You're the director/producer ....

Alternative_3

Alternative_3

Active member
Your project is a low budget horror movie. You long term goal is festival and Dvd release, with an outside chance of film out. You have your locations, your actors and your crew. You have no lighting, steadicam/dolly or audio gear. You have all of the software you need, including Vegas 6 and AE 6.5.

You have $4000 to buy any gear you want, excluding your DVX 100A(which you already own). What do you spend the $4000 on? Include everything you would seek out, from where and why.

Thanks guys!
 
I'd go for a good set of sticks. I find that a good tripod is worth it's weight in gold and can make life in the field that much easier.

After that I'd look to hire the services of the best audio person with the best sound package I could afford. In my experience, people are much more forgiving of bad images when the sound is good.

That's not to say that your images will be bad but put it this way: you can light a scene and make it look like a million bucks but if the ambient noise is all over the place and you can't hear the dialogue, people are out of there. If you go with available light or real basic illumination for decent exposure but the sound is great, viewers will see it through.

Just my thoughts.
 
I'd probably outright buy a Kessler crane and Neil Rowe's dolly kit, then spend the rest and spend the rest on renting some kind of lighting kit...assuming that the 4 grand is only for cinematography. But you can't really use either of those items unless you have a good pair of sticks.
 
I would buy a cheap light set "Britek" 500.00 on E-bay has worked for me. My Film, Nine to Five Ninja which will be playing at a festival this upcoming weekend used those for lighting. 3 light set, 1000 watts a piece.

Also, at Lowes or Home Depot, get some Scoop lights 75 watts and 150 watts for lighting. They are the light at the end of a cord with a metal bell housing.

Spend 100 dollars at Lowes and build a Dolly based on one of the plans in the DIY section of this site.

Buy a Kessler Crane. Crane shots add a professional look to a project.

Buy a Nice Shotgun Mic Audio technica about 200-300 dollars, with Boom Pole (From e-bay),

Buy a M35 35mm adapter www.micro35.com (Nikon Mount)
and a 50mm f1.4 Lens. (Nikon is nice)

Use the rest of your money to get a nice Tripod.

If you have a ton of cash left, get a follow focus from the same place as the micro 35.

You will then, officially be able to do anything!

I hope this helps. -Matt
 
Id agree with pretty much what everyone says. A dolly you potentially use a lot. I would hold of on the crane and perhaps hire one specifically for shots you need it on.

I would add a little more to your lighting audio budget. Remember for lights your going to need gels etc and those little things add up.
 
High quality pair of sticks (with a head that can support 40+ pounds) and then a Kessler Crane. The Kessler Crane defines "worth its weight in gold".

And you'll still have about $3K left.
 
I agree with a 35mm adapter if you can swing it, but you certainly can't limit yourself to one lense (unless of course it's a large range zoom.) If you're gonna stick with primes, I'd at least have a 28mm and 85mm on top of the 50mm. The only time you could get around that is if you know for a fact during pre production that the look of only using one focal length lens for everything in the movie (CUs, MSs, WSs, macros, etc.) will add to the overall look you're trying to achieve.
Peace,

-Harry
 
I'd rent lighting/misc equipment (on what would be at the least a 4 day week that I schmoozed the rental house into)...then hire a sound guy for the week who comes packing his own audio weapons...then use the remaining $2,500 on production design (it's all in the smallest of details, baby) and possibly upping the ante on the acting talent.

...but that's just me.
 
Thanks guys...keep 'em coming!

Curious if you guys think a Merlin steadicam/stabilizer is worth a chunk of the budget as well?
 
No, not really. Probably better just to go with a cheap/DIY image stabilizer or shoulder mount like one of these:

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=63352
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=61713
http://www.spiderbrace.com/

Unless your style really just needs the ultimate smooth tracking shot, best not to worry about it--a good dolly alone can add all kinds of production value, add the Kessler to that and you're practically in Micheal Bay heaven. I'm told that even a professional Steadicam is incredibly hard to use, and the DIY and cheaper independents get pretty tough after a while too (from my limited experience). On the other hand, a shoulder mount has a much shorter learning curve. Steadicam devices are a big hassle.

I suppose it could boil down to a question of how much you want it.
 
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Callaghan has some great tips IMO. Renting lighting is going to give you much more choice. Id still rent the crane. I think the crane has value no doubt. But what I am saying is use it for shots you need it.... much less than a dolly.

dont discount the shoulder mount either... whilst its not a true stabiliser the amount of stuff shot on a shoulder mount these days is quite a lot. Steadicam is great...still its a needs thing.

If I was you I would draw up my shot list before I went any further.
 
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Well, I am not an expert or anything, I've only done two D.P. gigs, but I think that you definitely need to save some money for lighting. I'm sure you can rent of course, but if I had no other option but to buy everything and do everything by myself from the point of a camera operator/cinematographer, then some basic lighting would definitely be the top of my list. Next would be a shot gun mic or something.

This industry is an expensive hobby for many because you're always needing to add another piece of equipment to make it look better (lighting & sound) or make your work easier (shoulder stabilizer). Its like adding more hard drive space to a computer or new rims to your car... always something new you want to trick out your toy to the max.

I've found lot of shots work fine without tripod, although I don't own one yet so maybe I'm not qualified to comment on that yet, but if you can stabilize yourself on a wall or a garbage can or something, the shakes aren't very noticable. Some stabilization or rod device for different points of view will definitely be needed at sometime because you're gonna wanna push the bar and do more with the camera with time. But yeah, if I had the money, I'd go get as much gear for my money as I could.
 
If I was you I would draw up my shot list before I went any further.
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It's pretty much done. I've been holding out on the last 20% of the movie because I really want the fluidity of the steadicam.

But yeah, if I had the money, I'd go get as much gear for my money as I could.
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That's probably what I'll do. Problem is I'll want to spend more and more...

So far, I'm thinking this:
$800 for the Merlin
$1500 for a modest lighting package
$$$ ? for a dolly
$1000-$1500 for sound equipment

I really would like the crane also...but it appears I'll need closer to $10,000 to get all my toys.
 
I'm kinda doing the same thing as you. I'm making a low budget horror with a 100B and am hoping to take it to film festivals etc. One thing i'd recommend is buying a kit for your dolly instead of doing the whole thing entirely yourself. Ours didnt work out so well. Perhaps you have a bettert ability to BUILD things.....if so then don't let me stop you. It just didnt go well for me....and now i dont really have enough for a kit.

anyway...
Best of luck to you on your film!
 
If you're going for a steadi-cam, try a Glide-Cam. It's a lot cheaper. They make a model that handles cameras 4-10 pounds.

There is no way I would go out and buy lighting. Renting is cheaper plus you can beg, borrow and steal lights. I don't subscribe to the philosphy that one should go out an purchase some shop light and blast it in a general direction. That's not lighting. It's illumination so you can get decent exposure and you can find someone to loan you lights like that. It's not worth the purchase price. Spend that money on pizza for your crew. You'll be much better off and they'll be much happier. Check your states film office. Look for someone that has the gear you need and contact them. You'll be glad you did.

Anyone that thinks they don't need a good tripod is nuts.
 
CallaghanFilms said:
I'd rent lighting/misc equipment (on what would be at the least a 4 day week that I schmoozed the rental house into)...then hire a sound guy for the week who comes packing his own audio weapons...then use the remaining $2,500 on production design (it's all in the smallest of details, baby) and possibly upping the ante on the acting talent.

...but that's just me.
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Chad's got it right. Listen to him...:thumbsup:
 
Build a Dolly
Buy Some lights w/ stands and filters off ebay
Buy Boom mic w/ seperate recording system (renting would probably be better, but I have never looked into it)
M2 w/lenses
Buy Best Buy Tripod. Return after shooting.
 
If you're going for a steadi-cam, try a Glide-Cam. It's a lot cheaper. They make a model that handles cameras 4-10 pounds.
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Everyones putting up some good thoughts on this thread. Only slight disagreement with this one to the difference in quality of shot.
 
ncje said:
Everyones putting up some good thoughts on this thread. Only slight disagreement with this one to the difference in quality of shot.
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I have heard that the Merlin is easier on the wrist as well...which is really my main concern. I have been eyeing up the glidecam as well. I read the horror stories in another thread where everyone who used a glidecam couldn't do it for extended periods of time, whereas the merlin was a little more forgiving.

Anyone who feels this is incorrect I'll be more than happy to hear the pros and cons of either system.

There is no way I would go out and buy lighting. Renting is cheaper plus you can beg, borrow and steal lights. I don't subscribe to the philosphy that one should go out an purchase some shop light and blast it in a general direction. That's not lighting. It's illumination so you can get decent exposure and you can find someone to loan you lights like that. It's not worth the purchase price. Spend that money on pizza for your crew. You'll be much better off and they'll be much happier. Check your states film office. Look for someone that has the gear you need and contact them. You'll be glad you did.
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I like that philosophy....especially the begging and borrowing. You make a good point...and also ground me into my initial plan which somehow I forgot. Thanks!
 
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