How long did it take to amass your equipment?

D-Day

D-Day

Member
Looking around on here, I see people with their equipment listed, close to $10,000 and beyond, and it boggles the mind. I know there are professional video companies who obviously can get this kind of equipment more easily than most since it's their job, so I was curious about the privateers who have large amounts of equipment and how long it took to acquire.

I was also curious if video was the primary hobby, or if some also had other expensive hobbies/professions. I guess I could get the same equipment (void Red cameras and HPX500's) if I didn't have hobbies like shooting, working on/buying cars and motorcycles, road trips, etc.

I better start saving my money or do some serious Rodriguez'ing.
 
You're on the right train of thinking.

First, it's taken me 5+ years.

Second, tremendous amounts of discipline and spending very little money on a lot of other stuff. Here's a big one, drive a cheap car. Two, don't go on non-filmmaking vacations. Three, live in a cheap apt, etc.
 
...or...bust ass and make a lot of money so you can buy all the cool toys, live in a nice house, drive nice cars and live life.

Work to live, don't live to work!
 
I got a loan for the big priced items (DVX, tripod, lighting kit) and have slowly picked up other things as the last four years have gone by.
 
the most important lesson i have learned over the years is be bold in what you do dont take a back seat and kick back. find out what you want to do and do it put listings in phone books send out flyers do what ever you have to to let people know your around and want to do something.
 
I have been building mine for 2 years now. Not as large as other peope but I have an HVX-200 and all the necessary equipment to shoot a short. The only thing I don't have is lights but I have been trying to meet people that have that side so I can avoid buying that.

What I am looking for now is an external monitor as the HVX LCD sucks. I need a monitor that produces accurate color and sharpness. Looking at the Marshall for now.

As for how I get the money. I have a full time job as an engineer that pays really well plus I live realitively cheaply, i.e. drive a low gas mileage car that is 10 years old, share a living space, spend little on other hobbies outside film (only other hobbies are working out and soccer so low cost), and save whenever I can. My other biggest expense is that I like to travel but I tend to look for deals there too.

Though next year I am getting married so all my savings will be drained and my spending on film gear will probably drop to zero for the time being.
 
I only owned a Canon A1 for a year or so and nothing else really that was of quality. Within about 3 months I spent $10,000 or so on equipment so I had all I needed before shooting Standing Firm. I make about $19,000 a year too after taxes so yea...figure that one out lol. (partially a loan, partially saving, and partially money made during those months)

Either way my key to having no bill troubles and driving a decent car and just living comfortably is to spend your money wisely. That's pretty much it, don't buy stupid crap that wont last or wont make you money...make your hard earned money last. Besides food and a few other expenses I don't buy much of anything besides a DVD or two each month. Most of my purchases are every few months at a couple hundred or thousand a piece. Just gotta save up I guess.

Idk, it is possible to buy a lot at once, you just gotta figure out the math and have the discipline to do it responsibly.
 
I sank my 2 large budgets into equipment and then rented it out to make it back and more. (I've stopped renting it out ....hate the stress)
 
Who says I am done "amassing"? :happy:

Seriously, look for deals. It has taken 2 years to get to the point I am at now. And I scrounge everywhere looking for good deals on equipment. If I cannot afford something, I pass on it because eventually I will find it for I price I can afford.

As to the money thing, sounds like you have a bunch of other hobbies that could put a crimp on your "camera wish list". I did too, but I had to decide what I wanted to do, as I couldn't afford to do everything I liked. So I established priorities and my hobby-turned-business came first. Most of the stuff that was not associated with cinematography got sold. If you want to be serious about film-making, then you need to be dedicated to it. But if you just want to play around and have it remain a hobby, then just use what you got and have fun doing it. There is nothing wrong with that.

Oh, and Top Ramen ain't too bad if you add fresh veggies and meat to it.
 
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actually do your wallet a favor and use hot dogs in the ramen. Toss in a little butter and make it a little creamy, or toss in some hot sauce and then you cant taste the ramen :)
 
Took me about a year but I usually don't talk about it because it pisses people off.

-Nate
 
Doc Bernard said:
Who says I am done "amassing"? :happy:

Seriously, look for deals. It has taken 2 years to get to the point I am at now. And I scrounge everywhere looking for good deals on equipment. If I cannot afford something, I pass on it because eventually I will find it for I price I can afford.
Click to expand...

Believe me, I'm all about the deals. All my camera gear has been acquired through eBay...even this extremely elusive item (for eBay) I acquired recently: http://www.filmtools.com/filiuncamofo.html

Bought it for $78 less than on the site, plus I'll get $89 back through the Cashback program. Almost $200 less off retail isn't too shabby. I'm a cheapskate.
 
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