Camera Arrays

Everyone has seen the effects, but how were they done?

Camera array configuration and application

In the Matrix, many scenes include an effect in which the action temporarilly stops and the camera moves to a new location. These effects were created with a camera array. Shown above are a few frames from the movie where the effect was used. Just below is the green screen studio where live action portions of the scene were filmed. Behind every one of the black dots in the green screen is a camera. By firing all the cameras simultaneously, it becomes possible to take one frame from each camera shot at the same time and combine them in an ordered sequence. When this is done, chronological time stops (because all the frames we shot simultaneously) but the camera point of view changes. The end result is a pause in the live action while the camera moves. Cameras for the Matrix were mounted in circular array where the elevation of each camera could be adjusted.


Camera arrays can be built in configurations outside of a green studio that modify both the number and position of the cameras.



The camera array shown above was built in a small room and uses 50 Canon D600 dslr cameras with 20mm lenses. The story of its construction is pretty interesting and can be found here:

Constructing the 50 Camera Bullet Time Studio

The arrays pictured above require significant budgets to build or rent. Less expensive opions are now being constructed using smaller less flexible cameras like the GoPro.