3 CAMERA TRICKS in Star Wars style - #CameraWizardry101

Let’s create some really cool effects with a 360 camera to show others that the force is with us!

The tricks we will go through:

  1. unscrewing the cap, using the Force,
  2. filling the glass without pouring liquid,
  3. moving the glass with the force.

#1 Unscrewing the cap

This trick can be created with almost any type of camera, so here you can shoot with a 360 camera or an action cam like Insta360 One R (4K mod or 1-inch mod).

Shooting tip: this could have been a so-called stop motion trick, but instead of shooting single photos in each and every stage, I rather record a video continuously, and cut out all extra the frames during editing. This way I don’t need to touch the camera during shooting, and I can make sure I don’t move it accidentally.

I put the camera on a tripod and point to top of the glass. I press record and just move the cap step by step. After each movement, I step back a little bit from the bottle and wait, making sure that my shadows and my reflection don’t appear on the glass or on the cap itself. I don’t want the lights changing on the cap during the scene.

And in the end, besides screwing down the cap totally, I use a double side tape to grab it on the top and move it away, just like it was flying away (or something like that). I just make sure that I mask out my hand and the tape from the last frames.

#2 Self-filling glass

This trick is about making a look like the glass was filling by itself.

This is an easy masking trick I mostly accomplish during editing, but I need a couple of unusual accessories during shooting, too: I use a funnel and a straw to pour the whisky. This way the liquid beam will be really slim, and I can aim it behind the ice cubes. That's how I will be able to mask out all the pouring whiskey very easily and to create the perfect effect.

#3 Moving the glass with the Force

And now, here comes the trick with the floating or flying glass.

If you are shooting with One R, now you should switch to the 360 mod, or of course, you can shoot with One X or One X2, too. The point is to use a 360 camera.

Just like in the previous case, I need some preparation: I create a special mounting for this glass. This crystal glass is quite a heavy object for such a purpose, but with the right setup it’s totally possible to use in this shot.

I make sure that the bottom of the glass is in line with the stitchline of the camera. Then I attach a selfie stick on the camera, and I need someone to help me holding and moving this whole structure.

In this case I am the "actor", so I can't move the camera alone, but depending on your idea, in other cases you can even move it for yourself.

If you are interested about looking behind the scenes, watch my detailed video in 180 3D, and check out how this short video was shot: