I've been given $18,000

Do yourself a favor and invest the $18,000.00 in a mutual fund. In 20 years, you will be so glad you did. If you want to make films, write a great script and get people to give you money or gear or crew to make it.

I agree with the other posters that tell you to bank it. If you blow it all on gear, all of the gear will be outdated, broken or collecting dust inside 18 months. Video gear is one of the worst monetary investments you can make unless you are a working pro and can pay it off really quickly. If you are serious about making films, you need to learn how to before buying gear. And if you get good, people will give you money and you can rent gear and hire a crew and end up with something that looks and sounds better.

I am probably wasting my time, you are going to spend it all but think about it hard before you do...unless you are wealthy and other people or your grandparents will give you more money.

Good luck,

Dan
 
Isaac_Brody said:
First, don't spend a dime on equipment yet. There's no use buying equipment unless you have something to shoot yet. Sit down, open up Microsoft Word, or Final Draft if you have it and start writing. There's no sense spending money on equipment when you don't have a script to shoot. That's like buying wood for a house without floor-plans.

After you have a short script written, look at collaborating with someone nearby who has equipment and experience. If they're an experienced shooter have them DP the film while you direct. Why? Because buying lots of equipment won't make you good, you need people with more experience than you to show you the ropes. Volunteer your time on shoots as a PA, but even better as a grip.

You could spend lots of money on equipment now, but it will just depreciate while you build up your skills. Not only that, but NAB is in a few months and a couple new cameras are coming out this year. If you spend the next few months writing a couple short films you can reevaluate whether you're ready to spend.

I know with 18K in my pocket I'd be tempted by gear-lust, but think it through before making any purchases. There's plenty of cameras for sale each week in the marketplace from people who bought without sitting down and figuring out if they had the skills as a writer in the first place.
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Well said.

Or just give $18,000 to Isaac and he will write it for you ;)
 
DM_rider said:
get a second hand DVX100 and go to town. Put the rest in the bank. Set aside maybe $4,000 for camera gear and start making movies.
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Short and sweet, I love it! This is the same thing many very experienced people have said. I also agree in hiring the right people, but most important is learn the craft.

SHOOT!SHOOT!SHOOT!SHOOT!


I went to a school ( I won't call it film school ) and aside from $60,000 in debt the one thing I got was 150 other people my age that all wanted to do the same thing. We read all the books, watched all the classics, and took all the tests. Most important was shooting for 2 years. Shooting every silly idea we could think of. I have been doing this craft for 12 years know and I still learn something new all the time.

I would even take all this one step farther, buy the cheapest miniDV with manual options and carry it with you always. $300 bucks can teach volumes and the limitations will force creativity. When your ready, and it might not take long, you already have a capture device or location playback deck.
 
Just adding to the very solid advice here. Put the money aside for a few months and troll around on these boards. Download this program: www.celtx.com and use it to write a short screenplay.

Writing a screenplay costs you nothing and provides a great deal of industry insight.

Buy a few good books on filmmaking. There are essentials like The Grip Book, which will give you a foundation-level familiarity for many of the tools a DP and independent-level director should know.

Start networking with people in your area through this board and other filmmaking boards. Go help them with their projects - during as many phases of production as possible. Listen, watch and listen. Just absorb whatever you see in front of you. Get an idea for what filmmaking role(s) interest you.

You might find that you'll develop relationships that negate or minimize your need to invest that money in equipment - at least in the beginning.

I cannot stress this enough. I know it to be true because I was told the same thing by people at the top of the crafts when I first started. I ignored them and didn't have enough to actually film anything of consequence once I'd acquired about a tenth of what you need to accomplish anything. I'd invested about the same money you're talking about... in today's dollars.

Anyway, take the "don't buy" advice and find the education in the field. You can do it and focus on your creativity as you learn through others.

Best,

e
 
another idea would be to pick up a second hand TRV-900 or something. Just get a cheap, decent 3 chip camera used and you'll be set.

If you...
1. Bought decent 3 chip cam
2. Bought a good tripod
3. Go to homedepot and by work light (the poor mans light kit)
4. Write a script, story, anything
5. Go film
You'd be off to a good start

This can all be done for under $2,000 EASY

You then have $16,000 to put in the bank.

In 3 years, when you have built up your chops and produced a few good projects, you will be ready to tap into that cash for some nicer equipment.

Worst comes to worst, you don't enjoy film, and you're only out less than $2,000 and you still have your $16,000 (maybe more) at your disposal.

Think very long an hard before you spend a DIME of that money. You have received what many of us wish we could get. A large amount of cash.
 
also....

i was an artist before i became a dp. i was just gonna dp to make some cash. sculpt/make installations for a career. meanwhile i havent touched a tool in 2 and a half years.

filmmaking will absorb you. it will happen especially if you start making money at it.
 
DON"T ........... repeat DON"T run out and spend all that money. Get yourself a used DVX or HVX. Even an HVX with some mem and a decent tripod will set up back way less than $6K. You will learn SOOOOOO much in 6 months! Nothing said here will come close to the learning experience of having a cam in hand.

JohnG
 
Wow $18k


My advice, like the others, get a cheap camera. Work your way up.


The key here is to learn. You can't just buy $30k worth of equipment and your movie makes itself. You have to learn. Books can only take you so far, get a cheap camera, learn, learn, learn, and learn more.

I got lots to learn myself and I don't consider myself a pro by any stretch of the imagination.
 
puredrifting said:
Do yourself a favor and invest the $18,000.00 in a mutual fund. In 20 years, you will be so glad you did. If you want to make films, write a great script and get people to give you money or gear or crew to make it.

I agree with the other posters that tell you to bank it. If you blow it all on gear, all of the gear will be outdated, broken or collecting dust inside 18 months. Video gear is one of the worst monetary investments you can make unless you are a working pro and can pay it off really quickly. If you are serious about making films, you need to learn how to before buying gear. And if you get good, people will give you money and you can rent gear and hire a crew and end up with something that looks and sounds better.

I am probably wasting my time, you are going to spend it all but think about it hard before you do...unless you are wealthy and other people or your grandparents will give you more money.

Good luck,

Dan
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I'm with Dan here. Although, one other thought is if you're going to approach filmmaking from your artistic side, then buy the used dvx and maybe a used tripod to experiment (for $2000 or less and bank the 16,000). Don't go trying to make a traditional film with expensive lights, DP, etc. because you will lose all your money. I've known seasoned, talented, savvy editors who spent 6 figures on a feature that was competent but went nowhere.

It can be tough to market a 45 min film. Better to experiment with shorts 10 min and under.

So I'm for banking most of it. Even with today's interest rates, you'll like seeing it grow while you are learning.
 
I highly recommend that you check out Dov S-S Simen's 2-Day Film School It talks a lot about the business and street reality of making a feature film. As a few others have mentioned, RENT equipment unless you are doing a long term documentary over a couple months. (in which case the HVX probably isn't a good idea since it's tapeless). If your just getting started in making movies, then I strongly suggest holding onto most of that 18k for atleast 1-2 years before doing anything with it. Since your not going to film school, you need to compensate for this by reading lots of books and online resources. One that I find particularly useful is FilmSchoolOnline.com - It covers all the major craft/art areas of the filmmaking process and help give you an understanding of the process. (the $50 course is worth it)

If your just starting out, get some low-end gear and start shooting shorts with people.
Some stuff I'd recommend:
Cheap Mini DV camera ie: Canon HV20
Shotgun mic ie: Audio Technica AT-897
XLR adapter - as long as you don't need level control should be like $10 at guitar center
DIY PVC boom pole (search/google)
Some foam core and aluminum foil
A bunch of Panasonic Mini DV tapes
This should run you a little more than $1000.

After a while maybe get some work lights (diffuse them) or some Britek lights and fool around with them a lot before trying to actually use them on a production.

If you don't know any people that would be committed enough to make a film, try helping out on other productions for free via sites like craigslist and mandy.com-you help them, maybe they'll help you. - network with people, they could be some of the people you hire for your big project.

Once you have a general understanding of the entire Filmmaking process, and a great script, THEN you might want to think about spending that money. From what I've heard, most directors have around 30 bad movies before they make anything decent, so hopefully you can make something decent with that 18k when the time comes.

Oh yeah, one last thing...why would you want to make a 30-45 minute "short film"...I don't really get that unless it's for a specific time slot on television it seems kind of pointless since there is very little market for short films. Make a short or make a feature but not both in one movie.
 
TimurCivan said:
DO NOT BUY EQUPIMENT.

Spend the money Funding your short. Rent a HPX500 w/ Pro35, Zeiss glass, a DP an AD and Production insurance. Get a small Grip truck, and hire a few PA's.

DO NOT waste money on equipment. this will leave you with 2,000$ to shoot a film, and you have no idea what youre doing. The best film school in the world is to shoot a film. USe this money to shoot a film, not buy equipment. Get the movie in the can.

I'm serious, you will wind up with a much better finished product, and the actors/crew will respect you more for doing things the right way instead of scrimping by with pizza everyday for Craft services, and shooting in your uncles garage....

18K can get a 25min movie shot easy, with a little fund raising, you can hit 25K or 30K and then you can make your 40min film for real.
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i would completely agree with Tim. There's no point in dumping your money into gear at this point -- it will go a lot further for you if you just make a film and hire people who know what they are doing to help.
 
Where are you located? if you are in LA, feel free to contact me, I'd let you play with my equipment (film equipment that is) and help you in any way I can. (time permitting)
If not in LA find a DVXuser in your area. that's what this board is all about. (IMHO)
 
i have to second the financial responsibility suggestion - i would invest the bulk of the money in an IRA or something and just keep out say $5k to rent gear (friday to monday in most houses is just a day rental cost wise) or buy a second hand DVX100 and some entry level grip/audio gear until you really get a grasp of whats going on.

$18k isnt going to go very far at all when you consider camera, lights, grip, audio and on top of that all the 35mm adapter rigamaroll... youre looking at AT LEAST $3k for just a super basic 35mm adapter setup (adapter, lenses, rails, follow focus)
 
HV20 is $636.00 at amazon .com, seen some really decent borderline excellent footage from that little hdv cam.

Content is key.
 
hmmmm.............

or if yo were really smart and risk taking at the same time - you could day trade for a couple of weeks and try to double your money.

or just take it all to vegas and put it on red, i mean black.... errr. only this once and we're out of here..... I swear.
 
salils said:
I highly recommend that you check out Dov S-S Simen's 2-Day Film School It talks a lot about the business and street reality of making a feature film.
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Couldn't agree more, if you want to be a Producer. Production is project management, you will hire a skilled team that knows their jobs / craft. Dov's seminar and book (From Reel to Deal) goes through the methodology of making a film. If you really, truly want to produce films, spend some money on learning project management (community college courses) and methodology (Dov's material, other books, PA'ing).

The first thing that Dov will tell you is don't waste your time with shorts. They do not generate revenue and therefore do not provide value commensurate to the cost to make. Young DoP's love to work on shorts, because it gives them fodder to build a reel. For a producer they are useless.

If you just want to be a cog in someone else's machine then you should take classes that are specific to the discipline you wish to pursue. Just because someone owns a camera does not make them a DoP or Cinematographer; don't think buying a camera makes you one.

To produce a film my strategy would be to go into the 35mm Adapter forum and find a Camera Operator with a full HVX kit. Then I would hit the local film guide and find a film DoP with a degree in film. The Camera Op's job would be to take his lead from the DoP in creating the art and to provide a workflow from camera to NLE in a 24P time-line. The DP's job is art: to pick lenses, work with the gaffer to set up the lights, figure out the blocking and dolly moves, include the sound team in the process, etc. This is to make a Feature FILM, as in 90+ minutes printed to 35mm with Dolby PLII.

A lot of people make their living doing videography with these tools, and I don't mean to knock them or offend them in any way. I know quite a few people who do very well with these tools. But if you want to make feature films the first thing you must do is GET REAL. It IS possible, it IS NOT cheap, and the best place to start is EDUCATION. Until you can talk extensively on the subject you will not have a prayer in raising the real funds needed to make a real film, and until you can do that you are NOT REAL.

I have no doubt that this post will draw a lot of flames and disagreement, because it is brutally honest and truthful. Most of us are here because we love to dream, but to turn a dream into reality takes a lot of hard work and knowledge. People do not like to be told that they are not pursuing their dream properly, because pursuing a dream is a personal vector. No one likes to be told that they are not doing it right, and too many people believe that enough hard work without direction will get them there. Get educated, get REAL, be successful.

Bob

Flame on....
 
Yeah Tim,
I wrote that and then I thought, oh boy, that could be taken the wrong way. So I added "film equipment". hahahahahah
 
working on other people's projects

working on other people's projects

I would also add that it's a great learning experience to work for other people. You'll learn what to do, and also what not to do and the later is usually more valuable. Find a project or several to volunteer to work on. Be upfront about what you know.. be energetic and eager to learn, but not too eager to be a liablility and ask questions before doing something. Not only will you get some much needed experience, but you'll also get to establish relationships with other filmmakers and start to cultivate your group of working colleages. As they say, if you want to be a filmmaker start to act like one. Go to meetings, volunteer, hang out with other filmmakers and then ultimately make your own film.


Everyone has given you great advice. Keep that cash, invest wiseless and learn before you dive in. I've seen a lot of "vanity Projects" crash and burn. Doctors pretending to be filmmakers and rich trust fund kids with ample cash and little acumen.


Cheers and enjoy the ride..
 
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