I've heard a good reason to be in a school with a film program is so that you can borrow the equipment and learn while doing so. I don't think people starting out should be spending a bunch of cash on equipment.
Another thing I've heard is to help people out and borrow friends' equipment. The classmates I have want payment for everything.
Several people suggested I find a way to have other people pay for stuff. It sounds a little vague. How can one do this? How can a newbie keep costs down while learning their craft?
I started out by buying a ?2,000 HD camcorder, and guess what? Just started making movies.
I'd get my friends round on a weekend and make films in my back garden. Edit them down, learned where I could improve, and thus improved. It really is a case of practice makes perfect.
One of the quintessential things for me is that you have got to have a good camera, cause then at least if your work is technically poor to start with, it will at least LOOK more professional.
I'd suggest saving some money, borrowing off your parents if need be, and buying a camcorder, and then just start making movies.
Now I am proud to say that I work in a professional film studio and have worked across Europe. It does work. Practice makes perfect and believe in your ability.
Noted. Thanks for the thoughts. I guess it's time for me to stop avoiding the equipment question. I've had a few screenings and festival showings of my work but I'll be calling myself a newbie for a looong time. I know it's been asked: What kind of camera should a newbie filmmaker look into?
It depends on your budget, really. But I believe in the saying "find a way or make a way".
The first camera I ever got was the Sony HDR FX1E High Definition Handycam. And I still use it to this day. I tried a few less quality camcorders to start with but just couldn't settle. I wanted a fully professional, HD image to work with and I was not prepared to have it any other way. So I made a way to get the camcorder that I wanted and now I am reaping the rewards. It cost, like ?1,500, but my God was it the best investment I ever made.
So don't go for the cheap option - it costs money to make your dreams come true. Go get yourself a HD camera that is going to make your work look professional.
Researching the Sony HDR. For $3000, i guess that's decent for student. I actually want to be an editor so I figure I better get a laptop first. It's interesting trying to concentrate on one thing but as a student you're forced to (and should) know how to do everything else. Hard to find that balance sometimes.
quote:
Originally posted by J-McEvoy
The first camera I ever got was the Sony HDR FX1E High Definition Handycam. And I still use it to this day. I tried a few less quality camcorders to start with but just couldn't settle. I wanted a fully professional, HD image to work with and I was not prepared to have it any other way. So I made a way to get the camcorder that I wanted and now I am reaping the rewards. It cost, like £1,500, but my God was it the best investment I ever made.So don't go for the cheap option - it costs money to make your dreams come true. Go get yourself a HD camera that is going to make your work look professional.
The statement, while with best intention, may be a bit misleading. HDR FX1E is a pretty decent HDV camcorder, but it is by no means professional. The price you had paid (£1,500 in UK, or about $2,500 in US) guarantees it to be no more than a pretty good advanced "prosumer" model (professional video cameras simply cannot be bought for less than $15-20,000 US). In all fairness, though, if we stretch the definition of "professional" to include wedding videographers, then many camcorders that cost US$3,000 and even less, can be called "professional".
One other minor point; while HDR FX1E is a good HD camcorder, it sill only captures video at 1440x1080, which is NOT full HD, but an anamorphic squeeze. For full HD, you'll need a camera that captures 1920x1080. Panasonic's AVCCAM models (and new Sony and Canon AVCHD camcorders) can do that.
quote:
Originally posted by 15filmakernyc
Researching the Sony HDR. For $3000, i guess that's decent for student. I actually want to be an editor so I figure I better get a laptop first. It's interesting trying to concentrate on one thing but as a student you're forced to (and should) know how to do everything else. Hard to find that balance sometimes.
The 'What camera?' question comes up very often. Of course, over time, the answers already given lose their relevance, due to the fast pace of development of these devices.
If your budget is under $3k, there are several good choices, and they will very much depend on what kind of projects you will be making in your moviemaking career. Semi-pro camcorders have always been the default option, with the model choices narrowly tied to the amount of money available. However, recently, the convergence of digital still and video technology has made very many filmmakers choose digital still cameras for shooting "film" (i.e. video). There are thousands of web sites dedicated to moviemaking on Canon 5D mk II. Think carefully if, for your type of filmmaking, a digital SLR camera with a large sensor and massive selection of after-market lenses might provide better fit than a self-contained camcorder with XLR audio connectors and 3 much smaller CMOS sensors.
