Filming a driving scene — whether an actor at the wheel in an auteur film or a chase sequence for an action series — immediately raises the same questions: which travelling vehicle? Which camera configuration? Which setup will make the actor convincing on screen?
Ciné Cascade is a specialist provider of travelling vehicles, camera cars and on-demand filming setups, with vehicle preparers, precision drivers and coordination, for cinema, TV series, advertising and music videos, in France and internationally.
The fleet is divided into two complementary families: vehicles that carry the crew on the move, and vehicles designed to capture the action up close.
Travelling vehicles and loaders: carrying the crew on the move
These vehicles accommodate the camera, lighting and sound teams in real shooting conditions, at variable speeds and in camera installation configurations that standard vehicles cannot support.
DODGE LOADER — POWER AND VERSATILITY, with or without trailer: Up to 140 km/h even with a trailer, a dedicated platform for the crew with camera-on-rails installation, a 6-metre trailer for transporting cars, motorcycles or heavy vehicles. Can accommodate a crane on the platform.
C5 PLATFORM — LIGHTWEIGHT AND VERSATILE: Equipped with front and rear platforms, the C5 accommodates the technical and directing teams. It also handles the towing of motorcycles, bicycles and scooters.
MASTER LOADER — FAST INSTALLATION: The Master Loader stands out for the speed of its technical setup. Its platform accommodates the camera, lighting and sound teams, with the option of installing cameras on rails. A trailer can be hitched to transport cars and motorcycles. It also handles the towing of light vehicles and can accommodate a crane on its platform.
MOVANO PLATFORM — MANOEUVRABLE AND COMPACT: Thanks to its reduced dimensions and adapted suspension, the Movano Platform offers optimal manoeuvrability. Its platform accommodates the technical and directing teams and can accommodate a crane.
XM 6-Wheel Platform: complementary configurations depending on platform size, location accessibility and production constraints.
All technical datasheets available for download on the website.
Filming vehicles: capturing the action up close
These vehicles are designed for filming. Each one addresses a specific shooting constraint: speed, discretion, stability, manoeuvrability.
Fast Car RS6 — exceptionally powerful. Audi RS6, 580 hp, 250 km/h, fitted with a front-and-rear lift on a gyrostabilised head, battery-powered. The reference setup for following or preceding a picture vehicle at high speed while remaining visually unobtrusive on screen. Truly impressive.
Scorpio Arm — Russian Arm — 540 hp, gyrostabilised camera arm on the tilt axis, available in 12\\\\\\\’, 14\\\\\\\’ or 18\\\\\\\’ configurations, fully waterproof. Smooth and precise shots even under acceleration, braking or on degraded road surfaces. Widely used by directors for chase sequences filmed as close to the action as possible. It preserves the sense of speed while making it possible to film the actors\\\\\\\’ faces.
The Russian Arm is the generic term used internationally for this type of device; the Scorpio Arm is the version integrated into the Ciné Cascade fleet, in partnership with Next Shot.
Renault Twizy — electric micro-vehicle, 70 km/h, silent, ultra-compact. Steadycam mountable front or rear, camera assistant seated behind the driver, camera mounting height 1.60 m, range 100 km. Ideal for filming as close as possible to the cast while preserving dialogue — near-zero noise pollution on set.
Motorcycle camera unit — Suzuki 650, 130 km/h, maximum payload 415 kg. Front and rear camera mounts, can support a stabilised movie head, a fixed camera or a handheld camera operator. Highly agile in traffic and on uneven terrain — the most fluid setup for sequences combining cars and motorcycles.
Filming an actor driving, safely: constraints to anticipate
The question comes up at every prep: how do you create the impression that the actor is really driving, safely?
Several configurations address this constraint depending on budget and artistic intent: lateral travelling shot, embedded shot with a rig mounted on the picture vehicle, towing the picture vehicle with the actor on board, or prior precision driving training so the actor actually drives on screen.
There is also remote driving: Top Rider. The Top Rider allows actors to be filmed in a simulated driving situation, in complete safety. Remote driving is operated from the roof of the vehicle, offering complete freedom of framing, from both inside and outside. External remote driving: remote driving can also be operated from outside the vehicle. Dual control: a dual-control setup allows the actor and the driver to share control, for maximum safety and natural performance on screen.
The choice of setup depends on the scene, not the catalogue.
That is why Ciné Cascade is involved from the preparation stage — and even from the writing stage — to define the optimal configuration with the director, the director of photography and the production team, with safety as the constant priority.
What productions ask us most often
Can a travelling vehicle be hired without a driver?
No. The quality of the result on screen and safety on set depend directly on the driver. Vehicle and driver are offered together, without exception.
How do you choose between the Scorpio Arm / Russian Arm and the Fast Car RS6?
The Scorpio Arm is designed for dynamic shots with great freedom of framing: crane shots, travelling shots, close-follow shots. The Fast Car RS6 is the right choice when speed is the primary constraint and the filming vehicle needs to remain visually neutral on screen. The choice depends on the intentions of the director and the director of photography. Ciné Cascade contributes to this decision-making from the first prep meetings and location scouts.
Does Ciné Cascade work outside France?
Yes — Europe, Middle East, Africa, the Americas, with the same equipment and protocols. Transport logistics are factored into the estimate from the first scouts.
Are you preparing a shoot with driving scenes or embedded sequences?
stunts@cinecascade.com · +33 6 08 72 74 55 · WhatsApp international: +33 6 11 50 09 54
