Process Trailer

What is Process Trailer?

A process trailer is a flat platform towed by another vehicle, carrying actors in a stationary car so the camera crew can safely film them from all angles whilst simulating a driving scene.

At a glance

Also known as
Low loaderInsert car platformTow rig
Used for
Filming dialogue scenes in moving vehiclesSafe actor performance during driving sequencesCamera access to all angles of a vehicleCombining with background plates or LED volumes
Common tools
Low-loader trailer rigsCamera car as tow vehicleRear projection (historical)LED wall volumes (contemporary)Background plate cameras
Related terms
Camera carBackground plateRear projectionLED volumeVisual effectsMotion control rig

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How it compares

How it compares

Process TrailerCamera Car

A process trailer carries the performance vehicle and the actors, keeping them static relative to the camera, whilst the tow vehicle drives. A camera car carries only the camera and crew, actively driving alongside or near a performance vehicle that is being driven independently. Process trailers are used for dialogue and performance capture in vehicle interiors; camera cars are used for exterior shots of vehicles in motion.

Think of it like…

A process trailer is like the moving walkway at an airport: from the perspective of the person on it, they are moving through a world that passes around them, but they are actually standing still on a platform being carried through space. The performance happens in a fixed, controlled environment whilst the illusion of movement is supplied by the world around them.

Pro tip

When integrating AI-generated or extended background plates into process trailer footage, ensure the tow vehicle speed and turning data are logged precisely during the shoot: this information dramatically improves the accuracy of the background plate perspective calculation and any subsequent AI-driven scene extension.

Types and variations

  • The standard process trailer is a flat deck towed by a camera car or standard tow vehicle, with the performance car mounted centrally and cameras rigged around it.
  • High-sided process trailers include low walls or rails to provide additional security and to conceal rigging from camera.
  • Some process trailers are designed to accommodate multiple vehicles side by side, allowing filming of conversations between actors in different cars.
  • Variations exist for motorcycles, where the bike is mounted to a low platform and the rider performs without controlling the machine.
  • Modern productions may mount the entire trailer assembly on an LED volume stage rather than towing it at all, using a static process trailer as a mounting rig with a moving digital background replacing any practical travel.

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Common use cases

  • The process trailer is used in virtually every major film and television production that involves dialogue or performance inside a moving vehicle.
  • The technique allows directors to capture precise, repeatable performances without the safety risks of actors or cameras in an uncontrolled moving vehicle.
  • It is particularly essential for night driving sequences, where matching exterior lighting with background plates is more achievable in a controlled environment.
  • Action sequences that require complex camera positioning around a vehicle also rely on process trailers, as the rig allows cameras to be placed in positions that would be dangerous or impossible in a freely driven vehicle.

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FAQs

Why use a process trailer rather than filming in a real moving car?
A process trailer provides a completely safe environment for actors and crew, allows cameras to be positioned in any configuration around the vehicle, gives the director full control over lighting and the performers, and enables multiple identical takes. Real driving introduces safety risks, unpredictable traffic, variable lighting, and severely limits camera placement.
How are the backgrounds created in process trailer shots?
Historically, backgrounds were created using rear projection: projecting separately filmed footage onto a screen behind the vehicle. Modern productions use background plates filmed on real locations, composited in post-production, or generated using LED volume stages. AI-assisted tools increasingly allow background plates to be digitally generated or extended.
Can actors actually drive the car on a process trailer?
No. The vehicle on a process trailer is mounted to the platform and physically cannot move under its own power or steering. Actors may operate the steering wheel and gearstick as part of their performance, but the vehicle is entirely static relative to the trailer. The tow vehicle provides all the motion.
What is the difference between a process trailer and a low loader?
The terms are used interchangeably in production. 'Low loader' refers to the low-profile, flat trailer platform itself; 'process trailer' refers to the whole technique of using such a platform for the process of filming vehicle performance scenes. The terms are functionally synonymous on a film set.
How does virtual production affect process trailer use?
LED volume virtual production stages allow productions to use a stationary process trailer inside a studio, with a curved LED wall displaying moving background footage around the vehicle. This eliminates the need to tow the trailer at all, giving the production complete control over lighting, background, and safety whilst retaining all the performance and camera access advantages of the traditional technique.
Are process trailers used in AI-assisted production?
Yes. Process trailer footage provides high-quality, stable performance material that AI background replacement and compositing tools can work with effectively. The static relationship between camera and subject on a process trailer produces footage that is particularly clean for AI-driven background plate integration and camera solve processes.
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