Feature Film With $15,000

H

Hambartsum

Member
Hi everyone, I'm new to posting, though I've been following the DVXuser community for a few months now. I am a film student whose way in over his head and thinks he is ready to shoot his first feature. My budget is $15,000. Now I need your help in deciding how to best use this 15,000. I need a camera, and I'm strongly leaning towards the HVX (6000), the p2 cards don't have enough space for me so I'm thinking of passing them by and buying a Firestore, thats another 2000, then I need a strong comp, and since I also need a laptop the best choice would be MacBook Pro roughly another 2000. Which leaves me with 5000. That 5000 is for hardware, and that remaining hardware is sound, but I don't want to blow the whole 5gs on sound, maybe just have at the most. The rest I'll need for misc....What are good mics at that price range, I have access to a Sound Device through my school....

All in all does this seem to you guys to be the right way in using the $. If everything falls through and the film is completed I plan on sending it to festivals to be shown on the big screen. Has anyone see HVX blown up on the big screen? How does it hold up? What needs to be tweaked for it to hold up well on the big screen?

Anyway advice on how to spend my budget properley, the best and cheapest place to get the HVX, and the other equipment, thanks beforehand for your help.
 
Well first of all, have you considered lighting in your budget? How about talent and crew? Will they be paid?

I would recommend checking out the audio threads on this forum to get some good leads on a comprehensive sound setup with decent mics.

Also remember that if you go with a Firestore over the P2 cards then you will be sacrificing the ability to shoot in 720 24pn because the native and variable framerates, along with the overcranking slo-mo, are not transferable through the firewire out.

If some of these questions bring up major stumbling blocks for you, you might consider bringing in outside funding or partnerships.

If you shoot properly and follow some of the great suggestions on this forum, then the footage should have no problem whatsoever in transferring nicely to the big screen.

Good luck.
 
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What about a tripod, lights, flex, grip, microphone (a good one is a must), cables, crew, talent, meats, transport... $15.000 for a feature?

Good Luck!!!

I suggest to rent the equipment and spend the rest of the money in Talent, food, wardrobe, makeup, rehearsal, transportation, and some comfort for the people who is going to work with you.

The history and how you tell it is the most important part.

PS: We have all the equipement we need (se our site) and spend about US$12-20.000 (talent, crew, food, transport, etc.) in every short feature (14 of them) we made, and about US$ 3 - 5.000 in transfer to film.
 
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Is that $15,000 covering your gear as well as script, crew, location fees, transportation, actors and post production... oh, and don't forget food? If so I would suggest renting gear and not purchasing. Put your money into your story... your crew and actors.

If that dollar amount is only for gear and you have a budget for the rest of the stuff... I think you are heading in the right direction but don't forget lighting and camera support (tripod). Don't forget you're going to need external storage because you are not going to want to have your media files on the same drive as your operating system. Go with a SATA raid. As far as wireless mics... go with Lectrosonics they are almost bullet proof... rock solid. I have had great experiences with these and you can get a pair for about $4,400. Dealing with sound you'll also need a boom with a good shotgun. The on camera mic on the HVX just doesn't cut it.

Just thought of something else I didn't see on your list... insurance. You'll want it on your gear... and your production.
 
why is everyone asking this guy the same questions over and over again... lets just wait to hear this guy's response and question him further after that.
 
Rent! Rent! Rent! I just finished a feature that had the same budget,and they made the major mistake of trying to buy everything to pull it off, and it truly made the process of shooting the film pure hell for them!

By all means rent the gear!! If you had a budget of $100,000...then sure buy what you need. But don't get sucked into this "gear lust" man! It will burn you badly! If you want to buy gear...then buy it and don't center it around a movie!

Making a movie and buying gear are two different things! Completely different!!

You have to make a choice between the two if you only have 15,000. Don't let the selfish monster get you!
 
tshark said:
why is everyone asking this guy the same questions over and over again... lets just wait to hear this guy's response and question him further after that.
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:Drogar-BigGrin(DBG) I think we wrote our responses at same time, other way we become like fools, don't you think? :grin:
 
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I agree with mattsdp, we own US$ 200.000 in gear and sometimes we have to rent from others, no money is enough in order to have what you need (no matter what!)
 
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Rent! Rent! Rent! I just finished a feature that had the same budget,and they made the major mistake of trying to buy everything to pull it off, and it truly made the process of shooting the film pure hell for them!

By all means rent the gear!! If you had a budget of $100,000...then sure buy what you need. But don't get sucked into this "gear lust" man! It will burn you badly! If you want to buy gear...then buy it and don't center it around a movie!

Making a movie and buying gear are two different things! Completely different!!

You have to make a choice between the two if you only have 15,000. Don't let the selfish monster get you!
 
I see you mentioned you are a film student.... what school?! You seem as if you have to get everything. First of all list everything you have access to. It will help us all help give you budget advice.
 
Also, if you need help. I would be willing to consult with you for free. Visit my myspace page. or send me an email. But, please take our advice! Make that your first investment.

Good luck!
 
With 15k get a DP with his own camera and pay him like $200 a day plus something fair for his HVX. If you go adapter get a 1st AC and have a gaffer. $100 is cheap but for a guarenteed 21 day feature isn't bad.

You should rent lights or better yet find a gaffer with a 1 ton grip truck for discounted rate. I'm sure everyone is gonna kick my ass for saying this stuff though.

Spend the money on craft service, costume, props, locations, and on screen stuff. Buying a camera and shooting a feature on 15k is rough.
 
I suggest you buy the Dov Simens 2 day film school on DVD. He cuts through the BS we learn in film school.

http://dovsimensfilmschool.com/homepage.html

Yes, you can shoot a feature for 15k.

His book is often on Ebay, maybe that's all you need.

I took his class and was so impressed I bought the DVDs too.

He spends a whole day talking you through the budgeting of a film, who to hire, how much to pay, where to buy 35mm film and how much to pay.

It's just fantastic. If you've been through film school, Dov will fill in the blanks that they don't teach you. But be prepared to learn that Hollywood isn't like film school.
 
Hambartsum said:
Hi everyone, I'm new to posting, though I've been following the DVXuser community for a few months now. I am a film student whose way in over his head and thinks he is ready to shoot his first feature. My budget is $15,000. Now I need your help in deciding how to best use this 15,000. I need a camera, and I'm strongly leaning towards the HVX (6000), the p2 cards don't have enough space for me so I'm thinking of passing them by and buying a Firestore, thats another 2000, then I need a strong comp, and since I also need a laptop the best choice would be MacBook Pro roughly another 2000. Which leaves me with 5000. That 5000 is for hardware, and that remaining hardware is sound, but I don't want to blow the whole 5gs on sound, maybe just have at the most. The rest I'll need for misc....What are good mics at that price range, I have access to a Sound Device through my school....

All in all does this seem to you guys to be the right way in using the $. If everything falls through and the film is completed I plan on sending it to festivals to be shown on the big screen. Has anyone see HVX blown up on the big screen? How does it hold up? What needs to be tweaked for it to hold up well on the big screen?

Anyway advice on how to spend my budget properley, the best and cheapest place to get the HVX, and the other equipment, thanks beforehand for your help.
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Hey,

This is nothing. I am doing a feautre on a budget of $8500.00 based around a Panasonic DVX-100. I am going to shoot 24p.

Am I crazy?
 
He might have gotten disheartened but I agree with everyone when they say rent or try to get people that have their own gear. I think it's ok to buy some stuff but don't waste your money trying to buy everything because your production will suffer. I just finished working on the set of the local production of a TV series. If was produced by a fellow DVX user member. he spend at least 50,000 on the two episodes which included 2 weeks of shooting with some very talented people. I'm not try to knock you and say you can't do it but it will be less stressfull for yourself and everyone else to rent.
 
Indoor mostly or outdoor? Special effects,action, or dialogue. If it is a indoor story driven movie buy a fx1 not Z1u and record audio externally, get a powerbook and final cut express. That should cost you $5000 tops. also if you have a couple outside daylight shots rent a f900 and do it on a weekend and beg someone to help you and maybe you can get it for $1000 for 2 days. Its possible. Now you have your high def movie. Take pictures on location with the f900 it will make the movie seem bigger budget. After it's shot sell the fx1. and use that money to promote and enter film festivals.

OR

rent a f900 package for 3 weeks $7500. Beg a dp to help you $1000. Powerbook and final cut express $2500. They like to work with the f900. Here in columbus a guy shot a music video no one wanted to help till he said he was shooting it with the same cam as star wars used. Use the rest for pleasing people. $4000

OR

Rent HVX package for 3 weeks $3000
Laptop and Final cut pro 5 $2500
use the rest for pleasing people $9500

This is very basic.
 
I'm a beginning DP, with a feature under my belt, and lots of shooting corporate and industrial. I've shot 1 1/2 features. the 1/2 I also directed and wrote.

I've got HVX-200, M2 with HD acromat, Eos Primes and zooms, Powerbook, HD camera monitor, HD directors monitor, etc.

Happy work work on a feature for a fair rate.
 
Yeah, you may just want to rent from someone here who has an HVX200 and the neccesary equipment. What area are you in?

I'm gonna assume you're going to try to do this without a lighting kit. I'll also assume that you're not paying anyone so this all goes to equipment.

Now, you need to decide how high quality you want your supporting gear. I mean, you can get a cheaper tripod and mike but that means you'll have jerky pans and weak audio. Here are some options based on my own very limited inquiries:

For recording format, I'm gonna suggest you wait for the cineporter which will cost the same as a FS-100 but let you use Native mode with it's 2.5 times more space and variable frame rates (also holds 160 gigs). You can also just get a $1000 laptop and record to that instead of the FS-100. It'll cost less and apparently some of the new capturing applications will let you do native mode in the future. You can also get a P2 store and hot swap cards if you have assistant.

Cheap Stuff

HVX200-$5500
Bogen 503 Tripod-$700
ME66 Boom Mike Package-$650
Firestore 100-$1800
Cheapest Bag Possible-$100
Extra Battery-$100

Total: 8850

Better Stuff

HVX200-$5500
Cartoni Focus Tripod-$1300 (with DVXUser discount at Able Cine)
MKH416 Package-$1300
Cineporter 160 gig-$2200
Kata Backback-$300
Two Extra Batteries-$200

Total: $10800

Remember an extra 2k in the supporting equipment will really give you a much more professional film in the long run.

This would be your equipment budget. For post, it really depends on you. You might be able to edit it using your schools equipment if you want. You also need to choose Mac or PC and decide what you want to use if you choose PC. If you chose Avid you can get Xpress Pro HD 5.24 for $300 (instead of $1700).
 
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