Starter budget: Realistic? Inclusive?

N

nyvideo

Active member
I’m considering making some short documentaries about topics of interest to me, mostly as personal projects. I would like (or may need) to do everything – or almost everything – myself. For example, I have some friends who are building a small cabin in the woods. I’d like to make documenting that one of my first projects. I’ll be working solo.

I’ve put a budget together. I already have most of the computer gear to edit, score, and create the final project. (Final Cut Pro, Mac Pro, a few TB of disk space, music creation software, etc.)

Here’s a rough budget I’ve sketched for a “starter” package. I’ve tried to be realistic. I wasn’t looking at spending a lot of money, but by the time I put numbers on paper it was a little bit of a shock. I guess at this point I would like to know if I’m in the ballpark.

Panasonic AG-HMC40 camera $2000
Panasonic audio adapter AG-MYA30G $300
Shotgun mike $200
Shock mount for microphone $50
Cable(s) $50
Extra battery for camera $150
Extra SDHC card(s) $200
Filters $50
Tripod $300
Carrying case/backpack $250
Miscellaneous items $200
Total $3750


Of course I know that I can spend more or less on every item in the list. I’d like some input on whether this a realistic figure? Are there any large items I’ve forgotten to include? Are there some items in the list I should forget about or at least wait on?

Any of the collected wisdom I see on this site would be much appreciated.
 
Filters doesn't mean anything. What do you plan to buy for that $50? You should be fine with this if you don't plan on getting any lighting control. If you had to you could even get by with less. SDHC cards aren't very spendy in my experience, I don't know that $200 is necessary for that.

[edit] Except that you're going out in the woods for documentaries. I guess $200 is a good estimate.
 
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Cassius, thank you so much for the reply.

The focus in my post was on getting “in the ballpark.” I really don't want to hear myself saying something like, “Oh, crap! I’m going to need to spend another $1,200 on a…” :Drogar-Shock(DBG):

Thanks again,
nyvideo
 
You'll never have to say that if you get the basics down, but you'll always want to say it no matter how much you buy.
 
A BW 43mm circular polarizer can be bought for a little over $50 and that is maybe the only filter you will need, but it will cost you some light. The HMC is a great little cam, I use one for guerilla setting and it is awesome, but light hungry. Outdoors it is no big deal. Will you be shooting indoors? What about lights?

My guess is you'll be short on your budget for audio. $200 for a shotgun is pretty short and mounting a mic to the cam is pretty marginal for audio. Bad audio will really make your video suck. Read the stickies in the audio section and then ask some questions there. Also, you will need some headphones to monitor and some wind protection for whatever mic you use. You might consider a wireless rig for your talent if you are moving around on a job site.

dvestore has some pretty well priced starter kits.

I'm not trying to bust your bits, just making sure you don't have a surprise later.

Grant
 
I always say there are three factors to a video production: image, sound & lighting.

Image would be your camera. I've heard good things about the HMC so I think you are set there.

Your budget for sound is pretty low. A decent shotgun (like a Rode NTG2) is around $200. A good one (like the NTG3) is around $700 and can go up to several grand. And there will be times you will want a lavaliere, especially if you are doing everything yourself. Shotgun mics sound best when they are fairly close to your subject, not just attached to the camera. And if you don't have a boom operator, you will want to use a lavaliere to get clear sound.

I don't see any budget for lighting, which is very important. A super cheap kit will run you a few hundred bucks. A good kit will run a couple grand.

I know you said documentary and may be thinking "I'll just use available light". But what about when you are shooting an interview? Or what about when the interior you are shooting is far too dark? Having a good lighting kit is very important.
 
It’s clear that I need to reexamine the budget!

As a musician I have been putting a lot of planning into ideas for scoring, but assumed that a shotgun mic would take care of all sound recording. Upon reflection, well, duh!

This is still a work in progress. It appears that I might want to have a pair of wireless lavaliere mics for the hike from the trailhead to their site as well as the work that will go on while at the site.

My thoughts were to interview them indoors and for that I will need a location and lighting for that set-up. As this project grows I can see the value in having assistants with experience in sound mixing, basic grip work, and all the rest. (In fact, I think my tripod budget leaves a lot to be desired too.)

All of your input has been valuable. You have not “busted my bits.” You’ve helped me to get good information about my projects and their planning.

(Now, maybe I can get a second and third job…)

Thanks so much.
 
NYVideo,

You probably can make do with close to your original budget, but you will be more limited.

For example, if you got a NTG2 with a softie and a cheap pole (add $200 to your budget), you could get the mic off the cam which is pretty important. No matter what mic you use, the most important thing of all is to have the mic less than three feet from the talent and pointed consistantly. Following that rule, and given a decent operator and wind protection, will overcome the majority of your audio issues. Properly done, a boomed shotgun will deliver better sound than most lavs, wireless or not, depending on the ability of the boom opp. Now that shotgun won't work so well indoors with hard walls, but maybe you do the interview outside, which also solves your lighting problem.....get the idea?

A good kit is nice to have, but being clever and planning your shoot around the gear you have can go a long ways towards improving your quality.

Grant
 
Really it boils down to one thing: the more gear you own, the more options you have.

If you don't have a light kit, then you are forced to always shoot outside or in well lit locations. Plus you have no control over how your lighting looks so it typically won't look as professional.

If you don't have a lavaliere, then you are forced to have your shotgun on a boom pole or stand by the subject. If that isn't an option, than your sound quality will suffer.

It's important to not get too caught up in the "I gotta have everything now before I can start" mentality. I've been assembling my gear for 3+ years and still have a long way to go. Don't wait till you have enough before you start. Start with what you have and get comfortable with it. Then when you say "I really wish I could do ____", you'll know what gear you want to purchase.
 
Grant, your advice is solid and hit a nerve. It’s made me think more and more about ways of putting the project together with less “stuff” and more creativity. I’m less worried about the budget per se, however, I’m working on getting as much as I can out of each set-up and bit of work.

Tony, you helped to get me out of the gate, too. I think I need to find a balance between waiting until I have everything I could possibly want (an impossibility) and starting immediately with not much in the way of planning (too easy for any noob). Getting comfortable with equipment without worrying too much about the finished product will make employing it later, “for real,” easier and, I hope, more creative.

Thank you again for your considered and useful suggestions.
 
Also in agreement about the sound budget. YOu should grab a shotgun as well as a cardoid for indoor use. The Oktava is still a good deal. Booming the mic is a must. I have a pole for when i shoot with a crew, but purchased a Manfrott combi boom when shooting alone in interview sessions and it works great. Same thing could be done with a c-stand, boom pole and a fishing pole holder attached to a grip head if you want to go that route. youll probably also want a few sandbags.

completely agree with NextWaveG. Its not so much what you can do with how little you have but giving yourself more options. That said, just start shooting and save what you can and get what you need. Just shoot.
 
i would seriously consider looking around for used gear, especially in the rig/cable/tripod/case etc; you can save a ton buying used hard parts that dont affect sound/image quality. you could even go with used lighting, and just bring a spare bulb or two along.

i had a budget of around $6000 for everything from camera, lighting, sound, tripod/mobile rig, cabling, cases, etc, so far ive spent less than $3000 and i managed to snag the camera, case, 35mm adapter, a few lenses, follow focus, rail system, and a mattebox.

if you've the time to search, you can find GREAT deals, and save a TON.
 
I'd like to shoot video of the couple hiking through the woods to get to their property, the site where they're going to build their cabin. What can you suggest for capturing their dialog as they hike through the woods?

My plan was to have some tripod shots of them coming and going at different points in their hike, but I may have to rethink their dialog. Maybe I will just have forest sounds, score, and a voice over as they hike.
 
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