The Epileptic Spider at DVinfo.net

G. Lee Gordon · November 5th, 2009, 12:24 PM

In horror movies, sich as the ring, there is a common effect that I have termed the "epileptic Spider". This is when someone is crawling on thw walls or ceiling, but the movements are choppy and unnatural. How is this effect best achieved?

Adrian Frearson · November 9th, 2009, 01:55 AM

I think you might be thinking of a speed ramping effect. If you don't do it in camera, then try speeding up small amounts of frames in post, perhaps chopping out a few here and there to taste. Coppola used this to great effect in his version of Dracula, worth checking out if you haven't seen it already.

G. Lee Gordon · November 9th, 2009, 09:50 AM

Adrian, is it that simple?

Adrian Frearson · November 11th, 2009, 03:13 AM

The choppy movement part is either shot in camera with a variable framerate or as I said can be done in post by just speeding up a few frames and/or chopping some out. At least that's how I'd go about it, if I understand correctly the effect you're talking about?

The wall to ceiling part isn't so simple, I presume it would be either a tilted set or even a mechanically tilting set, not cheap!

Nic MacDonald · November 19th, 2009, 11:13 AM

I haven't heard of speed ramping being used for this effect, but one tried-and-true way to make an actor's movements appear strange and unnatural is to film the shot backwards. The actor performs their actions (walking, crawling, whatever) backwards and if there's a camera move it's similarly reversed (e.g. a push in becomes a push out). On a professional production shot on film the camera is run backwards, but on a digital production I'd imagine you'd just film it normally and reverse it with your NLE software.

This technique was used in Tarkovski's Solaris and Soderbergh's remake of that film, and I think I recall it being used in the remake of Ring but I haven't seen it in ages.

November 5th, 2009, 12:24 PM	#1
G. Lee Gordon Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 300	The Epileptic Spider In horror movies, sich as the ring, there is a common effect that I have termed the "epileptic Spider". This is when someone is crawling on thw walls or ceiling, but the movements are choppy and unnatural. How is this effect best achieved?

November 9th, 2009, 01:55 AM	#2
Adrian Frearson Regular Crew Join Date: May 2008 Location: Haute Savoie ( France ) Posts: 50	I think you might be thinking of a speed ramping effect. If you don't do it in camera, then try speeding up small amounts of frames in post, perhaps chopping out a few here and there to taste. Coppola used this to great effect in his version of Dracula, worth checking out if you haven't seen it already. __________________ Adrian http://chillfactorfilms.squarespace.com

November 11th, 2009, 03:13 AM	#4
Adrian Frearson Regular Crew Join Date: May 2008 Location: Haute Savoie ( France ) Posts: 50	The choppy movement part is either shot in camera with a variable framerate or as I said can be done in post by just speeding up a few frames and/or chopping some out. At least that's how I'd go about it, if I understand correctly the effect you're talking about? The wall to ceiling part isn't so simple, I presume it would be either a tilted set or even a mechanically tilting set, not cheap! __________________ Adrian http://chillfactorfilms.squarespace.com

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November 9th, 2009, 09:50 AM	#3
G. Lee Gordon Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 300	Adrian, is it that simple?

November 19th, 2009, 11:13 AM	#5
Nic MacDonald New Boot Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Essex, England Posts: 17	I haven't heard of speed ramping being used for this effect, but one tried-and-true way to make an actor's movements appear strange and unnatural is to film the shot backwards. The actor performs their actions (walking, crawling, whatever) backwards and if there's a camera move it's similarly reversed (e.g. a push in becomes a push out). On a professional production shot on film the camera is run backwards, but on a digital production I'd imagine you'd just film it normally and reverse it with your NLE software. This technique was used in Tarkovski's Solaris and Soderbergh's remake of that film, and I think I recall it being used in the remake of Ring but I haven't seen it in ages.