A complete package list to get the job done?

C

Cade

Member
Hello everyone,

My goal is to film short films on DV that look professional. I know it depends on skill and not just the equipment. Removing the skill factor and preparation I would like to be wise and purchase the correct equipment. I have been researching and it has proven to be a mind boggling task to make a decision. Here is the list that I currently have. Any help would be greatly appreciated. As you will see I am trying to spend the least amount of cash possible. I understand you get what you pay for most of the time. I am ignorant concerning the tools I need and I am requesting experienced advice. Thank you for reading this!

2 DVX100a DV Cams
1 Boom Mic (Which One) Do I need 2? Or 1 boom and two wireless lavs?
1 Boom Pole
1 Field Mixer (Which One) Behringer MBX 1002 this do?
1 Tripod ($299 kind ok?)
2 Matt Box’s (http://cinetactics.com/mb145a.php) Will this do?
2 Sets of Filters ( what kind and type?)
1 DIY Steady Cam (http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~johnny/steadycam/
1 www.Habbycam.com or Pro Max Cobra crane
1 Pro Zoom DVX
1 Avid Express /w MOJO or Matrox RT.100 Xtreme Pro? I have a pipe dream that a pilot I will eventually shoot might play on a local independent TV station. If this happens would the AVID be the way to go and worth the cost?

I am looking to remove anything in the list that is a waste and add anything that will contribute to Bare Necessities minus the raw talent and skill of acquiring professional looking productions.

Thanks for all your help.
Sincerely,
Cade
 
Re: A complete package list to get the job done?

I would say if your trying to save money, scratch the second DVX. A second unit cam is a luxury, not at all a necesity. If you get rid of it, you can spend a portion of that cash to upgrade the rest of your list.

For the mic I would say get an Audio-Technica AT897.

The MXB really isn't intended for field mixing. The lowest you'll want to go on a mixer is a Sound Devices MixPre.

As for tripod, get Bogen sticks and a 503 head.

I personally don't like the matteblox, if your looking for a cheaper mattebox, I would suggest the Formatt.

For filters, you'll need a circular polarizer, maybe some NDs, it really depends on what your doing.

I don't really know that you'll get enough use out of a crane to facilitate buying one, although, I don't really know what you'll be shooting.

I can't commend on AVID, but I use Premiere and like it.

This is all highly subjective, btw. :)
 
Re: A complete package list to get the job done?

Thank you for your advice. Very much appreciated! BTW I will be shooting dramatic shorts.

You really don’t think the second cam is necessary? It seems this will make the actors do many scenes twice during dialogue and action scenes.

I have about a 12k budget
 
Re: A complete package list to get the job done?

I'm not sure where you're coming from with this. You have a crane on the list, but not a single light? What are you planning on having available to you already?

The package changes depending on what the particular job was. A minimalist package that could make a decent short film and address the most common scenarios would include:

A DVX with a good tripod head and decent legs with a ball leveler.

A great shotgun, at the bare minimum an AT897 but preferably an AT4073 or Sennheiser 416, with a shockmount, a halfway decent boom pole, and if you're shooting outdoors, a Rycote Softie or MikeMuff or something similar.

A lavaliere or two, not necessarily wireless. Best is the Countryman EMW or Tram TR50

A decently-well-rounded light kit, consisting of maybe a 1k with a softbox, a couple of 650's, and a 250-300w, all with barn doors and good stands.

Some gaffer's tape, black wrap, extension cords, cube taps, clothespins, sheets of white and black foam core, and some color correction gels (at least CTB, but diffusion gels and party gels would be good to have along). A couple of Home Depot 12" or 15" fluorescents (aka GraffLights) may come in handy as well. A couple of mafers. Maybe a sheet of beadboard (thick styrofoam insulation from Home Depot, silver on one side, white on the other, ideal for no-budget reflector purposes).

Optional equipment:
A skateboard dolly. Much more likely to be used than a crane, and easier to get better results with (driving a crane and getting good shots takes a strong skillset). Make your own for under $80, that rides on a couple of $4 PVC pipes.

A GlideCam 2000 or 4000, but only if you've got the time and patience to put in the practice to get the best shots from it. Weeks of practice.

A cheap fog machine or some cans of fog-in-a-can, for shots where "atmosphere" would benefit the shot.

A few yards of Duvetyne, you never know when you'll need it but you'll always wish you had it.

A couple of C-stands with arms and heads. There's nothing in the world that can't be built out of some c-stands, gaffer's tape, foam core and black wrap.

For editing, a fast PC with Vegas 5.0.

Buy whatever you can used. There's nothing in the world wrong with used fresnels or used c-stands, yet the price may be 1/4 of what it'd cost new. Some of this stuff is very hard to find used (like c-stands) because it never wears out and so people never sell it.
 
Re: A complete package list to get the job done?

Do you have lights? I would worry about lighting before a second cam.

EDIT: Barry beat me to it.
 
Re: A complete package list to get the job done?

Sorry, I left out the light kit. Tota/Omni tungsten light kit with Chimeras

By the posts I see I have much to learn!

Again, to all that have posted so far I really appreciate your help. Keep the abuse comming :)

I really want to make the best choice of the tools I will need. Im getting a better picture now!
 
Re: A complete package list to get the job done?

Do you already have the Lowel lights?
 
Re: A complete package list to get the job done?

I have not purchased a single item yet. I just have the money at the moment.
 
Re: A complete package list to get the job done?

I definitely wouldn't go with Tota/Omni/Chimeras then, as the Lowel fixtures are going to cost twice what Briteks would, and the Chimera softbox will cost more than the whole Britek light kit (light, stand, and softbox). Chimeras are great, they're industry standard, I have a couple of them... but they're exorbitantly expensive.

You could piece together a Britek kit that would get the job done at the lowest possible price (for about $700.)
 
Re: A complete package list to get the job done?

Is this list getting better? Am I on track now?

DVX100a $3,400.00
Lights http://www.owens-originals.com/britekstrobes/britekkit3.html $503.00

Shotgun Mic www.acemusicsuperstore.com/product_info.php/cPath/7_8/products_id/522 $700.00
Lavs http://www.bhphotovideo.com/product/258077/TRTR50/REG/1455 $294.00
Tripod Head http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=search&ci=1&kw=BO3460&shs=BO3460&Q=&O= $255.00
Tripod Legs http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=search&ci=1&kw=BO3046B&shs=BO3046B&Q=&O= $211.00

Is the Formatt Matte System compatible with DVX100a?

Adobe Premire with Matrox Xtreme Pro? I have read that Matrox does not do the 24p.


Should I consider the Anamorphic Lens or just the wide angle for wide shots and use squeeze mode for 16X9?

Again, Thank you all for the advice!
 
Re: A complete package list to get the job done?

I wouldn't get that Britek Kit, its with strobes.  Looks like its for photography, not cinematography.

Try the following:

http://www.saferseas.com/vsd/eye/1500W.html and then fill in with any missing lights from http://www.rostronics.com (don't forget to put in "DVXUser" for an additional discount at the rostronics site.  

Check out the article by Walter Graff on his portable light kit:
http://www.dv.com/features/features_item.jhtml?category=Archive&LookupId=/xml/feature/2004/graff0404

I hope the 12K budget isn't for the entire production, or you are probably over buying stuff.
 
Re: A complete package list to get the job done?

Hi Cade,

What is your roll in this production ? Sponsor, Producer, Director, DP, Script writer.... ?
 
Re: A complete package list to get the job done?

The problem with that Safer Seas Britek kit is that those are the older-style non-focusable lights. Fine for use in a softbox, but much less useful if you pull the softbox off. I'd skip those and go straight to the Rostronics selections. With the Rostronics 650's you get barn doors, focusability, scrim frames, etc, so they're perfectly suitable for hard lights, and you can always put a softbox on 'em too. Much more flexible.
 
Re: A complete package list to get the job done?

Also, for DV editing, you don't need an edit card, since you can edit over firewire. But if it's a feature, make sure you have a good Computer, and lots of HD space.

I'd budget 4500 fr an edit suite, Including a Powermac G5, a 600 dollar NTSC monitor (that you could use on the field as well) and if possible (I'd have to do the math here) a VTR.

4000 on the DVX, plus a tripod plus batteries, a case, a UV filter, etc...

2000 on sound: An at4073a plus 2 lavaliers, plus support and cables and a mixer.

1500 on lights, 500 on Briteks, 1000 on higher end stuff, as an Arri Kit or LTM (2-3 heads). Getting 4-5 heads and some support equipment as C-stands. Also here some extension cords (You neeed to split that load!).

Since you really have 12K to spend on equipment, I take it that you already have some money saved for production, because feeding all that people and buying all the necessary Gaffer tape, Mini DV tapes( 30? x 5 Bucks is already a 150 dolar expense), etc... And some money to pay that bar owner after your Gaffer let a C-Stand crash over his 20 Year old bottle of Whisky. Or worse to buy paint and repaint the walls your crew left unusable. Sometimes we have to budget for accidents, so I take you'll spend about 1500 to 2000 down the road. But I guarantee it will make your film much better... :D

The reason why you should get an AWESOME Edit suite? Say you shoot for 2 months. Propper editing will take over 6. You be facing a crapload of awesome lighting and sound gear sitting by your side while you speend half a year dealing with a crappy Computer.

My 0.2 Cents.

BTW, just rent a mattebox and some filters for the externals. The daily cost is not that high. Same for a crane just hire some jib for 1-2 days. Besides, crane shots take a long time to make it right. Plan ahead. And build a doorway dolly, it will get you far with cool movement without costng much. Johnny's steadicam is not as easy to operate as it may sound. So don't plan on having too many long steadycam shots. They won't work.
 
Re: A complete package list to get the job done?

This may sound obvious but I also suggest you have a script/project lined up and ready for shooting. I know a number of people who shelled out a dumpload of money for equipment only to have their DVX sitting in their closet. Not saying this will happen to you, but that's a pretty big laundry list of equipment to purchase.
 
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