Gear for training videos and short film

[vrlyisy]

Hi everyone,

I have been working for a state agency for the past year and a half as a web designer and info tech.
At the beginning of next year in January I will be purchasing some equipment to film some introductory and training videos for the agency along with photographing the entire facility.

Currently I have been given a budget of 15K to buy all the essential equipment I am going to need to take professional video and photos.

I am also currently developing a short film based off a stephen king story, which I am hoping to shoot either the spring or summer of 2014.

I just turned 20 this year so if I come across completely ignorant on what I am talking about I apologize in advance. I am doing everything by myself at this point in time, so I am trying to wrap my head around every single facet of production possible.

With the equipment I am purchasing I want to get everything I think would be best utilized for my job as well as give me the latitude I am going to need to shoot my short film. Check out the current gear list I have created and let me know what you think, especially if there is anything critical I might have overlooked that might cause problems for me down the road.

Thanks for your help


-Nikon d800
-Rokinon cine 14mm
-Rokinon cine 35mm
-rokinon cine 85mm
-Nikon AF-S 50mm 1.8G
-Tilta 3 dslr rig
-Manfrotto 504HD/Carbon fiber sticks
-(3)arri 650w tungsten light kit
-sennheiser mkh 50 mic
-K-Tek KE-110CC Avalon Aluminum Boompole
-Roland R-44 field recorder
-sennheiser hd 25-1 II headphones
-rycote windshield kit 2
-Petrol PS601 Deca Eargonizer Bag (Small)
-Sekonic L-308DC DigiCineMate
-LaCie d2 Quadra USB 3.0 4TB
-SanDisk Extreme Solid State Drive 240gb
-ninja 2 recorder
-Gaffers tape
-ND filters, CTO/CTB , flags
-digital juice pro flag kit
-Moving blankets
-microphone stand
-kopul xlr cable
-China Laterns
-Birns & Sawyer 425011 Professional Acrylic Production Slate
-Cavision VFM-11X 11x Micro Director's Viewfinder
-lamps/sockets
-extra nikon EL EN15 battery


p.s. I already own 2 arri 1k's along with several c stands. I also plan on getting a sanken cos 11D down the road as well.

 

[Alcove Audio]

I'll leave the visuals to others.

As far as the sound goes...

How many live audio sources will there be? What will the situation(s) be like? Are you in a fixed location or do you need to be mobile? Will you have a PSM and/or a boom-op? The answers will determine the parameters of your audio kit.

I will be (doing) some introductory and training videos

If there will be one or two people then the R-44 is more channels than you need. If you won't have a boom-op you should probably go for lavs or headset mics.

I'll go with the assumption that you will have more than two (2) audio sources and no PSM/Boom-Op.


Edirol / Roland R-44 w/case - $1,300

Sennheiser EW 112-p G3 wireless system with ME2 lavs - $650 x 3 = $1,950 (As an alternative you can buy one [1] and rent others if you need them.)

Sennheiser EW 112-p G3 wireless system with ME2 lav and SKP 100 G3 Plug-on Transmitter - $720

Electro-Voice RE50B interview mic with case - $225

That will cover most education/promotional/corporate gigs. You can get a shotgun and a hypercardioid if you feel you really need them.


Rode NTG-3 kit (Windshield, Shockmount, Boompole) - $1,500

Audio-Technica AT4053b - $700


You'll also need an audio interface and decent speakers for audio post - about $2k.

Wow, we've eaten up more than half of your budget.

As always, my recommendation is that you hire a professional, or rent what you need on a case by case basis.


And keep in mind that what they are talking about is just as - or even more - important than what they will be showing.

 

[jax_rox]

Do you want to be a Director? DP? Writer? Corporate shooter/videographer?

What sort of projects do you foresee yourself shooting in the near future, both for pay and for your own creative endeavours?

 

[baoliun]

Sorry for a slight offtop,but did you buy King's story for 1$? ;p If yes, do you mind sharing the story in the separate thread or PM? Thanks a lot!

 

[vrlyisy]

Do you want to be a Director? DP? Writer? Corporate shooter/videographer?

What sort of projects do you foresee yourself shooting in the near future, both for pay and for your own creative endeavours?

I want to be a director (who doesn't right?). I'm planning on just a couple short films right now, a 15-20 minute horror short and possibly some type of stop motion animation as well. I am just looking for a leg up like anyone else and I think my current job has been a god send for that reason.

I don't really have any intention of hiring a professional as it would defeat the purpose of why I was hired. My boss understands that I still have a bunch to learn before I can start cranking out professional videos so I will have a some time to mess around with all the gear and become well acquainted with everything.

now for my job the only projects that have been discussed about is an introductory video with just one person, some training videos for employees and some photographs of the facility.

The gear I am getting isn't just for these projects alone but also for projects down the road that I can't foresee, so I want to get the right tools to do the job, but have something that could easily grow into a more professional package in the future.

 

[vrlyisy]

As always, my recommendation is that you hire a professional, or rent what you need on a case by case basis.

My work is practically handing me all this equipment like it is nothing, So shouldn't I take advantage of that and get some real hands on knowledge of the equipment? I don't plan on being that guy who just hands off the responsibility to a professional so I don't have to worry about it. I plan on learning myself so I know what I am talking about when I really do need to hire a professional. And I am hoping to get some experience with adr and foley as well, which I'm sure will make you cringe for acting like its simple to learn haha but it something that truly fascinates me. I do want to get more audio equipment eventually because I know my current list is definitely lacking on sound. But do you think I am at least heading in the right direction?

The mkh50 seems to be a pretty versatile mic especially with a good windshield kit. Would the sennheiser and a nice lav be good starting point? Currently my projects require mostly voice over work so I am not super concerned with getting audio on set.

 

[Alcove Audio]

But what is your focus? Pardon the pun. If your job is "practically handing" you all this gear I expect they will want a return on their investment, so there had better be exactly what they need in their sound kit.

So what will you be shooting for your job? That is what takes priority; it's not your gear, it belongs to your employer.

 

[vrlyisy]

...it's not your gear, it belongs to your employer.

Thanks for the insight.

My focus is getting a large amount of photographs of the facility, simple videos portraying the various job requirements, technology training videos, introductory video for the web.

In addition I will be shooting a short film mostly shot outdoors in a forest and rural roads, with a couple interior scenes in a farm house. 80% is either a scene with one person or only 2 people. The other scenes with extras don't contain any dialogue, I am wanting to focus more on ambience and unusual sound design to add to the strangeness of the story.

Both projects will require mostly voice over work, along with various sound effects. How versatile is the sennheiser mkh 50? Will foley, adr, and field recording be realistic given its size?

 

[Alcove Audio]

Tell me more about the "simple videos portraying the various job requirements, technology training videos, introductory video for the web."

Are they live? For example, are the people doing the training videos demonstrating on camera? A lav or headset mic would be appropriate in these situations.

VO requires a very different set-up, usually an LDC (Large Diaphragm Condenser) mic on a stand in a quiet booth, and the mic is plugged into the computer via an interface. Then the VO is cut into the video.

 

[jax_rox]

now for my job the only projects that have been discussed about is an introductory video with just one person, some training videos for employees and some photographs of the facility.

The gear I am getting isn't just for these projects alone but also for projects down the road that I can't foresee, so I want to get the right tools to do the job, but have something that could easily grow into a more professional package in the future.

IMO, I'd do away with the light meter, Ninja, and rhe Director's finder. If you wanted to be a DP, I'd say light meter should be your first purchase, but you don't.

For your narrative work, you'll get better results hiring professionals, even if it's to use your own equipment.

 

[vrlyisy]

If you wanted to be a DP, I'd say light meter should be your first purchase, but you don't.

Wanting to be a DP was actually what got me into filmmaking originally, it's what I'm most familiar with. I was thinking both the directors viewfinder and the meter would help me on framing a scene quickly and efficiently when I'm working solo.

I was thinking the ninja 2 would be beneficial not only as a monitor but also for longer recording times in ProRes that would be more convenient for color grading and editing. Have you heard of negative experiences with the d800+ninja 2 setup?

For your narrative work, you'll get better results hiring professionals, even if it's to use your own equipment.

I agree, I know an experienced boom op that I worked briefly with in the past who would be willing to help me out. Just having a professional sound guy around definitely makes the work considerably less daunting!