Rooftop contraption used to simulate realistic driving scenes
I recall seeing a behind-the-scenes feature wherein it is explained that realistic action sequences involving moving cars are now possible with the use of a device which allows the car to be controlled by a stunt driver sitting on the roof. This makes it possible for scenes where the real actors rather than stunt doubles can be pictured (with mounted cameras) seemingly driving the car with great skill and abandon.
Is this a common technique nowadays? Does this device/setup have a name? IIRC, the clip I saw might have been from Skyfall.
An older question on this site covers other techniques besides this one which can be used to "film scenes with actors driving in a car".
Best Answer
Such a "contraption" was indeed used for Skyfall:
Tight streets and alleyways meant the film crew couldn't tow a trailer carrying a vehicle while the actors were filmed inside.
Thus, the team used what is called a pod system.
Picture a stunt vehicle, in this case a Land Rover Defender, with a one-man roll cage welded to the roof. Inside the roll cage is a steering wheel, hand brake, and gas and brake pedals and a seat.
It was also used for The Bourne Ultimatum, although for a different reason:
A stunt driver couldn't be hidden in the car because he would be picked up by the 360-degree camera, which was filming almost every inch of the interior.
Remote control of the vehicle was also considered, but was deemed too dangerous.
So there was only one thing for it: place a stunt driver on the roof, give him control of the steering, acceleration and brakes, and leave the actor to play with his toy gun and toy steering wheel.
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How are car driving scenes filmed?
To film driving scenes, a real car is loaded onto a trailer. Then, a camera is mounted on the hood of the car facing the actors. A truck then pulls the trailer so the driver isn't distracted by driving and can focus on doing their best acting. Movies are pure fantasy.Do actors actually drive in movies?
Some companies renting this type of equipment are Action Camera Cars and Shotmaker. In either the case, the actor playing the driver doesn't actually drive the car, but they must appear to be driving, same as if chroma key was being used with a stationary car on a set.How do they film car chases in movies?
Before this movie, most directors shot chase scenes on studio sets, since they were dealing with cameras that looked like this. To fill in the backdrop, filmmakers would use rear projection, where you project a moving image onto a screen behind the actor. Like in this chase scene from the first Bond movie, "Dr.Do actors drive themselves to set?
Actors are free to negotiate with the production company. Some production companies include travel benefits into the budget. This means that an actor may receive either a vehicle to drive themselves to and from the set or may receive a car and driver that will transport them to the set. But this is not a requirement.The Man Behind the World’s Ugliest Buildings - Alternatino
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Answer 2
It's called a "Pod Car Rig": https://www.bickers.co.uk/stunts/pod-car-roof-driven-action-vehicle/
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