Picture Car Glossary
side mount camera rig on a picture car
What is a side mount camera rig on a picture car?
Updated June 2026 · Revolution Picture Cars
Also called side mount, or door mount.
A side mount camera rig on a picture car is a camera attachment system that positions the camera on the exterior side of the vehicle typically at door or wheel-well height to capture low-angle tracking shots running parallel to the vehicle's direction of travel.
Side mounts are commonly used to film wheel and tire contact shots, low door-level angles during chases, and road-surface perspective shots. They require secure attachment points on the vehicle body, appropriate cable management to prevent road contact, and safety review before driving speeds are approved.
Example
A side mount at door height, angled in through the window, gets the driver's profile with the passing world behind. It needs a mounting plan that spreads load and a check of the paint underneath at both ends of the day.
Figures are illustrative, chosen to show the mechanics rather than to quote market rates.
Where you'll see it
Rigged by grip, with the attachment points agreed with the owner in advance.
Common mistake
Adding a side mount without checking the load path. Door skins and window channels are thin, and a rig planned for a hood does not simply transfer to a door.
Related questions
- What is a side mount used for?
- Positioning the camera on the exterior side of the vehicle, usually at door height, shooting in at the driver or along the car's flank.
- How is it attached?
- With clamps, suction, or bracketry spread across sound mounting points, agreed with the owner and checked before the vehicle moves.
Official sources
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