What to invest in?

@OP

I think you can see how wildly different each opinion is on the matter. You could invest in lenses, camera gear, lighting gear, grip gear, books...

I honestly think you have to make that call yourself. There are so many things I could do for $1250, and also so few.

If you have questions about which make of a certain item to buy, DVXusers can be far more supportive and detail-oriented. Figure out what you feel have been your weaknesses on set - could be in technique, creation, or equipment - or in general as a filmmaker, then we can give you a lot more information to help you make a choice.

Just my opinion...
 
DDirector said:
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.
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Honestly I think you'll do much better if you get some more experience and figure things out on your own a little. Maybe work on some bigger free projects as a grip, or maybe some paid PA work, then watch the DP's and G/E departments work and what gear they use. I can tell you to pick up some cardellini's, c-stands, duvatyne, and muslin, but if you don't know what to do with that stuff, then its all useless.

If you're going to school, don't they have gear for you? I know when I was in school I'd do projects that had nothing to do with my classmates or my school, but I'd still use all their gear on the shoots. Going to school is usually a replacement for buying all this gear....

Either way, don't blow your wad just yet. Buy small simple things. China balls, sockets, muslin, bounce cards, maybe a par can or two, but don't go too nuts quite yet. Wait till you've got things a little more figured out.

Also, just buy the set lighting technicians handbook right now. Drop everything your doing and pick it up if you haven't already.
 
RyanT said:
If you're going to school, don't they have gear for you? I know when I was in school I'd do projects that had nothing to do with my classmates or my school, but I'd still use all their gear on the shoots. Going to school is usually a replacement for buying all this gear....
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Yes, but no. We have gear. But, we cannot use them unless if they are being used for school shoots. So, I cant just use it when I wish for anything.

RyanT said:
Also, just buy the set lighting technicians handbook right now. Drop everything your doing and pick it up if you haven't already.
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Same as the Hollywood Camera Work DVD set. Its expensive, so Im thinking about it.
 
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Both of those will be the best purchases of your life. Just last week I watched a gaffer of 30 years still referring back
to his copy. Truly invaluable.
 
DDirector said:
Same as the Hollywood Camera Work DVD set. Its expensive, so Im thinking about it.
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Buy "The Set Lighting Technician's Handbook, Fourth Edition". Do it today!

I have an older dog-eared version which I recently updated to the latest, & there's lots of new information that I've already applied on set.

At $30 the book is not expensive, & an invaluable investment.
 
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