Must have equipment for first film

zackleazer

zackleazer

An older article on this website provoked me to start this thread. It was 10 essential pieces of equipment for first film. I am making a 10 minute narrative short film. I have done a decent amount of research, and here's what I have so far:

Canon T2i
50mm 1.8, 28mm 2.8, and 2 other zoom lenses that it came with.
Zoom H4n
Rode Videomic
tripod
2 32GB transcend cards
DIY handheld rig (built off cheesycam.com)
MDR-7506 headphones

I'm reading about china balls, defuser sheets, blondes, redheads, etc. My question is what other equipment should I have, what does it do and where should I buy it from. I'm very new to lighting and audio. Thanks!
 
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Amen to cracker funkS reply.

Don't spend money on anything till you got several shorts.

my first was filmed with a borrowed 100 dollar camera, and thats it.

experience the actual basic filmmaking process first, then figure out what you need.
 
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I was planning on shooting some test footage, but a 1 minute short sounds like a great idea. I'm just nervous about lighting. I'd like to have something basic to start with other than the sun or household lights.
 
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How about this:
A couple of work lights with stands from any home improvement
store.
http://images.sabob.com/products/im...1000_Twin_Work_Light_and_Stand_1000_Watt.jpeg

Five or six “scoop lights” - those clamp on work lights with the
silver reflector.
http://www.mattrothacher.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/1-14-clamp-light.jpg

Three or four pieces of Foamcore from any art supply store to use
to bounce the light.
http://www.artsupply.com/brand/foamcore.htm

Two or three paper lanterns that you can get at Ikea. I hook each
one to a dimmer (home improvement store again) to get better
control.
http://www.dazzlingdecorhire.com.au/shop/images/lantern-white.jpg

Some colored gels (check on line or if there is a small theater in
your town they often have extras) and some black wrap. Check
Studio Depot.
 
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directorik said:
How about this:
A couple of work lights with stands from any home improvement
store.
http://images.sabob.com/products/im...1000_Twin_Work_Light_and_Stand_1000_Watt.jpeg

Five or six “scoop lights” - those clamp on work lights with the
silver reflector.
http://www.mattrothacher.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/1-14-clamp-light.jpg

Three or four pieces of Foamcore from any art supply store to use
to bounce the light.
http://www.artsupply.com/brand/foamcore.htm

Two or three paper lanterns that you can get at Ikea. I hook each
one to a dimmer (home improvement store again) to get better
control.
http://www.dazzlingdecorhire.com.au/shop/images/lantern-white.jpg

Some colored gels (check on line or if there is a small theater in
your town they often have extras) and some black wrap. Check
Studio Depot.
Click to expand...

Thanks man. That def helps me. I already have the work lights on a stand too!
 
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You don't need to own any equipment to make a film. You can rent, and find people who own to work with you. So yeah you can still compile a list, but just remember this does not need to be owned.
 
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If you do longer shoots seriously get a coffee maker. The cast and crew will want Starbucks. A $16.95 coffeemaker will save you a ton of money! Also, having 2 or more DSLR cameras cuts filming in half sometimes. That's a personal choice of course.
 
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GuerrillaAngel said:
You'd have a noob deal with sound sync issues the first time out? Bad idea.
Click to expand...

Collecting quality audio is very difficult, but that's true regardless of the format of video you're shooting.

Syncing audio? Not difficult. Not even slightly. Anyone can do it.

I LOVE being un-tethered from a mic that is permanently connected to my camera. It's liberating. For narrative work, external audio is THE way to go, in my opinion.

Also, good call on the coffee machine, finderskeepers. Very true.
 
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GuerrillaAngel said:
You'd have a noob deal with sound sync issues the first time out? Bad idea.
Click to expand...

He's already recording separate audio (as he should with a DSLR). And yeah, with a slate sync is a breeze.

Only thing I would ammend is the Rode VideoMic. If you're buying a mic, spend $75-100 more and get a real mic. The VideoMic is pretty awful. Ok to start I guess, but it's the first piece of gear you'll outgrow.
 
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I'm just saying with the amount of bad audio in film these days, suggesting that noobs sync their audio IN ADDITION to getting good sound might be a bit more than many can handle. We DO know most filmmakers likely don't know the meaning of the word "normalization" when it comes to audio in their films. This is a word they ought to learn before "sync".

Just my 2 cents.

:)
 
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I will be borrowing a friends T3i for multiple angles, and I will upgrade my equipment the next time I deploy. The rode videomic is just somewhere to start. This is not my first time syncing. The first videos I have ever made were music videos and I had to sync the music with the actors lips through imovie.

To bimmerman, I don't know which mics are better for indoor or outdoor. I have a standard rode videomic with a wind cat screen.

I looked up some cheap slates to buy on amazon, but they seem too expensive and crappy. Does anyone know where I can buy a cheap reliable slate?
 
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GuerrillaAngel said:
I'm just saying with the amount of bad audio in film these days, suggesting that noobs sync their audio IN ADDITION to getting good sound might be a bit more than many can handle. We DO know most filmmakers likely don't know the meaning of the word "normalization" when it comes to audio in their films. This is a word they ought to learn before "sync".

Just my 2 cents.

:)
Click to expand...

Telling a new filmmaker not to sync audio because getting clean audio is already difficult enough, is like telling them not to upload their video footage into their editing software, because getting good-looking footage is already difficult enough.

Yes, getting clean audio is very difficult. But that has nothing to do with syncing audio. Shit, you don't even need to sync audio anymore, really. Tons of people have jumped on the Pluraleyes train. I'm not one of them, because I think syncing audio is so damn easy that I don't need a stupid program to do it for me.

You shouldn't put food in your mouth, because cooking good food is already difficult enough.

Also, I'm no audio expert, but I have a feeling our resident audio guru probably cringes at the sound of the word "normalization". And again, that has absolutely nothing to do with syncing audio, which is actually VERY EASY.
 
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i'd say an assistant!! having just finished day one of many on my first movie shoot, having someone to look after your script, story boards, clapper board/slate, shot list etc is invaluable. you'll be spending most of you time looking through the lens but there are so many things to keep track of you will need somebody to help.

A boom for you mic, what ever it maybe is also very useful, it alows you that extra reach so you can get the best shot and sound.
 
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Cracker Funk said:
Telling a new filmmaker not to sync audio because getting clean audio is already difficult enough, is like telling them not to upload their video footage into their editing software, because getting good-looking footage is already difficult enough.

Yes, getting clean audio is very difficult. But that has nothing to do with syncing audio. Shit, you don't even need to sync audio anymore, really. Tons of people have jumped on the Pluraleyes train. I'm not one of them, because I think syncing audio is so damn easy that I don't need a stupid program to do it for me.

You shouldn't put food in your mouth, because cooking good food is already difficult enough.

Also, I'm no audio expert, but I have a feeling our resident audio guru probably cringes at the sound of the word "normalization". And again, that has absolutely nothing to do with syncing audio, which is actually VERY EASY.
Click to expand...

+1
 
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