Creating a serious-themed show/series, with VERY minimal equipment?

[GregPorter]

Well, I'm yet another one of these folk on a mission to do what they clearly can't afford/conjur the will to create.


I want to do a serious, planned and scripted series (probably web release) but my major crux is that I only have minimal/cheap lighting, no external audio capturing and a mid-range/very-consumer Mini DV cam with minimal custom features.


I understand basic lighting, exposure, manual settings and I'm a fairly good editor and I really get film making and script writing.

I have a great editing machine with Vegas and an assortment of post-FX plugins that can help me achieve a more saturated, "film" look with minimal overkill of the footage.

I'm just asking, do you think it'd be worth my time to write, direct, film and distrubute a series/web-show with this sort of equipment?


Edit: I don't plan on it being 100% professional, of course, I understand how it can hinder my final outcome but I still want to gain the experience while I cannot afford greater hardware.

 

[Blaine]

no external audio capturing

This is going to have a SERIOUS impact on anything you get. Sound is incredibly important and is almost always an afterthought in small productions. You ought to try to network with others and see if you can put together a better sound package.

The quality of things on the web vary greatly. If you want to stand out you're going to have to offer some across-the-board quality...everything from story to acting to picture and sound.

 

[Jon Starr]

Why not?

It's about the content, not the equipment.

HOWEVER, I agree with Blaine that at LEAST get something good for audio. The camera, well, since it's the internet, it might even be stylish to shoot it with a camera phone... but if the sound is crap productions tend to suffer.

So get some good sound, and do it! Don't just sit there and wonder if you should do something. Don't ask us if you should do something (ask us how). Even if it doesn't turn out all that great, do it better the second time around, then the third, etc...

 

[GregPorter]

I've been thinking of purchasing one of the RODE shotgun mics, I don't have a hotshoe on the camera so I may have to get someone to do some boom-poling.

I know audio is one of the biggest aspects if creating a good/enjoyable production.

I'll see what I can do. I make enough monthly money to be able to afford atleast a entry-level RODE mic and possibly some semi-decent lights.

Just not enough to buy a decent (I REALLY want an HVX200) cam.

Edit: Forgot to mention, my Cam DOES have a dedicated mic-in so audio will be easy enough to get if I buy a decent mic/boom.

 

[Casalen]

I know we all say the content is the most important thing, which it is, to an extent. But let's be serious; if you can hardly hear the actors over the background noise, the sequence is full of jump cuts and the video quality is about that of a home video from ten years ago, are you going to be paying much attention to the content? More importantly, is the audience, or will the shrug it off based on the production values?

The most important question to the OP; what experience in video production do you have so far? If it's not much, you need to practice. I know this project would gain you experience, but I mean practice with things you don't care about and don't care about releasing, web or otherwise. Do lighting tests, quick scenes, etc., practice post-production techniques, then decide if you think you're capable of creating what you're talking about. We don't know. Some amazing videos have been shot and edited with no budget, especially when graphic designers/3d modelers are doing it to show off. So it's definitely possible with enough work and talent.

If you don't have the production values to do it like you want, find a way to integrate that into the story.

 

[Jon Starr]

I know we all say the content is the most important thing, which it is, to an extent. But let's be serious; if you can hardly hear the actors over the background noise, the sequence is full of jump cuts and the video quality is about that of a home video from ten years ago, are you going to be paying much attention to the content? More importantly, is the audience, or will the shrug it off based on the production values?

You're right that it's not only the content. However I don't think he needs to go out and buy a super expensive camera to do what he wants to do. Because let's also be honest about what's needed to get something that looks 'high production value'.

Frankly it's more about talent than the equipment you use. You do need certain pieces, such as a 3ccd camera, a nice sound mic, and some movie lights. But I've seen many time before camera phone images that look amazing (say for camera phone film contests), and HD images that look terrible. Why? It's about the talent behind it. If you can compose/frame a great shot, and you have great lighting (even if just simple lighting kits), and of course good sound, then it's going to show.

Now if he wants to be picked up by a site or a tv network, then yes, he should invest in an hd camera, maybe get an adapter, get some nicer lights and better sound equipment, etc... but I think he's just asking if he should do a web series.

So let me rephrase it, it's not about the equipment, but the talent and content. I just didn't mention talent because that's just something assumed.

I still think do it. Practice is practice. But Casalen is right, if you're not too experienced, don't do something that you really really want to be good. Work on it.

 

[GregPorter]

Thanks so far guys.

I like to think the story/script I've got is pretty well done and fairly original - I never used any "inspiration" from other films while writing so it's all coming from my mind and imagination.

My "talent" as far as actors are concerned is amazing but it should do for this project.
(Yes, Yes - Some friends are doing parts, but a lot of just-about-to-graduate-their-3rd-year Drama students are in on the project and playing the bigger roles)


As for trying to sell this to TV, one can only dream but I'd never do that for my first serious "production" with such little equipment/experience.

I know every single upcoming actor wants to "Pull a Rodriguez" (Robert Rodriguez, El Mariachi) and "make it with minimal experience, with what money you have at the time, and with your friends" kind of thing and this is true to that (being that I'm a huge fan and all) but this is by no means my "peak" of work - This is most certainly to just get me into the feel of directing people and also doing most of the Cam work.

My friend does have a HG10, which for this project would be much better but he's the stubborn type when it comes to people using his stuff and if I asked him if I could borrow it he'd demand that he does the camera work, which is fair dues, but most of you will know.. If you want to portray as much of your creative genius in your film as you can then you want to do the camera work - I'm just as stubborn as well I guess - I refuse to let someone to the Cams because that's partially why I love film making so much.


I'm slowly saving up for a decent HD Cam but I'm just not sure what one to go for.
I'm slightly edging towards one of Canons HVs, possibly the 30 or 40 but I hear in PAL formats their pretty much recoloured clones.

I'm only a student aswell, I forgot to metion, so this is purely an experience builder and I can learn things like Lighting, Sound, the "short-cuts" for low budget, writing, directing and filming. The fundamentals at least.


Sorry for such a huge post but this is really important too me.

 

[Jon Starr]

My "talent" as far as actors are concerned is amazing but it should do for this project.
(Yes, Yes - Some friends are doing parts, but a lot of just-about-to-graduate-their-3rd-year Drama students are in on the project and playing the bigger roles)

Schools don't make a great actor. Great acting makes a great actor. So just because they're 3rd yeard drama students, doesn't mean you should just take them. Even if it's a small production, I would try to hold auditions, find the right part, the best actors you can.

My friend does have a HG10, which for this project would be much better but he's the stubborn type when it comes to people using his stuff and if I asked him if I could borrow it he'd demand that he does the camera work, which is fair dues, but most of you will know.. If you want to portray as much of your creative genius in your film as you can then you want to do the camera work - I'm just as stubborn as well I guess - I refuse to let someone to the Cams because that's partially why I love film making so much.

Well one thing to learn early on is that you shouldn't mix directing and cinematography. I know as a student you want to do both, and you can, but from my experience, and the experience of many people I know, you need to either focus on the lighting/camera work, oooor the directing of actors/crew, not both.

But you're a student, and I know some people that can do both jobs quite nicely, as long as they keep their productions really really simple.

Anyways, good luck!

 

[GregPorter]

Schools don't make a great actor. Great acting makes a great actor. So just because they're 3rd yeard drama students, doesn't mean you should just take them. Even if it's a small production, I would try to hold auditions, find the right part, the best actors you can.




Well one thing to learn early on is that you shouldn't mix directing and cinematography. I know as a student you want to do both, and you can, but from my experience, and the experience of many people I know, you need to either focus on the lighting/camera work, oooor the directing of actors/crew, not both.

But you're a student, and I know some people that can do both jobs quite nicely, as long as they keep their productions really really simple.

Anyways, good luck!

Thanks for the reply!

I know what you mean, I don't intend to stick with it all the time but I'm undecided which I want to persue more seriously and I like having a camera in my hand yet I write and intend to direct a lot of my stuff so I'll need to see how it pans out, as it were.

As for the students, I meant they're just out of their 3rd year of the Drama course. I'm not sure if you were confusing "3rd year" as a high-school year or not I just meant they've completed 3years of a 4year course in College (I'm currently in College too).

Either way it's all I can afford to use just now and not only am I young but I live in such a place that film making is not much of a hit (West Scotland) so it's very difficult, young or not, to find proper talent.

Either way it's just another stepping stone - I hope to move away from here sometime possibly to the States, I'm not entirely sure though.