The Indie Film Blog

Indie filmmakers spend and enormous amount of time and energy attempting to make their low-budget films feel like big budget productions. An essential difference in how big budget films differ from low-budget indies is the way the camera moves.

In a typical Hollywood film the camera floats, flies, and follows the actors with smooth precision. Your typical low-budget movie is either an ‘all-over-the-place’ hand-held affair or the camera feels like it has been bolted to the ground.

Moving the camera smoothly is one of the best things you can do to add that elusive thing called ‘Production Value’ to your independent films. On big budget productions a camera dolly is standard gear. They use them like you and I use a tripod. But those complex pieces of engineering are expensive, heavy, and require a trained operator to use.

Fortunately, there is a very low cost camera dolly alternative for the independent filmmaker that anyone with modest skills with tools and a few dollars (or excellent scavenging abilities) can create. It is:

The Skate Wheel Dolly

Free Skate Wheel Dolly Tutorials:

Video Tutorials

http://www.digitaljuice.com/djtv/segment_detail.asp?sid=186
http://vimeo.com/groups/297/videos/1893226
http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/video/how-to-build-your-own-ten-foot-long-camera-dolly-track-175170/#videoDescriptionText
http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/video/how-to-make-your-own-track-dolly-164817/

Text and Photo Tutorials

http://www.rondexter.com/professional/equipment/skate_wheel_dollies.htm
http://www.rondexter.com/professional/equipment/cranes_and_dollies/ht_make_a_skateboard_dolly.htm
http://www.gomediamonkey.com/make-dolly.php
http://photography.qj.net/DIY-Camera-Dolly/pg/49/aid/59575
http://filmmaking.stormforcepictures.com/howto-buildacameradolly.php
http://www.sticktowhatyouknow.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=262
http://www.jorenclark.com/whitepapers/dolly.html
http://www.cartala.com/pvcdolly.php
http://www.cartala.com/metaldolly.php

Do you know of a top quality tutorial for creating your own Skate Wheel Dolly? Leave a comment below and share the link with us. We’ll continue to update this list as available tutorials change.

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Camera platform Dolly swivel wheel assemblies track    US $192.00

Hot Button Style Track Wheel Film Video Doorway Dolly    US $178.00

Camera platform Dolly swivel wheel assemblies track    US $219.99

2 Wheel Net E Track Fittings Tow Dolly Straps Tie Down    US $68.80

40 COMPACT FILM Video CAMERA WHEELS Track Dolly Wheel    US $38.00

Tags: camera dolly, DIY Equipment, low budget gear

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