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Movie Terms Wiki Filmmaking

Undercranking

Recording below standard frame rate accelerates on-screen motion when played back at normal speed.


Origins

Silent-era cameras used hand cranks; operators deliberately under-cranked action scenes (<16 fps) so chase sequences looked frenetic at projection (18–24 fps). Buster Keaton mastered the gag, his sprinting stoneface powered by physics, not CGI.

Modern Uses

  • Time-Lapse Proxy — Mountain ascents shot at 6 fps compress hours into minutes.
  • Strobe Illusion — Music videos intercut 12 fps undercranks with full-speed footage for disorienting rhythm.
  • Budget Hacks — Vehicle chases filmed at 18 fps save pyrotechnic fuel yet appear full-tilt on playback.

Digital Workflow

Cameras flag metadata so NLEs auto-interpret footage; editors may retime to exact beats, then motion-blur frames for aesthetic polish.

Trivia

FIFA broadcasts briefly under-crank crowd shots to make stadium waves appear more energetic, a practice disclosed in a 2021 broadcast code review.


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