I'm out of ideas.

[deejaybunny12]

I'm really sorry for posting more then one question in the same week. I apologize for that.
Well, long story short, I can never get my camcorder back. The other one is dead, too, and it can't be fixed because I can't get it fixed.
I can't borrow from ANYONE and I can't afford a camp.
In all, I don't have a camcorder and I can't seem to get one from ANYWHERE.
I'm really out of ideas. I can't make one, I can't borrow one, I can't buy one (NOT EVEN FROM A DISCOUNT SHOP, WHICH I TRIED), I can't rent out. I'm just...blank. I tried everything I could think of to the point I even tried hard connections to borrow one, I even tried using a crappy cellphone and computer camcorder (long story short of they didn't work either). I'm just really out of ideas of how to get one.
The only thing I can think of is wait, but what's that going to do? I'm still going to suck if I can't ever begin.
I'm really really really out of ideas, and since no one I know is interested in film, this is basically the last place I can resort to.

Any advice of where else I can get a camera? I'm just...really out of ideas. How can I EVER get good at film if I can never even do it? Any advice I could do to learn about film without actually doing it (which I doubt will have a result and would matter in the long run). I'm creating storyboards to help me with angles with stuff...but what's the use of doing that if I can't film it?

 

[spinner]

You can ask as many questions as you want.

Okay....

Many cities have Public Access tv stations. (I got started in public access). They are usually connected to your local cable station. Public Access means that anyone, from you to your grandma, can go and learn how to use cameras, lighting, learn audio, etc. Try there first. Also check your local community colleges for classes. You may not be able to actually take the class, but you might be able to audit the class, which means you show up, learn everything, you don't get a grade but you get the knowledge. Try to find out the name of the instructor, call them, tell them you want to learn.

If there is a tv station in or near where you live, go see if you can be an intern.

And again, Christmas is only about 10 weeks away. Go price some inexpensive video cameras at Best Buy or Circuit City. Everything will be on sale to some extent.

In the meantime, come up with a short documentary to shoot. Or make up a short story about how there is nothing to do in your town. You and two of your friends try to come up with something to do. Whether or not you find anything isn't important. Shooting your conversation is. And if you come up with something to do and it doesn't pan out, that is part of your story.

If you want to, there are ways of doing what you need to do to start out as a filmmaker. Nothing is so dire that it can't wait a few weeks or so. And nothing is so desperate that you can't figure out a way to do it. This is EXACTLY what guerilla filmmaking is all about. Do what you can with what you have at the time.

If you want to, you'll figure out what to do next. Good luck.

-- spinner

 

[Spatula]

Just buy a shitty $125 camera from your local Best Buy or something. There's GOTTA be an old cam out there for $100 or something. Even if it's junk, it'll get the job done. Check craigslist and Ebay if you have to.

 

[deejaybunny12]

Just buy a shitty $125 camera from your local Best Buy or something. There's GOTTA be an old cam out there for $100 or something. Even if it's junk, it'll get the job done. Check craigslist and Ebay if you have to.

That's the thing, I can't even buy a shitty camera. I can't buy ANYTHING unless it's 2 bucks or something.

 

[deejaybunny12]

You can ask as many questions as you want.

Okay....

Many cities have Public Access tv stations. (I got started in public access). They are usually connected to your local cable station. Public Access means that anyone, from you to your grandma, can go and learn how to use cameras, lighting, learn audio, etc. Try there first. Also check your local community colleges for classes. You may not be able to actually take the class, but you might be able to audit the class, which means you show up, learn everything, you don't get a grade but you get the knowledge. Try to find out the name of the instructor, call them, tell them you want to learn.

If there is a tv station in or near where you live, go see if you can be an intern.

And again, Christmas is only about 10 weeks away. Go price some inexpensive video cameras at Best Buy or Circuit City. Everything will be on sale to some extent.

In the meantime, come up with a short documentary to shoot. Or make up a short story about how there is nothing to do in your town. You and two of your friends try to come up with something to do. Whether or not you find anything isn't important. Shooting your conversation is. And if you come up with something to do and it doesn't pan out, that is part of your story.

If you want to, there are ways of doing what you need to do to start out as a filmmaker. Nothing is so dire that it can't wait a few weeks or so. And nothing is so desperate that you can't figure out a way to do it. This is EXACTLY what guerilla filmmaking is all about. Do what you can with what you have at the time.

If you want to, you'll figure out what to do next. Good luck.

-- spinner

Good!

I never thought of public access...I'll have to search that up, so thanks!
I'll check the community college...in fact, my sister is going to her class tomorrow, I'll ask her if she'll ask for me.

I have like 2 ideas or whatever already done, I just need to shoot the story.

 

[indietalk]

I'm really sorry for posting more then one question in the same week. I apologize for that.

NEVER apologize for that, this is a forum. Post more!

 

[Will Vincent]

Wait... you mean there's NOT a limit on how many questions we can ask? I thought I'd used all of mine up.. hmm.. I'll have to think of some more.


Yeah, definitely look into the cable access thing.. at most you'll probably have to do some simple training session so they know that you have a clue how to use their gear. On the plus side, there's typically a stipulation that anything you make with their stuff has to air on the cable channel... gee, free exposure for your film, that's a hard thing to accept.

Oh, and if it's of any help, I have seen a pretty darn compelling film that was put together with a webcam and old fischer price toys & action figures. It was initially intended to be a sort of animatic, but it was so entertaining that it could stand on its own as a film. Stop motion! Hell yeah.

 

[VPTurner]

Wow, fond memories of public access. The first time I ever cut some video and set up some studio lights was in a public access station in So Cal. I had hooked up with a producer/director and was writing material and drawing story boards for him. I would truly love to find that kind of collaboration again. That was fun. But that was 20 years ago.