I've been given $18,000

V

vash

Member
Hello every1:

First i want to say thank you for reading this and take ur time. any help or advice i am great full for that.

I didnt go to film school i am going to school for fine arts; but film is something i love to explore and would love to collaborate with ppl and would like to make 30 to 45 min short films. so on my bday i was given a gift of a life time ( i am going to make a doc. about this how i end using this money)by my grandparents i was given 18,000 $...wow...u might say good for u or w.e. in a way its not a lot but enough for me to do something with my life. so i am learning n trying to get information as much as i can on things like camera, lighting kits ,lens for a camera for film like quality for a digital camera and sound equipment as well.

so my questions are:
I am going to buy a HVX200. with 1 p2 card. after reading and hearing enough about it i think it a great investment. im sure you would agree.
but the i am lost as in what kind of lens should i buy 35 or something else and what kind of different lenses are used for digital camera that gives a film look. i read 72mm and something else but i am pretty lost. on which lens does what and what would i need to buy? which brand is the best?

whats a good way to transfer your footage if you dont have a p2card and what type of usb cord or fire wire?? or tape deck for hd are there that i can use to to upload my footage.

as for lighting kits i saw 2 kinds one was [SIZE=-1]Tungsten Lighting n HMI i dont know which one is better or which is good to make a perfect lighting kit for films.?

as for sound i dont know anything?

but i know how to use is FCP (basic) n after effects and 3d software.


thank you so much for your help..............

as for me to help any i can design movie posters n storyboards and concept art. so if you need anything like that please email me at r_taqvi@hotmail.com

thank you n have a great weekend.



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I would wait to spend any of it. Spend your time learning first. Work on your short film Idea, when you ready to shoot, go to a rental house and have them work out a package for you. That way you will have not only learned the ropes but you will also know where you want to spend your money (if you do).

Camera equipment decreciates really fast, you dont want to be the guy who blew $18Grand on gear and second guessed it a year later.
 
Buy the Hollywood Cameraworks DVD set and the Digital Cinema Training DVD courses before you start spending all your cash on equipment you are not familiar with.

The audio section has a great sticky about sound packages that you should take a look at. http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=51526

What is your goal? What types of projects do you want to focus on? Do you want to be a DP? Director? Editor?

Treat this as a business investment not like a birthday card with a check inside. Before you drop $18,000 formulate a business plan.

And if you dont already have renters insurance, make sure you pick some up when you get all this equipment.
 
wow...thank u for ur responses. i do understand where you guys are coming from. I am reading alot of books on how to Direct and Cinematography. As for Editing I pretty much feel that you if have everything on storyboard or pre-viz ( which is something i do n can do for other ppl as well) editing should be easy or am i wrong?.
as for my goal yes i would like to direct feature films but that waaayyyyy down the line right now i just want to learn and invest i guess.

and no i am not treating this as a bday check lol i wish that is why i came here to ask for help.

thank you again for ur time and if i can help u in storyboards or concept art or movie poster let me know....
 
I am investing about that same amount into my studio this summer, $5,000 of which is going into production audio and another $9,000 into post production editing and scoring. The rest is for an XHA1 package.
 
Yeah, wait to spend. $18,000 doesn't go very far in camera gear. I have $30,000 wrapped up in mine and still don't have what I need (or want). You have a long road ahead of you, be patient and enjoy the process.
 
From experience, I would buy the HVX and learn while using the camera, you could always sell it down the road for minimum 80 cents on the dollar. I would also get the cinema courses mentioned. Also get a quality case (storm case, pelican) and a good tripod. (bogen 516, 519, cartoni)

Stay away from the lense adapters until you learn how to shoot with the hvx. They add a whole new level of difficulty and the need for additional equipment such as more light, monitors for focus, a follow focus, a matte box and prime lenses.

Lights, I would buy one light and learn how to use it, then add each light that begins to fit your style. Being an artist I am sure you will find interesting ways to light.

I would start with this one: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/354761-REG/Chimera_8005_Video_Pro_Plus_1.html

and use foam core and reflectors. you can rent other lighting kits (arri) to learn.

I would rent sound, because it can be rented rather inexpensively.
 
matthew good luck.... n with ur film as well.
phil -wow thats alot of money into a camera and you still don't have what u want what do you use and what have shot? if you dont mind me asking...
ming- yes i know my writing is bad...i write as if i'm talking sorry
 
The text messaging abbreviations are also kinda of difficult to read.

Might want to consider actually spelling the words.

No offense intended, but it is maddening to read.
 
As for Editing I pretty much feel that you if have everything on storyboard or pre-viz ( which is something i do n can do for other ppl as well) editing should be easy or am i wrong?
Click to expand...

That is definitely wrong. The main reason being a million things can crop up in a shoot that will change or compel you to modify your film, for the better or the worse. I think it is important to come to an understanding that filmmaking is a fluid process, what you write, is not what you shoot, and is not what you edit, and is not what you screen eventually. But thats why it is so exciting isn't it? I will recommend that you read the book "in the blink of an eye" by walter Murch, which is a great book about both filmmaking and editing

I also agree that you should not spend your money on gear at this moment. (or at least expensive gear). Based on what you had mentioned, I would recommend that you purchase a second hand DVX100, and use it to learn the craft. Save the rest of the money and invest it in your film (i.e. paying the crew/cast, renting equipment, getting props, location, insurance, etc)

all the best,
Jiekai
 
David...yeah im sorry...i will do my best from now on to write properly.
Jason...yeah i been reading basic books but are any recommendations for books for lighting, editing, directing?
well i have FCP and after effects and i know how to use it.
as for avid do you really think it will last that long in the industry?
i have been looking for a good cheap dv100b but for some reason i cant find any...

again im sorry for writing like a little school grl.....
thanks
 
jakeii- thanks man..i didn't think about editing like that...i just figure.. write.. film.. print..boom you have a film..only if it was that easy....


thank you
 
I would double that, get yourself a "cheap" but fully manual camera (DVX100 would be ok) and start making short films just using the camera and available resources. By the way, which doesn't mean your films will be bad just because you didn't use high end equipment. There have been people like matt mcdermitt who shot beautiful stuff with very limited resources that opened them the door into the industry. If you latter feel that you need more high end equipment for your next project, first have you project completely planed out to the point where only the equipment is missing before you are ready to shoot. (Lots of people buy equipment that is sitting around for a long time because they do not have a project to shoot and by the time they have a project there is already a newer camera out). You can then decide if it makes more sense to rent the equipment or to buy it or to buy some equipment and rent others.
The least thing I would do is just to buy equipment without having a completely planed out project! Get yourself a little camera to practice and save the big chunk of the money for latter.

...just my two cents...
 
I really don't want to come off as salty, but man I really hate people like this. A friend and I were just talking about people that get a lot of money, spend it on something they know absolutely nothing about, and after 2 years they just decide they have wasted money. And all the while there are people out there who are way more talented, but can't get the money for equipment. Thus is life I guess. Good luck.
 
I don't entirely agree with Ryan's post, but I get what he means. Like recommended, try out a DVX and just shoot as much as you can. Save that money - you never know when a rainy day might hit you (or a rainy year). When you get good enough, shoot your doc with skill and creativity - at least then it's worth the $18k you put in.

I read your original post again and from what I gathered you don't have the most experience in film, so getting a background for yourself is recommended before putting serious money into it. If I was wrong in my assumption and you have shot a lot and know how to use the manual controls of a prosumer camera, go for it!

Just choose wisely,

Kegan
 
DO NOT BUY EQUPIMENT.

Spend the money Funding your short. Rent a HPX500 w/ Pro35, Zeiss glass, a DP an AD and Production insurance. Get a small Grip truck, and hire a few PA's.

DO NOT waste money on equipment. this will leave you with 2,000$ to shoot a film, and you have no idea what youre doing. The best film school in the world is to shoot a film. USe this money to shoot a film, not buy equipment. Get the movie in the can.

I'm serious, you will wind up with a much better finished product, and the actors/crew will respect you more for doing things the right way instead of scrimping by with pizza everyday for Craft services, and shooting in your uncles garage....

18K can get a 25min movie shot easy, with a little fund raising, you can hit 25K or 30K and then you can make your 40min film for real.
 
get a second hand DVX100 and go to town. Put the rest in the bank. Set aside maybe $4,000 for camera gear and start making movies.
 
First, don't spend a dime on equipment yet. There's no use buying equipment unless you have something to shoot yet. Sit down, open up Microsoft Word, or Final Draft if you have it and start writing. There's no sense spending money on equipment when you don't have a script to shoot. That's like buying wood for a house without floor-plans.

After you have a short script written, look at collaborating with someone nearby who has equipment and experience. If they're an experienced shooter have them DP the film while you direct. Why? Because buying lots of equipment won't make you good, you need people with more experience than you to show you the ropes. Volunteer your time on shoots as a PA, but even better as a grip.

You could spend lots of money on equipment now, but it will just depreciate while you build up your skills. Not only that, but NAB is in a few months and a couple new cameras are coming out this year. If you spend the next few months writing a couple short films you can reevaluate whether you're ready to spend.

I know with 18K in my pocket I'd be tempted by gear-lust, but think it through before making any purchases. There's plenty of cameras for sale each week in the marketplace from people who bought without sitting down and figuring out if they had the skills as a writer in the first place.
 
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