Documentary equipment

Jeff Anderson

Jeff Anderson

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Hope this is the right forum (if not please move)

I'll be doing a short documentary in the new year and this is a new realm for me. I've been trying to figure out just what I will need so I thought I would bounce my list off you guys and see what you think.

HVX200 (already own)
3-8 gb p2 cards (already own)
laptop for offloading (own)
external drives for backing up
tripod and head (own)
hyper mic (own)
shotgun with zeppelin (own)
boompole (need to own, have been borrowing)
c-stand and boom holder for sit down interviews
lights (need to get a small interview kit, already have another thread about what to get going)
vidled (own)
3 g2 wireless kits and emw lavs
3 channel mixer (sd302 most likely)
mixer bag
xlr cables
zacuto handheld rig
panasonic 8" monitor
4 tekkeon batteries for keeping everything running and act as counterweight on zacuto rig (two at a time, two in charger)
enough pelican cases to hold it all


Anything else I'm missing that I will need? Anything you think I really dont need. Its a costly list but quite a few of the items will be useful at work (panny monitor, wireless kits, zacuto rig) and work is good about renting things from me when I use them at work. Long term goals will be to start freelancing in the corporate/documentary world, but just getting my feet wet with personal projects at the moment. Thanks for any input you all might have!
 
Maybe a reflector and silk. I use a road rags for a silk to control sunlight for outdoor interviews and reflectors can be use for a variety of bounces, fills, flags, diffusion, etc.

Also a small make-up kit.
 
Cool, reflectors/silk will pack well too! I'll have to check out the road rags - its a Matthews thing right?

The makeup kit is a fantastic idea I wouldnt have brought. Any tips for what to bring in one? I dont want to turn my interviewees into a clown but knocking down some highlights would be nice.
 
This is a good boom (fishpole) holder for use with a c-stand.

For lights, I would really recommend Kinos (or other good fluorescents). If you get tungsten, you will spend time and energy trying to dim, scrim and otherwise control your lights. Flos are much more interview friendly in my opinion. Plus, you wont bake your interviewee. For hairlight/splash you might get a small tungsten 150w or 300w. You will still be fighting it a bit. I am looking at some vidleds (when they return) or a Zylight or something similar for my hair light. You should try your vidled in this capacity. I would be interested to see if it works. I just want to move away from tungsten altogether.
 
Yeah if I could get away from tungsten entirely I would be a happy camper. If I was 100% sure the vidleds would work in the capacity of hairlight/edge light I would do that just for the sheer portability of it all. I may have to do some experimenting with the one I have and see how it works. I'll post back when I do. Should have some time after christmas... we'll see what it does.
 
Hi Jeff,

Sounds like you're on the right track. A couple of thoughts...

- Bring warm cards (some will disagree)

- Consider extra backup gear (lost, easily broken, wear-n-tear)

- Headphones: a must! (perhaps Sony MDR-7506)

- Extra batteries, cables, adapters, etc (mixer, transceivers, etc)

- Logbook (or PDA) to register date/time/content and other info

- Lens cleaning gear (even if you religiously do it before leaving office)

- Client paperwork (copy of contract, release, etc)

- Setonix light meter (not required, nice toy)

BTW, if you're having doubts about tungsten bulbs or other interview lighting issues, see the DVD "How to Setup, Light, and Shoot Great Looking Interviews".

I've probably left off some gear but that should help. BTW, be sure the makeup kit has disposable pads (avoid cross-contamination) - if you're new to elementary makeup, here's a helpful link.

Good luck, Michael
 
Hi Este,

Great - after repeatedly struggling with lighting ratios and finding zebras only provided a partial solution, I eventually broke down and bought a Setonix. And while the incident mode is nice icing on the cake, the narrow beam light meter is truly awesome (and the memory/average function is too cool).

Good luck, Michael
 
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