"Kinda poor" is a tough way to get started from scratch. If you don't have a camera, any equipment like a mic and boom, lights and even editing software you're in for a financial shock.

The Panasonic PV-GS300 is selling for $500-$600 and is nice starter 3CCD camera. It has manual settings and a mic input. The JVC GR-X5 is a terrific camera with manual controls and a mic input. The higher cost is well worth it.

Don't forget a good shotgun mic - they are kind of expensive so you may have to just use the on camera mic for now.

iMovie is a great, free editing program that is directly connected with iDVD which is a great program for finalizing the project to a professional looking DVD. If you aren't using a Mac these great, powerful, easy to use and free programs aren't available for you.

Maybe you can hook up with someone who already owns a camera and someone who owns a Mac. Or the PC people here will help you with the software. Don't let the lack of equipment keep you from making a movie. Get out there and find other people and make that movie!

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

Any! Just practise, and do lots of it!

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You can't keep 'em out, they're already in!

Surf Ebay and don't be fussy, any 3 chip miniDV like early XL1 or Sony TRV900 / TRV950 / VX series type thing will do the trick if you can't afford HDV.

Invest in a spare battery, new ones on Ebay for half the price.

You need an external microphone; ideally a shotgun microphone for dialogue and a stereo one for ambience, try and afford Sennheiser but if not you can pick up stereo fairly cheaply (Sony do some).

PC system; you really need Pentium 4 or equivalent recent Mac. Get a hard drive that can do about 7200rpm and hold 100-150gb of data.

Software; for Mac you really need Final Cut Pro, I think there is a cheaper more basic version. For PC I'd recommend Adobe Premiere Pro, again there is a cheaper consumer version. Software is often available second hand on Ebay, of course some of it's cracked as well so be aware of that, I picked up an old version of ?1000 software someone had upgraded for about ?20 though a while back so you can get lucky and put everything together cheaply.

If any of this is too much money focus on one thing at a time, get the PC set up so you can edit at home and borrow a camera or involve someone who owns one.

Steve Piper
Coffee Films
www.coffeefilms.com
www.myspace.com/coffeefilms

Thanks guys, any other advise would be good as well. Luckily the screenplay i have only needs to capture some sounds, all dialouge is in a voice over which i can record later.

You just need a camera that records on mini DV tape. Also, you're computer needs to have a firewire card (to transfer the video from your computer. If you're new to editing and the film is somewhat short, you can just use Windows Movie Maker.

If you don't have much cash are you sure you even need to buy a camera? Look around your area for a local film group. They can be chock full of people with equipment but are stuck for much chance to use it. What is the audience for your film? Is it just going to be posted on the web? Well, that's a huge down grade in quality so you don't really have to have a 3ccd camera. Here in China there is a guy who is famous for putting up movies he made with his CAMERA PHONE! The quality isn't bad at all.

Check out your options before you spend lots of cash you don't have. Really, if this is your first project chances are its not going to be great anyway. I'm not trying to insult you, its just the way it is.

Look for the cheapest possible way to get it done (thats the independent film maker way!) just to get some experience under your belt.

There are so many variables that you have to control: producing, directing, sound, lighting, composition, action, food for the peeps, continuity and on and on. Just focus on learning and getting better.

Then when you are more ready you can take that same $300-600 you would spend today and get a better camera because right now cameras are like computers: six months makes a huge difference in capabilities and prices.

If anybody gives you crap over your not so great camera just tell 'em to kiss your behind because at least you are making something. The world is full of "independent film makers" who don't do much but smoke bowls and dream of doing something.