Equipment to build small production House

S

SPZ

Veteran
Hello Everyone!

Altough this is my first time post, I've actually been reading this forum for quite some time- almost a year!- and decided that, indeed, here I could get a honest, informed and professional opinion of something that's being troubling me for a while. Here are a couple of questions that I would like the professionals and Indie filmmakers of the forum to help me out.

I'm starting a production company very soon, here in China. I've worked on a local TV station for about a year and a half as director/editor and producer, and am now, with very limited equipment ( a dvx100a- my little baby :) ; a manfrotto tripod, a boom microphone and an average PC editing system- and a pd170- i forgot), I've actually done some TV commercials broadcasted regionally. Having earned some money, I would like you people to suggest me where to invest next. What I feel I should do now is NOT invest in Beta equipment (I can dv transfer to beta cheaply here), but in equipment that I can use in the long term- like a steadicam system(I love the freedom of handheld shooting), a dolly and a crane. What do you suggest? AS anyone tried the glidecam V8? Does it work well with our camera? Any good dolly suggestions? Should I get the indiedolly?

These are a lot of questions but, hey, I'm excited about my work and my future, and I really need the help of you guys!

I've got a lot of questions about the DVX 100a, but I'll save it for another topic  :)
 
Re: Equipment to build small production House

I don't have any suggestions, but I wouldn't mind hearing some myself. What I really wanted to say was:

"China! Wow, I love the internet"
 
Re: Equipment to build small production House

From a practical standpoint, I wouldn't invest in a steadicam. You've got to figure that whatever you invest in, you've got to be able to use it on a majority of your production days to justify the expense. Steadicams usually aren't used like that.

Most good steadicam operators in the US work often, but they bounce between different shoots on day rates rather then working an entire production. The reason for this is that most people only need a steadicam for a short period of their production and it gets expensive to keep paying a guy when he's not working. It makes more sense to hire a steadicam operator most of the time, as you don't have to pay for the equipment when it's not being used.

Id think a dolly/crane would be more useful, especially for commercial gigs. Maybe you should look into things that would increase your productivity as well...

DV rack and a laptop, a field monitor, wireless lavs, lighting equipment, a DV edit deck, or even something as simple as more batteries, better cases or promotional efforts.
 
Re: Equipment to build small production House

And books. I don't know how the libraries are where you are at, but I got through 3 or 4 a week, and then buy the ones I think are essential for future reference. You will find a lot of suggestions here about that. You could start with Barry Green's book
http://www.dvxuser.com/articles/dvxbook/
 
Re: Equipment to build small production House

Thanks a lot! Well, I tough that if I bougt the steadicam it would take away the need for a dolly and it would provide me with a more "free" solution...
As for the other solutions. Thanks a lot! I will certainly invest in a field monitor and a lighting kit- and I don't know, but have any of you invested in a field electric generator?

ps- I don't know why I cant loggin again. Says my username is not valid? I tried registering again and it says my email is being used by another person!
 
Re: Equipment to build small production House

[quote author=Sergio link=board=Links;num=1099644207;start=0#4 date=11/07/04 at 17:18:04]

ps- I don't know why I cant loggin again. Says my username is not valid? I tried registering again and it says my email is being used by another person!
[/quote]

Are you logging in from a different machine?
 
Re: Equipment to build small production House

No, at the sameone. Problem is, it is at my office. It is from the government. Probably has a variable IP, or proxy, or something (I dont know much about these things...)?
 
Re: Equipment to build small production House

a steadicam doesn't replace a dolly -- they're different animals and provide different effects... a steadicam gives you the free movement, but usually you're on wide angle (unless you can afford the 20K$ remote focus controller too) --

a good dolly gives you controlled movement, and with a good AC, some nice DOF shots... dollies can be built, and since you're in china, i'd say take advantage and look at some specs (panther gmbh has a cool husky dolly) and have some machinists make it for you -- i'm sure it will not be very expensive, and maybe you come up with a great design that people here will soon buy from U --

as for cranes, for the DVX i always recommend the dvcrane from dvmoves.com -- the skycrane is good too -- check 'em both out --

cheers
 
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