Essential Gear for Filmmaking

Making movies can be a very rewarding pastime and, for the lucky and determined, may become a way of life.

With easy to use digital cameras and equipment being the order of the day it is easier than ever for the inexperienced amateur to have a go at making a movie, yet there is some advice that is invaluable for the newcomer.

Take a look at the following simple ideas before you take the plunge.

The Camera, and how to use it
There are many different digital video cameras on the market at often excellent prices, and you are sensibly advised to look for one from one of the more established manufacturers. Canon and Sony are two such names and are market leaders, and you can find a camera among their respective ranges that will suit your budget.

Look for a camera that has manual focus options – an essential feature for the movie maker – and also one that has a full range of exposure controls. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice from people who are already familiar with using a camera.

Once you have your camera you need to understand how to use it. Before you embark on your shoot make sure you have plenty of experience with your camera and its functions. Play with it extensively and get to know what it can do and how it does it, and make yourself ready for an applied shoot.

Accessories, sound and light
Of course, a camera is not the only item of equipment you need. One of the most important aspects of making a movie is that of keeping the camera steady. Nobody has a perfectly steady hand, so you will need to look at a good tripod, one that will allow for panning shots. There are many makes on the market, and picking the right one will make your job much easier. For well-priced and very decent tripods look at the range from Manfrotto-Bogen, not the best known name in the business but one that comes highly recommended.

You will also need to consider how you are going to capture sound; your camera will have a built in microphone but this will not be adequate for a full scale movie. You need to invest in a decent shotgun or lavalier microphone, and again it pays to stick with the names you know. Sony, Samson and Audio-Technica each have a decent range of well priced models that will suit your needs and your budget.

Where lighting is concerned things get more complex, but for the no or low budget movie maker the best option is to use available light and lighting. This can be done particularly well outdoors, and lends a natural look to the results.

Editing and post production is another subject altogether, but it is sufficient to say that there are many excellent editing and production software package on the market that can be used with a home PC.

Overall, where equipment is concerned, it pays to get to know what you are using and how it works.