By: Andres Vallecilla

A camera car is a van with a platform designed for filming car chases or other scenes. This platform is equipped with a generator to power the filming equipment and has tripod mounts to prevent unwanted movement and accidents.

Sometimes it's necessary to get closer than usual to the car being filmed or recorded. In these cases, a platform is attached to the back of the camera car, a process trailer, and the vehicle to be filmed is placed on it, as shown in the following images. In addition, rigs are used to attach the cameras to the car, sometimes using powerful suction cups. These are used in virtually every film that includes shots of a car or car chase scenes.

Advantages and disadvantages:

According to Alberto Triano, Spanish filmmaker and photographer, “The advantages I see at first glance are the freedom of movement of the vehicle, because you can switch from a side shot to a front shot with complete freedom, something totally unthinkable on rails. Another advantage is the speed of assembly compared to installing a dolly on rails, and finally, I must highlight the speed that can be achieved with this system.”

Among the drawbacks, he mentions the sound problem: “The engine noise really muddies the sequence if you need direct sound, severely limiting the possibilities. Visually, I see a fundamental problem: the camera angle. The high position forces you to shoot from a great height. This can be remedied in more specific situations where this problem is anticipated, by using a crane mounted on the camera car or a route that runs at a lower level than the lens.”

Taken from: http://albertotriano.wordpress.com/tag/camera-car/

For independent filmmakers, thinking about filming tools like camera rigs seems impossible. However, the inventiveness and talent of film professionals find solutions where none seem to exist. The video below is a perfect example. It explains how to create a camera rig for filming in cars—all without breaking the bank.