to pick shooting spots, bearing in mind the time of day and position of the sun etc.

Shooting from a vehicle - Did you know that shooting sideways from a vehicle becomes more difficult the nearer you get to perpendicular? You need to be traveling very slowly to get good 90deg footage, and it works better the father away the subject is. While the vehicle is important to consider (suspension etc), so is the driver. If he can't gear change smoothly, consider finding or hiring an automatic.

You may need to notify the local authority and police if you expect to be an obstruction on the road at any point.

Download a model release form, you may need to adapt it to include features that cover the display of number plates, I'm not sure on this, but cautiously, I'd probably do it.

If you decided to head for the best area in the country for twisties, gimme a shout and I'll lend a hand.

Don't EVER think you'll get it all shot in one day, and don't keep your fingers crossed that people will be reliable - people aren't reliable when there's money involved, let alone when it isn't.

Good luck,

Boot

[zunkus]

Sound advice BOOT. I'm involved in some of the shooting/editing done for a local TV program on bikes and cars called PaqPaq. I confirm all Boot said. Give a shout should you'd lik to ask anything, I'll help if I can.
Check out some of our takes here...
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=paqpaq&search_type=&aq=f