Cool Videos: What video stabilization does to shaky cam movie footage

JoBloJoBlo
Last Updated on August 2, 2021
Alex

We all complain about the amount of shaky cam footage that pervades movies these days. Whether it be found footage flicks or the work of directors like Paul Greengrass, unstable cinematography is meant to convey a sense of realism and immediacy in the scene being shown. But, when overused, it just makes you want to throw up.

Advances in technology have allowed for newer cameras to compensate for film stability as well as programs that can fix already shaky footage. So, what happens when you stabilize some pretty recognized moments in film and television?

Take a look below at a pair of videos that appeared online the last few days. One stabilizes some attack sequences from STAR TREK and STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION. What looked on TV like the bridge of the Enterprise being rocked by a photon torpedo now looks quite silly. Also, take a gander at a fully stabilized edit of CLOVERFIELD. While the amount of shaky cam could not be entirely fixed, it goes to show just how much there was in the monster movie.


Untitled (Cloverfield motion stabilised) from Greatest Hits on Vimeo.

Source: YouTube, Vimeo

About the Author

TV Critic / Columnist
6,336 Articles Published Started writing in 2012

Favorite Movies: Being There, The Shining, The Royal Tenenbaums, Suspiria, Seven, North By read more Northwest, Citizen Kane, The Monster Squad, Begotten, Fight Club, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Army of Darkness, Children of Men, Blade Runner, The Big Lebowski, Casino, Pi, Dumb and Dumber, The 400 Blows, Small Change, Bonnie & Clyde, Cool Hand Luke, Moulin Rouge, Gangs of New York, Shallow Grave, The Rock, The Incredibles, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, The Gate, Prince of Darkness, Oldboy, The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings, The Tree of Life, The Exorcist III, Midnight Special

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