$8000 USD to play with! SUGGESTIONS!

Norm_Li

Norm_Li

Well-known member
Hey everyone!

First of all, Merry X'mas and I hope you all had a Happy New Years!

Okay, so in film school here, I met this guy who's totally impressed with some of my work and he wants me to be DOP/Editor for a 45min treatment of his feature film script. He has a budget of around $10,000,000 for his full feature but he's budgeting $10,000 USD into the treatment and he said that I could use $8000 USD in equipment acquisition and after the treatment shoot (4 weeks), I could keep all of that equipment!

So...I ask all of you for suggestions on how to wisely use the $8000 USD here. I'll let you know that I have the DVX100, azden sgm-2x mic, a Bogen501 head, manfrotto 028 legs, and the cobracrane + 3' extention kit.

I'm thinking about a nice mattebox system that can support the anamorphic lens if I buy that too. When is Century coming out with the new ana lens? Should I wait till then to purchase the lens instead of buying the panny lens? The production starts end of October 2004 and lasts 4 weeks and allocated 6 weeks for editing.

Which mattebox system should I get? Petroff, Century, Cavision, Chrosziel, etc?

I think he's allocating the remaining $2000 USD for rentals and some locations releases or what not. I could possibly reqeust a little more but only if I can justify a offering him an overall increased production value.

Some things I can think of off the top of my head:

Mattebox system, mic, steadicam, dolly, filters, dolly track system for my cobracrane, extra batteries, century or panny ana lens, car/window mounts (cuz there are some car scenes in his script), a better tripod and head, lighting kit, shoulder mount, LCD monitor attachment for my crane, some type of camera controller for the tripod handle, additional head at the end of crane, quicksteeamDV, are some of the things I can think about.

Can anyone give me a nice breakdown of costs with the best recommended equipment to fit a $8000 USD budget?

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Norm Li
 
Re: $8000 USD to play with! SUGGESTIONS!

Wow! Sounds like a killer deal Norm! First thing I think of with those kinds of duckets is "What can make my films look more filmish?"

I am thinking dollies, steadicams, etc etc. I love a camera that moves and really looks like a FILM.
 
Re: $8000 USD to play with! SUGGESTIONS!

Yeah, it's a pretty good deal!

I think if I do a good job with this treatment, he'll probably want me on the feature as well.

I also want to make this film look more filmic. Should I upgrade to the new DVX100A...will it give me an additional filmic look (from what I read in those reviews/ads)?

I will definitely go with the Dolly setup and steadicam, but will that take up too much of my budget? Should I just get him to rent those...? I'd like to own as much cool gear as possible though so this will help me upgrade my gear list! I should definitely go anamorphic. I think a mattebox would help get cleaner images, but it's those moving and cinematic visuals with dollies/steadicam/crane that will make this film stand out I guess. Hmmm!!!

I also need the century manual focus ring and follow focus system... I think I have a lot to play with here. I think the Glidecam V-8 System is what I will need for my setup.

I'm excited!
 
Re: $8000 USD to play with! SUGGESTIONS!

Ok cool, I'll wait until the next year or two for a new DVX100 with more features I will need before upgrading.

I don't have a follow-focus system with my package ...and I'm not sure what a whip is? I'll buy a 503 or 510 head maybe for my tripod and I'll use the 501 for the end of the crane to mount the camera on.

Zoom, what do you suggest?
 
Re: $8000 USD to play with! SUGGESTIONS!

I have the Chrosziel 411-53 mattebox with sidewings kit, and it rocks. Also have the Chrosziel DV Follow Focus (with Century manual ring). VERY handy, plus looks awesome ;)
 
Re: $8000 USD to play with! SUGGESTIONS!

So that is about half the buget right there. Ouch!!!
But a killer set up! Now add the Anamorphic lenz And a steadisystem. Like Steve says not hard to burn thru $8000.00 8)
 
Re: $8000 USD to play with! SUGGESTIONS!

Hey Congrats Norm... I think you came to the art history premier but I cant remember meeting you, we should hook up sometime since your living it up in Van.

Anyways, get a copy of whatever he is planning to shoot, that is where you should start.

I would focus mostly on glass, like putting a nice Cavision or 16x9inc mattebox in the front and buying some promists ultra cons and polarizers etc. MAke sure you get a mattbox with rails, and make sure that the rails will catch your filters WHEN they fall out the bottom. Definately get the ana adapter Centrury isnt even close to releasing it so get the Panasonic, and a field monitor that has a 16x9 switch.. with this large of a production your gonna want to make sure you can show him what your doing.


501 has got to go.. if your planning on putting a mattebox and glass etc. etc. your gonna need at least a 503 or ever better the 516 like Steve said.. its alot of weight.

Also contact a place in North Van called clairmont camera and see how much the will sell you a device called an overkeeper.. it adds super production value to your project and is way quicker than a dolly. I wouldnt advise getting a stedicam because you dont have enough time to learn to use it. A dolly would be nice if you have any money left over.

Get a boom and a buddy to boom, your current mic should do decently enough.

Leo's on Granville sell a product line called Cullman and they sell really cheap but adequate suction cups etc. so you can make a car mount for less than $200, and all the parts you can use left and right.

Quickstream is nice too.. saves alot of time and you dont need to worry about dropouts, for this project I would run quickstream and tape for backup.

You didnt mention anything about lighting so I assume you already have that covered.. so im not going to go into that... you could waste that 8 grand just on an HMI alone.

Anyways... good to know Film school is good for someone :)
 
Re: $8000 USD to play with! SUGGESTIONS!

Hey Good News Norm,
Sounds amazing. I have a Glidecam V8 which is great but is not required for all shooting situations, and will truely take time to get up to speed on.

Looks like I may be doing a long term gig in Van, would love to hook up...and haven't forgotten about our ops 8)

Keep us posted.
 
Re: $8000 USD to play with! SUGGESTIONS!

Hey Jarred,

Can you post a link to a nice Cavision Matte box that will work with the Ana... I was gonna go with the Croziel 411-53p but you have to have a modified anamorphic adapter which is and extra 200 bucks for them to do that....
 
Re: $8000 USD to play with! SUGGESTIONS!

This one http://www.cavision.com/Mattbox/for_film_camera.htm will work, but you need to take off some parts.. and keep the bellows really tight.

Chroziel 6x6 will work, and the 411-53 will work and you can do it youself.. all you gotta do is cut the lip off the ana adapter.. and believe it or not the ana adapter is plastic so its not that hard.
 
Re: $8000 USD to play with! SUGGESTIONS!

Taylor keep me posted when your coming in.. some of us Vancouver DVXuser's should get together one night and whoop it up.
 
Re: $8000 USD to play with! SUGGESTIONS!

Definitely want an upgrade on the fluid head.  Check out ZGC.com.  They've serious high class and have a lot of the lens related stuff you're going to want.  I just got the Chrosziel matte box set up with the century focus ring, rods etc.  Chrosziel is serious stuff.  German high quality. Good set of 4x4 glass and the anamorphic lens will do you well.  Definitely want a 16:9 capable monitor as well - I shot a 2 week indy in dallas a while back with an XL1s and always composed through the monitor - focus etc was also enhanced and you won't have to worry about the squeeze distortion of the anamorphic lens.  Dolly moves are great but a high end dolly can't be purchased  - only rented.  Low end dolly systems might be worth it but consider how many tracking shots you'll be shooting.  Same goes with the Steadicam stuff.  Low end pogo style ones may work but renting a high end system for a day could be better.    No one has mentioned lighting at all.  Personally, I would forgo a lot of the dolly crane type stuff and invest in a good arri light kit and/or a kino flo kit.  Makes you a lot more "sellable" on future shoots if you can provide lighting as well.  Just some thoughts.  Don't spend $$ on non camera stuff if you can.  If you really want to be a shooter - then focus on that and let the audio guys bring their mics and boom poles.
 
Re: $8000 USD to play with! SUGGESTIONS!

What would you guys recommend to someone that is working on an extremely tight budget; after buying the camera itself (already done) what would be the first upgrade with very little financial support?
Thanks.

-griffin
 
Re: $8000 USD to play with! SUGGESTIONS!

Tripod.. and batteries of course :)
 
Re: $8000 USD to play with! SUGGESTIONS!

You know what is right or wrong? Tripods, if you do a pan shot you get blasted. A tilt shot, the same thing. 8)
 
Re: $8000 USD to play with! SUGGESTIONS!

just Dutch it.. cant go wrong with a dutch lol.
 
Re: $8000 USD to play with! SUGGESTIONS!

[quote author=MattM01 link=board=Links;num=1073584898;start=0#14 date=01/09/04 at 12:45:04]Personally, I would forgo a lot of the dolly crane type stuff and invest in a good arri light kit/or a kino flo kit. Makes you a lot more "sellable" on future shoots if you can provide lighting as well. Just some thoughts. Don't spend $$ on non camera stuff if you can. If you really want to be a shooter - then focus on that and let the audio guys bring their mics and boom poles.[/quote]
I think that is one of the best production statements I have heard in a long time. If you want to be a shooter, concentrate on Camera first, then lighting. For lighting, a good Arri Softbank 4 runs $2550. I have been shooting with Arri lights for 10 years, and I have never seen one go down in a shoot. Very reliable, high quality (www.arri.com). I sell many other good brands, but Arri is tops in my book for quality, reliability, and price. You don't see people selling used Arri Kits. Nobody gets rid of them after they buy them. Kino Flo's are super cool for interiors, literally: It doesn't heat up interiors like the tungstens do, and it doesn't sweat your actors. Re-applying makeup eats up a lot of time on the field. You can get them close to the actors and get beautiful, even, soft light without investing in large chimera's. So if you're doing lots of interiors, a Twin-pack of Diva 200 will run you $1654 (more info on www.kinoflo.com). You just have to buy two heavy light stands at $125/ea., and you're done. A perfect balance will have some kino, and some tungsten, when you need more punch in a wide shot where you can't bring the kino's closer in to the subject. Forget HMI's. Rent those. It's always cheaper to buy camera stuff and rent lighting. Most companies will throw lighting supplies at you when you rent a camera, which goes to show you what the priority is. Go with Jarred's suggestions on Matteboxes. Also, try to squeeze in a small $200 zoom controller, so you can adjust focal length without having to get behind the large follow focus ring, or move your right hand from the tripod handle. For a dolly, a Straight track runs $700. I personally vouch for Indie dolly because I own one myself. Don't just take my word on it, because that's the only dolly I sell. There may be other better stuff out there. Although the manufacturer doesn't recommend it, I had a 15' jib, the DVX, a large Varizoom remote head, and 50 lb's of weights on the back, all sitting on a Bogen 516/525 tripod and the Indie dolly. Smooth as a charm. For jib shots, get the 516, it's not that pricey for the fact that it handles 22 lbs. I own the 503 for camera load only. It's a lot smoother than the 516 on a small camera like the DVX. 516 has ruined some of my shots because the camera wasn't heavy enough. 503 handles camera, follow focus, batteries and audio receiver with ease. I wanted to buy the 505, but I couldn't afford it. It's cool because you can change springs depending on the weight of the load. Hope this helps.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top