Equipment list

olsonbock623

olsonbock623

Active member
So I'm 16, I've been making movies for fun for a few years using cheap borrowed stuff, and I'm going to take off a summer to make a movie. I have about $4,500 to spend, and I am starting from scratch other than a year old mediocre pc (athlon xp 2500, 512 mb ram, nvidia 6800 video card) which I plan to upgrade slightly, including a 250 GB hard drive to go with my 120 Gb hard drive and another stick of memory so I have 1 Gb. Here is my list of equipment that I am considering...

-dvx-100a
-at897 condenser mic
-NEC 3500a dvd+rw burner
-Vegas 6.0 +DVD
-maybe a cheap gitzo boom pole or a homemade one
-I will probably have access to a Bogen tripod that seems pretty nice to me but I really know nothing about
-i have a pair of sony 7506 headphones for monitoring
-i have a halogen work light and am wondering if using cheap worklights is really a viable way of lighting or whether buying a cheap light kit would be better

Please openly criticize this list. Is there anything I am missing? I have no experience with premiere or other semi-professional editing software, only Windows Movie Maker and other cheap programs, and from what I have read Vegas seems like a good relatively cheap solution (academic version) that pretty much does it all.

I'm slightly worried that I will be pouring my money into old technology with all this hi-def talk, but for my budget I really see no immediate solution better than the dvx100a. Is this really a bad time to buy a camera such as this with new technology so close at hand?

I hope someone took the time to read through this and maybe even consider helping this poor lost soul make some decisions so he can throw all his money away wisely :)
 
If you've got $4500 to spend, you in are in a unique position.

My advice? Present your ideas to the film commission and with their help, get in contact with
a gaffer, sound mixer, and makeup artist. That is, in my humble opinion, the best place to put
your money. It would be better to find people who can help you out than it would be to have
equipment, that is, if you want to make the best movie possible and learn as much as possible.

Oh, rent your camera and accessories. Don't buy them.
Hope this helps.
 
First - Don't worry about buying the DVX now. It is and still will be a GREAT camera for a good while. GO FOR IT!
I'm not familiar with the mic or Vegas you mentioned so I'll let others chime in on that. I prefer Premiere but that's just me.....
As for lights - work lights will do but real production lights make things much easier with barn doors, softboxes, scrims, etc.... all of which can be "engineered" to work on worklights with a bit of handy work.
Good luck.
 
You can generally rent much better equipment for a shorter period than you can afford to buy.

So, the question becomes: Do I want to own equipment or do I want to make a movie?
 
I recently produced a trailer and then realized that it would be prohibitively expensive to continously rent - each production would chip away at my bank account.

I think if you plan on making lots of films then invest in equipment - this gives you the opportunity to play and try things that you would normally reconsider due to budget.

i got the at897 and have had very good results with it
 
Maybe I should clarify that yes I plan on putting a lot of time into one project, but making videos, whether its a feature, a music video, a short, or even a school project, is something I plan to do in my free time in the future, and this isn't necessarily a one time deal. Wouldn't it make more sense to own the equipment in that case? I really appreciate your advice.
 
Not knowing your financial situation (how you will pay for college, etc), I say buy it. I'd venture to guess this money is just there, and if you don't spend it on a camera that will last you a few years, and possibly get you going toward a career, you'll just waste it on other things. Its not like you have a mortgage or kids to think about. Spend the money while you can.
 
The NEC 3500a Dual Layer burner is the best so far due to it's hackability. Visit the dagerous brothers web site for a hacked bios that will unlock the Ripping speed from 2X to 16X and remove the region code if you want. This will enable you to pump out copies of your finished movie fast.

The DVX100a is a sure bet nothing more to say about it, 24p baby.

Vegas 6 and DVDA 3 is the fastest and most reliable that I have worked with. If you purchase you will get magic bullet lite as well. Rendering times in 24p are unbelievably short. DVDA 3 will allow you to publish a smokin interactive DVD and even output it to DLT for taking to your duplicator.

Never used that model Audio Technica mic so I can't comment on that.

The work lights are perfect starter lights, just get you some C57's (clothes pins), blue color correcting gels, and some cinefoil and you are set. The professional models just give you some cool features like Softboxes, barn doors, adjustable hight, and light focusing ability. Things that you can still accomplish with your average work light using common household items. Check out Walter Graffs site for ideas on building your own lights.

I say go ahead and buy your gear if you are planning on doing any more. Resell on the DVX is still pretty good if you want your money back later on.
 
Hey Olsonbock,

I'm 28, I too have been making movies for fun for a few years using cheap borrowed stuff, I just took the big plunge and spent about 5K on a DVX and accessories and am still wondering if this was a very foolish thing to do, AND...I live in Philly.

I think we should get together and try to figure out what the hell we are doing with this stuff! Maybe we could share some equipment like lights (I haven't bought any yet) or software (I use an old version of Premiere, but was thinking of making the switch to Vegas 6 + DVD). Let me know if you're interested in collaborating!
 
I seriously considered renting at one point- and it can make sense, but given my schedule and what we want to produce- and coupled with the experimenting I have been and still need to do- it made more sense to own. Got a DVX100a and have Vegas 6.0. Built my own pole mics and such- (as well as spending a good deal of time on fabricating costumes and props). Bottom line- for me, acquiring was the way to go, but investigate everything based on your requirements and projected shooting schedule. (And BTW- I'm just across the river near Glassboro NJ- 30 minutes from Philly.)
 
Also, I'm going to humbly and respectfully disagree with thisiswells on the question of hiring people (or at least provide a different perspective for you to ponder). I think the important question is, why are you doing this? What is your goal? If you are doing it because you really want to make a successful production -- to maximize your chance of getting the best end product possible for your $4500 -- then sure, you should probably pay some professionals to do it for you.

But if you are really 16 years old and have been doing this for fun so far, somehow I doubt you were hoping to score a berth at Sundance with your production this summer. I suspect you're trying to do it on the next level because you *enjoy doing it*. It's been fun at the level you're at, and you want to learn more -- progress -- try to do something bigger and better -- get in over your head a little bit and see what you can learn and accomplish. Well then the answer is obvious -- YOU want to do it! That's your r'aison d'etre -- *doing it*. Badly, perhaps, but having a hell of a time trying and learning.

Now some might argue that the best way to *learn* is to spend some time with people who are experienced. But again, I think you're talking about two different things. If you want to maximize your learning foundation so you can really become a pro some day....well that's a different tract. Try to get into film school. Try to get a low level production job ("Special Assistant to the Third Assistant to the Second Grip's alternate Best Boy, or whatever all that crap at the end of the credits is... :) If you want to learn in order to develop your hobby and have fun, then I say develop your hobby and have some fun.

Unless your passion is the movie idea itself. If it's seeing your idea -- your script -- actually realized as close as possible to how you've imagined it, then again, try to get somebody else to make it happen. But I doubt you'd be *here* if that's what you're after -- I think you'd be on a screenwriters blog trying to figure out how you might win a contest with your script.

Just my thoughts. I know I'm here because I hate my day job and I think this stuff is fascinating, endlessly challenging, and fun as hell to try to do!
 
It's hard to design a "kit" unless you define your needs. For some, owning a glidecam might be important. For others, lots of lights is going to be the big issue. Audio is same thing, you might need wireless lavs or iRivers or several types of boom mics and a multi-channel mixer, or maybe one shotgun is all you need.

Just know that you can do lighting cheap if you have to. One of the greatest thngs to own is a reflector or three (make your own) and some black aluminum foil (heat resistant, can be used as cheap barndoors on any kind of light). Most lighting can be improvised as needed. Knowledge MUCH more important than equipment.

DOn't forget some money for tapes ($500?). An extra battery or two is important too. A filter to protect your lens, a cleaning tape, mic cables all nibble away at your budget, so leave some money for that stuff. You can make a fur windscreen for $10, but you have to have the $10 handy. Gels, window diffusers, it can go on forever depending on what/where you are shooting.
 
Wow you guys rock. This site rocks. Pretty amazing the kind of advice you can get in such a short amount of time on a site like this. I've thought alot about the pros and cons of buying all this stuff and figuring it out pretty much on my own, as opposed to going at it in a more professional way and starting at the bottom helping on another production or something, and I really like the idea of doing everything myself from writing the script to editing.

As far as whether it will continue to be just a hobby (a grossly expensive hobby), or whether I find a way to make my career doing this kind of stuff, I don't know. I just love making movies, and we'll see where it goes I guess.

I am envisioning my first project to be mostly outdoors in the woods, if that influences your recomendations on lighting or sound. I think starting out with a shotgun mic makes the most sense, cause it seems to be as close to an all purpose mic as there is. I know that the sky is the limit as far as setups and equipment, and ideally I should probably have several mics, including lavs, and a mixer, but keep in mind my budget. Will I run into trouble if I go out there with a shotgun mic plugged into the camera and expect to get half decent sound?

thanks again for the advice
 
I got my money back working with it in 6 months. And am still in college full time. If you have contacts and thigns starting out (like I did, doing freelance editing jobs), it really can be a no brainer. 4 years ago I was 19 and could not imagine myself working with this. Today I can't imagine myself doing any other thing. If you feel strongly enough about making movies, why the heck not.

On a different side note I wouldn't trust 4500 dolars to my 16 year old self nowadays... But I still have my guitar I bought when I was that age. Oh, and I still can play.

Okay, I really can't come to any conclusions. Good luck either way!
 
Rule #1. - Get mic as close to sound source as possible. A $10 lav on your talent can sound better than a $1000 shotgun 6 feet away. Yes, I said $10 lav. I bought several USED on eBay, and use them often. A $200 lav would sound better, but not 20x as good (to my ears or my clients).

Rule #0 - Buy used equipment when possible and reasonable to do so.
Rule #0a - Borrow first, then buy.
 
Hey were in Phily are you, i am in the vally forge area. I have a Cobra crane II, 2 DVX100A's, Light kits, and lots of other stuff. I could help you out.
 
Geeze, it really depends on what you want to do. If you want to continue exploring filmmaking, and not worry too much about the results, but learn as you go, I'd say buy the gear you described and just go for it. You'll make a ton of mistakes, you'll realize lighting is more important than you ever imagined, you'll realize audio is the hardest thing...etc.

But none of this happens until you just get out there and do it. Sounds like you've done your homework on the kit, so as they say "just do it". I agree with thisiswells, IF your goal is to make a high(er) quality movie for that budget. The cheapest (and often hardest) single greatest asset you can have is other people's expertise.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top