Question on Equipment.

[Burdwuh]

I'm trying to set up for a small scale feature film that I'll be starting on in January, and I'm hoping to round some rough edges by upgrading my equipment for Christmas. I'm a Junior in High School, and I was wondering if you all could help me work up a small list of production necessities (audio, lighting, fun stuff, etc) that would help in my film.

I currently own a Panasonic DVX 100a and an Audio Technica AT897, and that's pretty much where I stand for any physical hardware. My biggest focus is on how I can improve my audio.

 

[directorik]

I currently own a Panasonic DVX 100a and an Audio Technica AT897, and that's pretty much where I stand for any physical hardware. My biggest focus is on how I can improve my audio.

I would suggest a tripod and a boom to start.

The minimum equipment I would suggest having on hand is:
a tripod
6 lights with stands
2 china balls
8 extension cords
6 power strips
black wrap and gels
2 bounce boards
a good external mic
a boom with extension cables
gaffers tape
4 apple boxes
a bunch of C-47’s - also called “bullets” or wood cloths pins
a coffee maker
a slate with marker

Just for knowledge - I know you can't afford these and renting
is pretty typical but it's nice to know about:
a dolly (wheelchair or doorway)
a simple grip kit with:
c-stands (at least 6)
flags (assorted sizes - at least
scrims (at least 6)
silks (at least 2)
cookies (at least 1)
sandbags (one for every light/c-stand and then 6 more)

Lowel makes nice kits. Tungsten lights with stands, barndoors and
hard case. Britek makes nice light kits - cheaper than Lowel and
not as durable, but very usable. You can also check Arri lights -
more expensive and worth every penny. I have a Lowel 6 light kit
with the Omni’s and Tota’s that I bought new in 1990 and am still
using it 20 years later.

 

[spinner]

I have a couple of questions

How involved is the production you expect to be doing?

One of the things about a DVX 100a is that it is pretty good in low light and outside in bright light. Love the (neutral density.) Your mic is the one I've been using and it will work well for you until you can get more equipment. You will probably need a tripod so check out Bogen/Manfrotto tripod SYSTEM. The system will have everything including a tripod head. If you don't get the system, you will be buying everything separately, including a handle, a plate mount, etc.

You will need to be able to edit your project so make sure you have access to a good edit system.

Rik's list is a good one, but until you can collect all those things - including the coffee maker -- but if you have to start right now, you are almost there. At its most basic, this is the set up I have.

-- spinner

 

[Alcove Audio]

My biggest focus is on how I can improve my audio.

You may want to check out my blog and come back with questions afterwards. Don't forget to have your budget ready as well because my first choice for a mic might be your entire audio budget.

Really quickly, though; the biggest audio improvement you can make is having someone knowledgeable about audio on the set whose entire job is audio and nothing else. Boom handling technique is an art form...

 

[spinner]

You may want to check out my blog and come back with questions afterwards. Don't forget to have your budget ready as well because my first choice for a mic might be your entire audio budget.

Alcove,

I know that you know audio. I was going to ask you a few questions myself.

But you are talking to a person in high school. I kind of don't think you can ask him to spend so much money on a mic that there is no way to do the project. The mic he has is a good starter mic.

Remember that we don't all have the money to buy expensive equipment, but if we use what we have, we can still put together a project.


-- spinner

 

[Alcove Audio]

He asked the question, and many of the tips in my blog really are cheap (blankets, carpets, etc. that can be "borrowed" from mom & dad), require some prep (think the scene through sonically) or painfully obvious (get the mic in as close as possible). He can DIY a boom-pole and a shock-mount.

BTW, I just came across a nice new ultra-low budget toy; the CAD CM217 cardioid condenser mic. It ain't great, but it's cheap (about $60), sounds passable and will take some abuse. It will need a little extra gain (so not a good match for the H4n) and it does have a little hiss, but will definitely sound better indoors than a shotgun. A buddy is using it as a "disposable" for collecting sound effects in hazardous situations but hasn't been able to destroy it yet.