Technology advancements are allowing film & video equipment to become accessible to anyone who wants to try their hand at making the next hit. For as low as $800, you can own your own DSLR camera that shoots 1080p video with as much depth of field that you could ever want. However, there are a few things you need to know before you should think about taking the step out of your comfort zone to try your hand at your 15 minutes of fame.

1. Motivation

Before you even think about making the plunge, what is your motivation? Do you have a story that you want to tell and only you can tell it? Is it unique? Why do you want YOUR story to be told? It is very hard these days to create a film that is uniquely yours. Originality in film making is becoming harder everyday. Now your asking yourself, who cares about originality? Well, everyone does. You also may be asking, well is originality the most important aspect? No. It is how you tell your story and how you reach your audience that really matters.

2. Pre-Production, Production, Post-Production

Once you have decided that your story must be told and have found a unique way to tell it, you need to decide what is required to accomplish this feat. Now you ask, where do I start? Well, you need a cast, crew, and most importantly, cash. Although by following this model you can accomplish this on a tight budget, you still need some start up cash to make it happen.

3. Be Prepared

Pre-production is the most important part of the process. With solid pre-production planning, almost any shoot will go smoothly. A recent example was the murder mystery documentary that I just finished working on tentatively titled, ‘Confluence’ which was in pre-production for many months before the camera even started to roll.

4. The Equipment

Now, everyone knows it is “possible” to make a good movie with a handy cam. However, if that is what you are going for, then you don’t need any of these tips. What I am going to recommended is an indie package that will help you make your films look great.

Doing it Right Package

Now there are many different options that are available and in every case, it is how they are used that is important. I am going to use ‘Confluence’ as an example as all the equipment (If you were to buy it all verses rent) runs you under $20,000 including lights and cameras.

The Camera & Media

The first thing you will need is a camera. For this, I am recommending the 5D Mark II, a full-frame sensor camera. It will help you achieve film-like DOF. As for media, the most cost effective according to Philip Bloom is the Transcend 16 GB 133x CompactFlash Memory Card.

The Lenses

The next thing you will have to worry about is lenses. Lenses are one of the most important elements of your kit, if not the most important. The more you are able to add to your arsenal, the better. However, here are two that will allow you cover “most” of the shots you want to capture. These two lenses are the “L” Series 24-105 F4 and the 70-200mm F2.8. The 24-105 is not a fast lens and won’t work wonders in low light. However, if your goal is to shoot mainly in low light, then you should start looking at prime lenses. The 24-105 is a very sharp lens that offers amazing versatility. Now you may be asking, why not the faster 24-70 F2.8L. Well, it is a faster lens but is NOT as sharp as the 24-105. One lens I have tried out with some good results was the Sigma 24-70 f2.8 HSM. Although I did like the lens, for most applications, I still choose the 24-105.

Now shooting in sunlight requires some special attention. When shooting in direct sunlight with either of these lenses, you will have to sacrifice DOF. For me, I combat this by shooting a higher shutter because I am a huge fan of the staccato effect in my work. However, in most applications, this is not what people want. In most cases, this effect will start showing up when the shutter is 1/120 of higher. In order to combat this, you will need the Singh Ray Vari ND. This is one of the more expensive filters but when it is going infront of your lens, it is important that it is a sharp filter as cheaper filters start to muddy the image. The Vari ND allows you to close down the filter to achieve the F stop and Shutter that you desire.

Camera Support & Movement

One of the most important elements of your kit is your camera support. Although hand held camera work has it’s place, such as drama or action films, the ability to film rock solid images is essential. When looking at good camera support, there are a few things to keep in mind. The first is the way in which the legs are extended and collapsed. Each company offers different solutions for this. Out of all the options, twisting, in my opinion, is the quickest and most secure. The second is the the height — how high and also how low it can go. Third is the weight. Carbon fiber legs are the best in my opinion. Lastly is the quality of the head. To get the best results, fluid heads are essential. The only system that I have come across that takes all this into account and is still reasonably priced is the Miller Solo 3 stage carbon fibre with DS20 head. It is the set-up that Philip Bloom uses and is remarkable!

The second investment that will enable you to increase the production quality is the addition of a slider so you can so simple dolly moves. For this, I am recommending ANY slider from Kessler Cranes. One worth noting is the soon to be released Philip Bloom slider. I was lucky to have the opportunity to try it out in Lewiston and it is incredibly smooth. The most notable addition is the tension knob which allows you to create different speeds for your slide while ensuring they remain butter smooth. All sliders vary in length but I have found that the shortest length available is more than enough of a move for your shots — anything more and you should be using a full size dolly.

Lighting, Grip & Sound

Depending on your set-ups, lighting, grip, and sound packages will vary. Because of the varying set-ups, I will post kit options at a later date.