quote:

---

Originally posted by bigsam05

im applying for a 15,000 grant and i will be doing a documentary on gentrification. Most of the filming will be done inside but a lot of it will be outside as well, mostly just interviews outside nothing like national geographic or something. Also i plan on using the money to get the equiptment needed to edit my film. so i would like reccomendations on what camera,sound equipment,mircophone etc. also i will be the only one involved in the film, there is no crew involved.

---

Before you choose a camera/format, you need to think about where you want this documentary to go. Some outlets require that a certain percentage of your finished product be either film or 4:2:2 High Definition (if shooting electronically). What that means is that, for instance, if you wanted your documentary to eventually run on something like "Discovery Channel," you would have to finish according to their required specs (see http://dhd.discovery.com/guidelines/gallery/guidelines.pdf for an example of this.)

Guidelines like that automatically mean that you should not shoot your entire documentary with anything less than a SONY HDW F900. For instance, the Sony 4:1:1 cameras won't do. It is cheaper to shoot with lesser cameras, but if you aren't able to deliver the final product in a way that any meaningful outlet will accept, you might as well not do it at all.

So, instead of first asking what equipment to buy/rent, go first toward your purpose and end goal and find out what, if any, technical specs will be required. THEN once you have those numbers in hand, you can revisit your questions about specific equipment.

It's also important to note that too many aspiring filmmakers somehow become very focused on the equipment, as if that is the turning point that creates a "filmmaker." That couldn't be farther from the truth. The vast majority of professional Directors and Cameramen do NOT own their own camera equipment. Instead, they recognize that each project brings with it its own requirements so the resources necessary for each particular project are rented on an as-needed basis. Unless it is more cost-effective to purchase a piece of gear instead of renting it, there is no reason for a "filmmaker" to buy cameras or sound or anything else. Particularly if you wish to be a Director or Producer... anything other than a Cameraman/DP... you should be concentrating on your own job and reach out to people who are far more experienced in specific skills than you'll ever be or want to be.

So put your project together with the necessary specs in mind. And instead of buying expensive equipment that you may not be able to afford, look for experienced professionals who have the gear you need. That includes camera and sound. You may have to pay them, but you are ready to dump cash into hardware that may not be what you need anyway. Instead of looking at it as an expense, recognize that you are buying the experience and talents of other people who will also have the equipment you need. It is an investment into your project and the better your final product, the better off you'll be in the long run.

Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com

Welcome to filmmaking.net. Check out these threads:
http://www.filmmaking.net/fnetforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7034
http://www.filmmaking.net/fnetforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6195
http://www.filmmaking.net/fnetforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6316
http://www.filmmaking.net/fnetforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4527
http://www.filmmaking.net/fnetforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4479
http://www.filmmaking.net/fnetforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4183
http://www.filmmaking.net/fnetforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4555

If you have more questions, feel free to ask.

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