Gear Cult

Jason Adams

Jason Adams

Section Moderator
Greetings friends,

I just wanted to open a dialog on something that has bothered me for sometime. Why are we all so touchy about our gear. Think About it. Have you ever seen an NLE thread on any site that did not turn into an FCP vs Avid pissing contest?

Even accessories, Zacuto is overpriced, no they are just that professional and thats what it costs. Letus, Brevis, Letus, Brevis.....Hey what about SG Pro.

Some how it seems that tools of the artists have become more important than the art. So my question is why?

In my quest to have this answered I spoke with many wise production sages on the NAB show floor. One of them provided an answer that I thought was worth sharing. I will not offer his name, but If I did many of you would know it.

He said that this new digital market has been flooded with new independent artists. Many of them self taught. He said, these artists tend to want to justify their talent by buying nice gear. The get FCP and an EX1.(just for example)

He said the reason so many fight about their gear choices is because they think that the pro gear will get them the big gig. Get them the feature. He said what you are saying to an artist (in their mind) is that if Avid is better and HPX is better than your work will not be the best.
He also said, so many people validate their art with their equipment list. They think if they can just get a RED than they will make it. He theorized that what many of the artists hear when you say something is better than what they own they really hear is. YOU WONT MAKE IT AS A FILM MAKER, YOU ARE NOT PROFESSIONAL.


So I was looking for some thoughts from the community. Why are we so sensitive about our gear purchases.

Why do so many fight for their NLE, or cameras like someone just insulted their kids.


Is there any other art form were people fight so hard to validate their tools?
 
I've seen the same set of arguements in friends that choose oils and canvas as their medium. There seems to be quite a bit of you have to use true oil paints or you arent a real artist. and you have to use this canvas etc. I guess you can go "low-budget" and get cheaper paints that arent oil based and paint on crap canvas. Seems to be a similar set of problems. The same thing happens of course in the photography arena.

I think this exists because its one of the few things about art that can be quantified. How beautiful something is, is totally subjective. Anything we can quantify and lay down as cold hard truth cant be argued. The other aspect of it is that those of us in the corporate arena (among others) have clients that expect us to show up with pro looking gear. Now while numbers may not matter they want to see matteboxes and big fancy mics and boom poles and cables and carts and big beefy tripods. I shoot for a few people that would send me home if I showed with an hv20. And what I do for them I could totally do with an HV20 and they wouldnt notice the difference in the end result. But thats how it is for some of us. And for those that use the gear day in and day out, for the most part pro gear is easier to use and more reliable.

Why we get so defensive I really dont know. Perhaps deep down inside there's a bit of self justifcation necessary for shelling out thousands upon thousands of dollars when some kid next door is doing pro looking work with a handycam. Then there's gear lust too. Everyone loves to show off shiny new stuff. Heck I've got a Zacuto handheld rig in the mail right now. I can barely contain myself to be honest. Will it make me a better filmmaker? No. Will it make my work easier - yes! Will it make my shots easier to maintain when handheld and my setups quicker. Yes. Will it make better choices for me cinematically - no. Will it pay for itself - yes! (mfr plant tours already scheduled!).

So I totally agree. Fancy gear and more fancier pixels wont make you a better filmmaker. It can make your job easier though. And it sure is fun to talk about :)
 
I think it also comes down to people validating their purchase. It doesn't only happen to us film-makers. Think about the last time someone said something negative about your car, your clothes, your haircut, or whatever. People have an instinct to defend their own and that includes your stuff. Its the fight or flight reaction only focused on your gear.
 
Also, we're also a very materialistic society. This is obvious. We can see exactly what you're talking about translated into every day situations. Take cars as an example.

Jdajda brings up a good point too. You can do the same job with an HV20 and they won't notice the difference, but you're clients won't care, and they want to see the professional equipment.

Right now I'm not trying to get jobs. I'm a student filmmaker just trying to get some films out there. So right now I'm only saving up for an HV30. But even with that, I'm not sure if my actors will take me seriously if I walk onto set with one of these things.
 
In film school, I call these types "gear heads," and usually refuse to work with them.

The problem is that a LOT of guys get so wrapped up in the gear, that they completely cut out their perception of craft. In the end, who has more films out there; the guy who picked up a panny gs250 a few years ago, or the guy who waited around, scrimping because he just NEEDED kinos and zeiss and and and....

The best decision I ever made was showing my screenplay to a director who had NO clue about cameras.
 
I have a DVX, a solid tripod, a decent assortment of lights and a few other toys to work with. If I fail, it isn't because of my gear.

The gear is great.

My lack of talent is what will hold me back. A new HD camera won't make that any less true.

I don't get into the "my stuff is shinier than your stuff" crap.
 
If you think thats bizzare, someone please enlighten me on how a person can DESPISE & HATE a particular BRAND. Like most members here on this forum hates EVERYTHING SONY, regardless on how much better the SONY product is compared to he others.

I have owned and used XL2, 100b, HVX200, XH-A1, XDCAM EX and now I am looking forward to the hpx170. Camera evolves and usually you will have a company that just nailed it on their camera design.

It is stupid to be blindly fixed exclusively just to a particular brand name. I guess this is what you youngsters call "Fanboy-ism".
 
Reminds me of something a retired fighter pilot said, once - no woman ever has an ugly baby, and no pilot ever flies anything but a first-rate aircraft...and yet somehow, there are ugly babies, and second-rate aircraft.
 
Good Point Jason.

Usualy I´m on low budget. So I learned to improvize, use what´s there, DIY, Workarrounds... you name it. We all been there.

I´m the first person who alsways says " the outcome is important - gear and brands are nothing"

On the other hand I (and my customers) want my equipment to be sexy - not only working and usefull.

Big ass matboxes do wonders on customers and actors.
Everything big is always better - or brain is trained to that.

Even if you got a nice little camera like the Scarlet that - in a perfect word - would be able to do perfect 12k 4:4:4 shots handheld, without any lights, record perfect sound while at it, got every gimmick and filter build in, with the sharpest and fastest 8-500/f0,4 lens and requires no extra equipment at all. Easy to carry in a pocketl, light wight and slick.

Would your customers and actors like that? Would you like that?

Or would you feel more like a tourist at the beach instead of a professionell DP with a van full of $$ equipment?

Frank
 
I agree with pretty much all this. I like to keep it in my head when I am making purchases that the gear never makes the filmmaker, and thinking that spending huge money on a camera must have an actual benefit, for example, while I would be very cool owning a HPX would be cool, whats the benefit, I understand the technical side, but until I am producing features, theres no need spending $15,000 (or whatever).

Skills are skills, gear is gear, there are completely different. Gear needs to be usable, and while I understand buying a couple lights, a wireless mic or a 35mm adapter, because they significantly effect the video, but having fancy gear for the sake of showing off is silly.

As well, don't think that you can convince potential clients to hire you these days by showing off your gear, while some go for it, in the long run, its a bad tactic.

Just my 2-cents!
 
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