Gooday everyone! Looking for some tips for my next 2 productions.

CowWithoutLegs

New member
Hello everyone, I am new here. So Hi!

Anyway I just want to get some tips on what equipment I should buy for my next production. I'm currently studying game design, but I've been writing screenplays for about 5 years, and have directed 4 shorts. None of which I've been happy about (due to budget 0... budget).

I want to take this to the next level. I've written 2 shorts, 7 pages each which I plan to film in January. Basically it's got a 2.2k budget each, trust me that's a lot in the place I live. People here film for next to nothing. I basically will be hiring about 11 crew members, and pre- about 5. With a composer added to the fray. I want to take the shorts to festivals which is why I'm spending over 9.5k in these projects. But once again, 9k for 2 shorts is a lot where I live.

Now enough with the intro. I decided to buy my own equipment due to the fact that renting here is just so expensive. Everything I want for a semi-pro shoot is about 2.6k in total for just 5 days. Each shoot will be 5 days, so it will be a total of 5.2k. Which is something that I'm not fond of, why not buy my own equipment, even if it's not as sophisticated? ;)

So. Here's what I will get from B&H, tips are essential so tell me what I'm doing good and right. What I should take out and what I need. It's 5.5k in total I appreciate it guys!

Panasonic HMC40
2x 8gb class 10 card
Cheap clapper
Panasonic adapter
2x Arri 150w lights
Arri 650w light
Arri 300w light
Rifa light softxbox 250w
2x barndoors 150w
Bandoor 650w
Barndoor for 300w
4x Impact air cushion stand
4x 150w bulbs
2x 650 bulbs
2x 300w bulbs
cobracrane 1, 5029
Reflector Silver and gold 22''
Reflector holder
Manfrotto color filters 12 of them
Kingston 16gb usb
Clon 250gb hardrive
Appollo 2800 tripod medium duty 12 pound capasity
varizoom dv dvt traveller Camera support system
audio technica ath-m10 headphones
-----

Things I'm worried about -


Will the tripod hold the crane and the camera? It's not one of those 300 dollar tripods.
are the lights enough for a close up night shoot, wide shot in the night, and wide shot indoors?
Other camera reccomendations?
Can the varizoom do tracking shots? Don't think I can afford a track. (shipping cost)
 
Thanks for the reply Grant.

I already have audio, I bought about a year ago. A boompole, shockmount, wind muff, and mic.

Also I forgot to mention up there, I'm also getting a Rolls audio mixer, cost about 150.
 
Drop the varizoom and cobra crane and put that money into a decent tripod. The lights and tripod will then be good enough to last you a very long time. Spending $400 on a shoulder mount, $250 on a crane and $80 on a tripod is kind of silly.
Also there is no way that tripod is strong enough to hold that jib for any decent amount of time. It might work once or twice but it will break.
There are several decent tripod systems in the 700 dollar range that would be a much wiser investment.
 
Drop the varizoom and cobra crane and put that money into a decent tripod. The lights and tripod will then be good enough to last you a very long time. Spending $400 on a shoulder mount, $250 on a crane and $80 on a tripod is kind of silly.
Also there is no way that tripod is strong enough to hold that jib for any decent amount of time. It might work once or twice but it will break.
There are several decent tripod systems in the 700 dollar range that would be a much wiser investment.
Okay thanks very much. What would you recommend me to get for my tracking shot's thogh>?
 
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