Help!!!!!

T

TheTruth

Member






I am writing this to the post in hopes that ONE of you can help me out. I've been a member of this forum for well over a year now and I LOVE it. It's been really helpful and fun to network with everyone on the site. I'm also happy that you've been so kind and generous this whole time as I do not own a DVX of any model. Thank you again.

Now onto my problem. As I have said I do not own one. HOWEVER...I wish to buy one. I'm honestly wanting to start off with the 100a. Preferably. I can by no means afford the 100b. I have heard a mix bag of things about the first in the 100 series (I've seen it listed as 100p?). I have searched high and low on the net to find one and I can't seem to find ANY. One or two have popped up on e-bay as a package deal or is WAY out of my budget. Anyway...

This is why I'm posting here on the site. I'm hoping you all might be able to assist me. I know there are people on the site that are wanting to upgrade to the 100b or the new HD 100. I was hoping that maybe someone on this post was wanting to sell their 100a. I know it's a far fetched idea but this is my last hope. I was wanting to start production on my next feature film in February and I don't want to settle with another camera.

Please help me out here.

If you are interested please either post here or e-mail me directly:

thetruth@veritasfilms.net

So far as the hows and whys I would be willing to work out. My entire budget for the camera is right at about $1300. I know I can't offer enough for this wonder of the filmmaking world. Thank you for hearing me out. PLEASE let me know.

Thank you for everything and I would love to work with you in the future as a fellow filmmaker but even more...as a fellow DVX filmmaker.

Yours...
James "The Truth" Moser
Veritas Films

www.myspace.com/veritasfilms
 
If you can find one for 1300, I'll buy it off you for 1700. Good luck, its a long shot, and a lot of praying. Somebody would be AWFULLY nice (a litttle uneccessary IMO). but good luck anyway.

Why dont you just buy a DVC30?
 
I was wanting to avoid shooting something NOT in 24p honesltly. I don't want to limit myself in case someone really likes this film and wants to pay to do a film transfer honestly. Working at a movie theatre I know that the digital revolution is still years away from being a reality. And even then the resolution isn't too good for the lower budget stuff. I'm just hoping to get my hands on any 24p camera and I REALY want the 100a or 100p. I'll consider your offer but if someone was kind enough to consider selling me the camera at my price I wouldn't be able to part with it for any price.

Hey I'll even sweeten the pot. Anyone that wants to sell me the dvx100a for $1300 I'll even throw in some extras like credit in my film as an executive producer (name only no cut), free copies of ALL my films, a t-shirt for the feature I just wrapped, a t-shirt for the next feature, a character named after you in the feature after that, and I'll work something out to get you some free movie tickets.

Think about it....please lol.

The Truth
 
If your making all these feature films, why not try to make a little money out of that, selling t-shirts or whatever, and use that money to buy a dvx...
Also, we're all filmmakers here, so I guess people dont really care much about being in your films, and they probably all worked hard to pay for the camera, so I don't think anybody will sell you their dvx for a lot less then its worth...
Anyway, good luck...
 
Honestly, I would not worry too much about 24p and the film transfer. I think that is the least of your concerns right now. I would worry about a great story line, believable acting, as well as good lighting, etc. If someone is that interested in your film, and has the $10,000 or $20,000 for a film transfer, they would probably also be able to pony up for a re-shoot using better gear, or for converting the 60i (or whatever your film is shot at) to 24fps. Personally I would go with the gear you have if you can’t afford a DVX and make the best possible film you can with that.

Another idea is to partner with a dp that has a DVX – get him or her on board with your vision and work together. That, or budget to rent one. Just plan your shots carefully, do test shoots with what you have and then rent as needed.

Best of luck to you.
 
Wasn't '28 Days Later' shot interlaced? And look how well *that* worked out, for everyone involved.
 
Thank you for the suggestions guys. I know that most everyone on here are filmmakers and don't want credit in someone elses film. I was just throwing that out there. I figured it was about as unlikely as the asking price I have going for the camera. I didn't mean you guys to take that seriously. I've thought about what you are saying about ponying up the cash for the reshoot and I'm cool with that. I mean I'm getting to the point where it's pretty hard to come up with the item on the budget I wanted to go with. I may just end up upgrading to a high end 3ccd camera. (What are your thoughts on the consumer level HD Sony cameras btw? Does the 3ccd qualifications not even work in the HD market- I know a lot about mini-dv cameras but I must admit I'm a complete HD idiot.).
The t-shirt idea is a great one. I've been working on that one for a while now. It's been hard pressed to get finished honeestly. I've gone through 3 different promo managers all have sent it off and then it's failed to come through. I'm NOT having much luck with them and can't find one to work for free OR trade out for commercial/advertising. Can't afford a really promo manager.
As far as the teaming with a DP? You have no idea...I live in SC. We don't even have film permits in the part of the state I live in let alone a DP in town. And that's after paying for ads in the newspaper (yes I said newspaper...we only have one). Charleston is a good place for film...kinda. Our film commision lacks alot of support from the field. They are doing their best.
And as far as getting a good storyline and all that goes. I've already shot ONE feature and am seeking distribution for it after the festival circuit. I'm tying up a good amount of money right now doing that. Reason for not being able to get it up and running. I run the COMPANY and I've set up to shoot 3 MORE features this year. I like to keep busy. I got a great crew (a poor crew but great nonetheless) and they keep trucking through the shoots.
Thanks for your advice and I can't wait to hear back fomr you guys again. Thank you so much for your support from the dvx crowd. I've always relyed on your expertise.

Yours...
The Truth
 
Barry_Green said:
Not really; it was shot in the "Frame Mode" in the PAL camera, so it was a simulated 25p.
Click to expand...


According to wikipedia.com:

"Parts of the film were shot on the [edit:] Canon XL-1's digital video camera. DV cameras are much smaller and more maneuverable than traditional film cameras, on which such brief shoots would have been impractical. The use of digital video also adds a 'documentary' feel (shaky, unstable) to the film, and adds to the overall realism."

edit: Barry, I meant XL-1's, not XL1-S's, just to clarify
 
Last edited:
No XL1-S cameras were used, it was shot on up to 8 XL1 cameras (the original, not the XL1-S). There's a whole writeup that was published in American Cinematographer magazine.
 
Well, I can say that I truly admire your tenacity! Keep at it and you will go places. Are there any media consultancies in town? Maybe if you got an internship or job with them (I don't know your situation, but...) you could borrow gear on weekends. I did see that you said there wasn't much in terms of DP's etc., but maybe a job at a local TV station could get you an "in?" Or maybe the local public access channel would let you use gear if you help them out on Saturdays or something. Just some more ideas.

Don't give up, keep trying to figure out a way to get your vision out there.

Good luck.
 
I appreciate the ideas guys. I also appreciate the confidence I'll go places. I believe that. With enough hard work you can get anywhere.
As far as the public access thing goes I haven't really explored that option in years. I've heard the urban legend that if you shoot something for them you can use their gear and most people turn in some crappy kids show and take 3 months to shoot it so that they can shoot their movie on the side. Don't know if there is any truth to that or not. We shall see. TV stations in town are hard to pick up an internship with. I work full-time so doing that would be hard. Good idea...I really need to explore a hook-up with them. Working at a theatre has it's perks I guess.
And as far as Shane wanted to help out. I live in the upstate of South Carolina. Greenville to be exact. The 100B I hear is pretty sweet. Shoot me an e-mail if you would like to work on something...just if you want something to do. For those in the forum you may not understand that but in the Carolinas we do so little with filming that we usually work on ANY project just to get out there and feel what it's like on a set again. I knwo the credit in a film thing doesn't hold water...but down here WORKING on a movie is an event. You can tell we don't get many shoots down here that are BIG BUDGET deals that won't have any local talent save for extras on set. That's cool...BUT we usually don't want to be IN FRONT of the camera.
Again thanks guys. This is an amazing post from you guys. Hell even the 28 Days Later sidebars are interesting. I knew the people on this post were good people but when you put yourself out like that on a forum you always fear the people flaming you. Thanks so much.
I'll keep you guys posted if something DOES happen to come through. You never know.

The Truth
 
Update

Update

Just to let everyone know what has happened. My executive producer and I had a long talk and I told him if we couldn't get the DVX then we need to move on to something we could get for our price range. A top of the line consumer HD camera. I have a hook-up with a retail store. He told me to get the price...I did. Then after all that...he won the last auction he was bidding on and we got a DVX 100a. So after all that I managed to get one afterall. Plus it was due to my executive producer and I talking that I guess he realized how bad we needed it to look professional. We got it. Now I owe him every penny he put in and a big chunk o the change when we sell it so...here we go. I guess from now on you guys are going to get technical questions from me. Thanks for the support and the encouragement. Talk to you soon.

The Truth

www.myspace.com/veritasfilms

Now all I need is a web designer to work for free. Any clues with that one? lol
 
El Maestro Producer saves the day. :thumbup: Best of luck, and as I have said, put that camera on your homeowner's or renter's insurance policy before you start filming. And get a clear filter! :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top