HELP!!

I

iamiman

I am a 19 year old student (not studying film, btw) wanted to know if you'd help me a bit. I have had my sight sets on filming a documentary for God knows how long. I've written the treatments and even have confirmed subjects for it. For now I plan on renting the camera I plan on using & would love to know what camera you would recommend for an amateur like myself. Also are there are tips, tricks, pointers & angles that you think would help me?

Oh yeah and Im on a budget

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you & good day.
:)
 
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Don't forget about sound!

Capturing quality production sound is even more important for documentary work than any other format - you have no choice but to live with the sound you capture in the field so you have to do it right the first time.

With regards to the overall topic we need a lot more information. What kind of budget do you have? How big is your crew? I know you probably don't want to give away the subject matter, but we need some idea of what and where you are shooting as that will have a bearing on what equipment you should be using. Sit-down interviews? Run & gun? Hazardous conditions? Extreme heat, cold, humidity, etc.? Will it be covert?
 
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Well it will be my best friend and I so there isnt much of a "crew" lol. I plan on filming majority of it indoors (sit down interview). I was thinking about doing some of it outside (NYC) so lots of noise but still very stationary (maybe on a stoop/porch outside, havent fully decided). I plan on renting the equipment and I have a 600 dollar budget for the camera. I'd love to know what the ideal camera would be within and beyond my budget if you can help.

Thanks so much.
:)
 
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I'm new to filmmaking too so I'm not much of a help, but I do have links to youtube videos that might help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1japIhKU9I <- camera angles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItyfNmhwWz0 <- cheap lighting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rwq5...9D0927BE7&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=1 <- cheap lighting again lol.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcMX1RcNRYA <- 3 point lighting.

oh oh oh and for sound I went on google and read something about a 'shotgun microphone'
amazon -> http://www.amazon.com/s/qid=1262240...h-alias=aps&field-keywords=shotgun microphone

I hope I helped! If I didn't, just lie and say I did.
 
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quirky.indiesanfran said:
I'm new to filmmaking too so I'm not much of a help, but I do have links to youtube videos that might help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1japIhKU9I <- camera angles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItyfNmhwWz0 <- cheap lighting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rwq5...9D0927BE7&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=1 <- cheap lighting again lol.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcMX1RcNRYA <- 3 point lighting.
Click to expand...

any help is good enough, lol.
Ill take a look at em now.

Thanks hun,
:)
 
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If it is mostly sit-down interviews your best bet would be lav (lavalier) mics, one for the interviewer and one for the interviewee - you know, the type you see clipped on to the news anchors tie. If it is truly mostly sit-down interviews they can be hard-wired rather than wireless.

You can also use a handheld interview mic (most doc shooters dislike this option) or you can have someone "boom" the sound, that is have a mic (hyper-cardioid for indoors, shotgun for outdoors) on a boom pole. You could also set up the mic on a stand.
 
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BTW, many of the rental houses have complete kit packages. Just start calling or clicking. Just tell them exactly what you are doing, how long you will need it and what you want to spend; they will try to figure out what they have that they can shoehorn into your budget.

You can start here:

http://www.newyork411.com/Camera_Sound_Equipment/category-cid-50749.htm

http://www.nycresource.com/Equipment_and_Supplies/Equipment_Rentals/


A little more advice; read the contract carefully and pay for the rental insurance.
 
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How long do you anticipate needing to rent gear for?

If your camera budget is $600, it might be most cost effective to buy one than to rent, I can see spending $600 on rentals very quickly.

I'll second the stress that's been placed on sound. It's going to be what you'll want to spend the bulk of your budget on, especially if you have a tiny budget.

Also, what is your intended final distribution format? If you're looking to do video just for online or dvd release, a standard definition camera will be just fine. If you have aspirations of it being on the big screen, you might want to look at an HD or HDV camera. The HD camera will almost certainly run you more than a standard definition camera, even for rental, and HD takes a lot more computer horsepower for editing.
 
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I would suggest radio mics, as Alcove Audio said clip/tie/lavalier mics (they have lots of names). 'Radio' mics are the wireless version of the clip mic of course and I would recommend these most because if your filming on a low budget camera and want to have a nice look to the shot whilst also giving the interviewee some comfort space, then what I would do is place the camera far away and zoom in and frame the shot as normal. Shooting on a long lens like this will give the footage a more professional look (dropping the background out of focus) and like I said it will relax the interviewee more as well because you wont have a camera in there face.
 
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The problem with wireless mics is that unless you spend a bundle and get higher end ones, the quality always leaves something to be desired. Audio is not an area you want to skimp on with film making.
 
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You're in NYC, so just join DCTV (in Manhattan, near Chinatown and just $25/year). Then you can rent equipment very inexpensively and the people in the rental department are super helpful. Plus, they have some great events, screenings, and workshops which, as a member, you pay discounted rates for.
 
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