Want to take your tripod footage from static and uninspired to dynamic and professional looking? I get it, a lot of times a tripod is used or needed to capture a scene. However, a tripod shot is the quickest way to make the shot feel amateurish and uninteresting. If it isn’t an interview, I like to follow my mentor’s key phrase, “keep the camera moving”. So what we need to do is add back in the camera movement to give the shot the right pro feeling to it again.
In my own projects I have used this technique quite a few times. In action scenes it adds energy and power to the film. In calmer drama scenes, it adds a touch of realism, allowing the watcher to get more lost in the story. (Think a slow zoom in during a monologue) Whenever the edit feels just a bit off, I love to come back to this technique to see if it will add just the right amount of energy!
In this tutorial, I am going to give a step-by-step guide on adding that camera movement in to give the proper energy and feel to it. We will be going over an ideal condition with 4k footage, and a less idea but more common situation in which we have regular definition video.
To see an example of how movement can make the edit, check out this great film essay!
How to Create Fake Camera Movement’s in Adobe Premiere Pro CC (2024)
Ideal Situation: Footage is Greater than Sequence Settings
In this situation we are going to be utilizing the best possible scenario. I use this method when I have thought ahead with what I want to do. The recording was done in a higher resolution than was needed for the final export. So for example, I recorded in 4k and only need to export in 1080p. This will give a great amount of wiggle room!
How Do I Setup the Sequence?
- Drag in your higher res footage to create a sequence
- Go up to Sequence->Sequence Settings. In here change the dimensions down to 1920×1080
(or any resolution that is lower than your footage). This will reduce the composition to 1080p, but keep your footage at 4k.
How do I add in the Camera Movement?
- Now click on your footage and go up to “Effect Controls”
- In here, click on the “Scale” and reduce the footage down to a scale which fits it in the sequence. From this new number up to 115, you will be able to zoom your footage.
- Zoom your footage in a little bit and set your timeline scrubber to where you want the animation to start.
- Click the stopwatch next to the position marker. This will begin your animation.
- Move your keyframe to a spot later on in the timeline.
- Go back up to the position and reposition your footage to where you want it to end. The animation between the two points will be created. Remember to make sure the footage is covering the sequence in its entirety. (So, check the edges for any black areas)
- You can do the same thing with the scale.
How Can I smooth Out This Movement?
- To smooth out the transition from movement to stopping, highlight the ending keyframes, right click on one, then go down to Temporal Interpolation->Ease In. This will ease the effect in to this transition, and create a really smooth effect.
- Repeat this as many times as you want throughout the timeline.
This is just the beginning. You can do zooms, slow pans, quick cuts in and back out again. Really play with the movement and see how it affects the final product.
What if My Footage Is the Same Size as My Sequence?
With this situation we just have to make sure we don’t overdo it. We can zoom in a little bit, but anything too aggressive and we are going to start showing extreme pixelation.
I think the best time to utilize this is with slow movements. Think really slow pan from left to right, or a really slow zoom. Just enough to give some energy to the scene without overplaying your hand.
All of the above techniques still apply except for one crucial area. You can only zoom your footage from 100-115. Anything past 115 will begin to create really noticeable pixilation.
So make sure to balance the need for energy with the reduction in quality!
