What to invest in?

D

DDirector

Veteran
I want to work as a DP in the future in the film industry. I am currently enrolled in my 2/3 year in college for film. I am looking for some advice as to what would be the best thing to invest in if I want to work as a DP.

*I know that professional DP's only use lightmeters but with todays day and age more is required.

I currently own only a Canon T2i DSLR, redrock shoulder mount and a set of 3 Arri lights -- nothing else.

I am a student (non working) so I can't afford everything now. But I do have a $1275cnd cheque I intend to use on gear (if needed)

What would you recommend for me?
 
I guess you ahve a lens and a memory card!

A tripod and an ND filter ?

Gaffa Tape, White Bedsheets (diffusion), net curtains (less diffusion) maybe some blue gels for the lights

Maybe make some 6X4 holders for your diffusion out of wood

Push the boat, buy a couple of bits of foamcore board

Beyond that DONT SPEND ANYTHING

Team up with a sound person

Team up with someone with ideas (a director)

Spend your money on shooting, spend you money on not having to flip burgers in the holiday - but shooting more

Bus tickets, pizzas, bus tickets pizzas, the odd beer.. for some one else

Get shots for a reel

S
 
Basically stick with the lighting gear?

What I forgot to ask was, as I mentioned, I have a DSLR. Should I get camera equipment to my DSLR such as additional lenses, mattebox, followfocus, etc?
Or rather not buy any of that as I may not end up using my DSLR at all?
 
Living and travel expenses. Take the gear you have and shoot as often as you can, wherever you can, until you have a firm grasp of basic principles and can produce the best stuff possible. Buy equipment that you need instead of what you hope you'll need.

It will serve you better than blowing your wad on equipment that will be obsolete once you finally get paying jobs.
 
mcbob said:
Living and travel expenses. Take the gear you have and shoot as often as you can, wherever you can, until you have a firm grasp of basic principles and can produce the best stuff possible. Buy equipment that you need instead of what you hope you'll need.
It will serve you better than blowing your wad on equipment that will be obsolete once you finally get paying jobs.
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Ive been doing this for years. I am getting payed, but not much yet, as I have not been seeking out big jobs. I am still very limited to my equipment, and always wish I had that one gear I wanted... but most is DSLR specific and I dont know if I want to buy DSLR specific gear if I may end up shooting with other cameras.
 
Investing in cameras and lenses is kind of risky for someone starting out. Equipment is fairly expensive, fashions change rather rapidly, and if you're actually any good, you'll soon move up to an environment where the equipment is beyond the reach of any individual to own anyway, and will almost always be rented. If you concentrate on lighting equipment, you can learn to use it well using the DSLR you have as a tool for experiments and tests, and then later, you can use your stuff to supplement whatever else might be rented on a major shoot. I would agree that a light meter is very valuable. There are lots of Hollywood DPs who don't actually own anything other than a Spectra.

- Greg
 
Greg Smith said:
Investing in cameras and lenses is kind of risky for someone starting out. Equipment is fairly expensive, fashions change rather rapidly, and if you're actually any good, you'll soon move up to an environment where the equipment is beyond the reach of any individual to own anyway, and will almost always be rented. If you concentrate on lighting equipment, you can learn to use it well using the DSLR you have as a tool for experiments and tests, and then later, you can use your stuff to supplement whatever else might be rented on a major shoot. I would agree that a light meter is very valuable. There are lots of Hollywood DPs who don't actually own anything other than a Spectra.

- Greg
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Exactly, thats why I dont know what I really what to invest in.
I am not an amateur starting out. I have been doing this for years. I have been a photographer before that too.
I am the best DP in my college. I am constantly being given the role as the DP/camera because of my experience and because I am very good.
Now I am getting more job offers and they are getting more serious - Thats why Im looking into investing in better equipment, but I dont know exactly in what.
 
I dont see the desire to buy gear - I have a desire not to buy gear

As you develop your shooting desires you may feel that gear will help you realise them

For example if you desire to shoot outdoors with a narrow DOF you may need an ND filter

If you are having flare problems you may need a matte box

If you are looking to do you own sound (dont) you may need a microphone and a recorder

As for a light meter - I think a DSLR makes a great lightmeter, and directors finder, and continuity aid, not to mention shooting films that can get you a job

Spend the money on food beer and shooting

If you must 'invest in gear' I would suggest that Cstands and lighting grip are bascially the only (affordable) items that are not obsolete every couple of years, you will still be using them when you are stealing work form Roger Deakins

Seriously you can make great films with 3 arris, a few reflectors, and a DSLR

S
 
Don't invest in gear, invest in yourself! The reality of your goal to earn a living as a director of photography in the film industry could result in either you going to work for a company as their employee, or you working for yourself. In either scenario you being hired as a DP will have nothing to do with you owning a light meter, carbon fiber tripod, or special camera X. And everything to do with your skill set. In the real world, not the no budget backyard indie film world, a DP is chosen for his or her skills, knowledge and abilities. Not because they happen to own a Kino Flo light kit or cool matte box. My advice would be to learn as much as you can while you still can. Not only in the areas that you feel would have the biggest impact on your shooting/lighting abilities, but also in the building blocks to running a successful business. I know most film school students don't care about getting a business degree, but then most film school students have never had to manage a business, which is exactly what you are doing when you are doing freelance work or working for yourself. Plus a business degree will go a lot farther than a film degree in alternate job realities. Because lets face the facts, job openings for a DP on a major motion picture are about as easy to come by as job openings for formula 1 race car driver or an NFL strong side safety. Just the thoughts of an old guy who was where you are a long time ago.
 
David is right... It's best to invest in your education rather than gear at this moment. That said though i wouldn't advocate business degree. Filmmaking and DP is about humanity and what comes along with it thus liberal arts degrees will serve you better. Learn about art, philosophy, humanities - those are the fields that will give you other perspectives on filmmaking and thus make you a better DP.

Yes, it would be fantastic if back in college i knew that i'll be shooting for my living but in all honesty i wouldn't have the know-how to invest into gear that i'll find useful. The only advice i can give you about investing in gear... Buy the best you can afford. Cheap stuff falls apart way too quickly and then has no re-sale value.
 
Patryk and David are right there is nothing more valuable than experience. Take that money and invest in opportunities to gain more experience.
 
The idea of investing in yourself is a good one. But just another thought, maybe try learning some more practical skills. Carpentry, welding, some basic wiring skills....thinfs like that. Just those alone you'll find really useful in your work and everyday life.
 
There are so many film makers these days that only know about one aspect of film making, be it, directing, producing, cinematographer... etc and that is not a good merit, if you are in the film industry you should know how each other job works, especially being a cinematographer you need to know lighting & sound like the back of your hand. Here is my story, might help you make your decision...

I started off years ago with a JVC camera and enjoyed getting out and shooting anything basically, did media in high school and knew it was what I wanted to do, ended up selling my JVC to fund other things and didn't end up buying another camera for a couple of years, enrolled in film school, did 1 year there, left, bought a panasonic gh2, reignited that love for film making, started making short sport clips (2-3) minute lengths and caught up with people from my film school group and started making some short films, learnt a lot just from this (lighting,sound,composition,scheduling,etc...) and decided more gear was the option, bought external LCD screen, microphone, steadicam, car mounts, LED lights, and started to take things a bit more seriously, made a couple more short films with this gear and enjoyed doing it, whilst still learning along the way. Continued to shoot the sporting events (as I use to participate in them, got injured... went and filmed), started getting recognized for my videos at said events... decided to start buying more and more gear, better microphone, sony fs100, filters, lenses, etc... decided with friends to make a 'serious' short film that we planned on entering in film competitions, invested money into the short film (mostly on gear from my side) and we went ahead and made the film, at this point we are all very amateur film makers, didn't really take a step back at all and realize all the mistakes we were making, got the film into a draft edit, and we hated it, but we appreciate how much we learnt from the film, thing's like timing (scheduling) how important pre-production REALLY is, how to work with each other (most importantly) and all other nic nac's from filming, we decided to bin the film and go back to the drawing board, the total budget would of been under $1000 with about $600 on gear, so we were not that fussed about the loss considering the experience we got.

Back onto the sport stuff, I do this by myself, filming, editing, everything by myself, I had been approached by 3 of the 'teams' that participate in the sport to be there media coverage and I said yes to one team as majority of the people in the team were my friends, they felt they lost exclusiveness by me filming all 3 teams, so unfortunately for me I am only filming 1, but it's still great!! the team also has a Photographer and a Designer 'sponsoring' them just like me, I was having my 'logo' designed by the designer of the team and I went to meet with him and he was interested in picking me up as a freelance film maker for his clients whom require film (advertisements) for there companies, I thought, great, little bit of cash here and there, he ends up calling me just a few days ago and tells me one of his clients needs ALL there footage edited, I said, "great", he then went on to tell me how much footage and what they would be paying me, end's up, I'm getting paid almost as much as my ENTIRE gear is worth.

I don't for one second think I would change how I went about things, I would still buy ALL the gear, and do everything the same, anyway, that's how I went about things, hope you achieve something of great things!!
 
Lightmeters are important tools, & I have several, but it's amazing how rarely I see them being used these days. Seems most DPs shooting digital rely more on monitors, & waveforms, then meters. Metering is practically an art form, & takes lots of interpretation, but few digital camera's ISO relate directly to meter's, the Alexa being the only one I've seen come close. I will carry them for quickly setting ratios, but only if I'm local, while overseas they rarely come along.

If you get a meter consider a cine Sekonic that reads both incident, & spot.

And if you don't have access to one at school consider getting a decent set of sticks, & fluid head, perhaps a Vision Blue, or similar. It will last a long time, & takes endless practice to handle well.

Best,
Bern
 
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morgan_moore said:
If you must 'invest in gear' I would suggest that Cstands and lighting grip...

Seriously you can make great films with 3 arris, a few reflectors, and a DSLR
Click to expand...

A C-Stand is a great idea. They're indispensable on most sets, & take lots of practice to handle well.

I also think you should use the lights you have for long time, & invest in some simple grip. Learn everything you can using one light as there's no other exercise that will serve your lighting skills as well.

And be sure to buy a copy of The Set Lighting Technician's Handbook.
 
Spend money on what you need. That will not always be equipment, like everyone else has mentioned.

If you are desperate to buy equipment right now, though, I'd recommend analyzing your last few shoots. What really hindered you? Was it not being able to see the LCD screen while outside? Was it not being able to pull focus properly? Was it not having a decent monitor to rely on? Was it not having the right assortment of grip items, whatever that may be? If those are holes common in your projects, look into filling them. Like others said, buy what you need. A good monitor, follow focus, and grip gear will last you years.
 
Yes. Experience and obtaining knowledge about cinematography and other film making aspects are important. Its not like I am going to stop learning about it. I am still enrolled in College and I learn different positions on set that mainly focuses around the DP - Gaffer, lighting, camera op, etc.

But when looking for jobs, even when just starting out on student/indi films, you generally need to have your own equipment. Its not mandatory, but most often its easier to find jobs when you have your own equipment. Some people just rely on those applying for certain positions to have their own equipment they are comfortable using. And it saves renting equipment for them.

You cant always learn the field you want to be in without any equipment. Try learning to be a camera operator without being in behind a camera. Sure you can learn all the important aspects of framing and what not, but without actually doing it by hand, its not the same. I have a small light kit and I use it, but Id be better suited if I had more equipment and equipment that Id definitely be needing on set.

When I was on set, I often regretted not having things to make my shots better. But as a DP, I didnt always want to spend it on camera equipment such as a (follow focus, mattebox, or an external monitor) because it will vary depending on the camera I would be using. I personally own only a DSLR and thats what I shoot on, but I know I dont want to stick with only that in the future. So, owning most camera equipment like listed above, will suit only my DSLR. And since I am a DP, I also use lighting. Unlike camera equipment, lighting equipment can be used with other lighting equipment. But, not all camera equipment will work with other cameras or camera equipment. So, I think I may favor in lighting equipment.
 
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i dont know what lenses you already have but a Rokinon 24mm 1.4 (soon to be released),Rokinon 35mm 1.4 and Rokinon 85mm 1.4 are good bang for buck in lens terms....fully manual. Nikon mount so you can use it on any camera now or future. And HollyWood Camera Work DVD series. Thats it :) Or some grip and lighting equipment.
 
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