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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Fundraising for a camera!

Daniel, I imagine this will sound harsh and critical but I think it should be said. There are lots of unfortunate people in the world and lots of good causes asking for help. I am sure everyone on REDuser is supportive of you in having a successful career and appreciate the hard work you have put in. However, I think you may have a few more "dues" to pay before you can expect the world to award you a $10,000 camera to realize your dreams. At least that is this one person's perspective.

I have two young adult kids of my own so I am not without sympathy to your plight. Good luck in your quest.
 
Great read though some of the technical and gear side is dated now, but an inspirational read that every young filmmaker should have to read. It's far less about what you have but what you can do with what you do have, and as Robert says in the book we all have a good 20 bad films in us so make them when you have the time and chance to learn from your mistakes, and it doesn't matter what you shoot on just that you keep shooting and learning.

For that all you need is anything that you can record video with, use proper lenses with actual stops, iso and have manual control(which I believe you do with the 70d), I would say pick up a good light meter and begin to build contrast ratios that work with your camera and lights(if you haven't) Who knows maybe you have and you can get the best out of your camera now, great, now go out and get some gigs and start saving up for that next camera if that is what you feel you need. Or budget the rentals into your quotes for jobs set up a deal with a local renter and go from there.

The camera will not make your business any better only you and your talent can do that, obvious I know, but focus on clients, turnarounds and your own workflow as well as managing clients expectations. You are young and driven the world is your oyster don't hold yourself up because you feel you need a better camera, there will always be blocks you can place in front of your own success, don't, keep moving forward and learning. This industry is filled with people who own lots of toys, what it really needs is passionate driven talented individuals who are flexible and able to make gold out of just about anything, as mister Rodriguez says creativity is a much better solution to a problem than just throwing money at it.

I wish you all the best, just remember don't sweat the small stuff and stay passionate!
 
It's about hustle, ambition and desire. Jack Black didn't crowd source tuition for acting school. He just fuqin did it
 
People begging for money to buy equipment on sites like gofundme is really hilarious (and shamless)

Use the best stuff you can afford and work your way up. Gear doesn't matter- story does. Industry-run sites like this one, NFS, etc, are bad for your health
 
Zeb B said:
It's about hustle, ambition and desire. Jack Black didn't crowd source tuition for acting school. He just fuqin did it
Click to expand...

He..he...One of my film teachers taught Jack Black in High School...his grades were actually pretty mediocre..but he got into
the UCLA Theatre program on the strength of his acting audition. He did something from the classical repertoire like Shakespeare or something. But it
was so good it got him in inspite of his grades. Talent not A grades wins out in the end.

If you have a Canon DSLR and Canon lenses you already have enough.
People have shot movies with that exact same combination and done independent movies that have made
literally millions of dollars. Talent not gear wins out in the end.

Frances Ha...2012
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2347569/

Box Office

Gross: $4,063,238 (USA) (6 September 2013)
Opening Weekend:
$137,398 (USA) (17 May 2013)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2347569/technical?ref_=tt_dt_spec

[TABLE="class: dataTable labelValueTable"]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: label"][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="class: label"] Aspect Ratio[/TD]
[TD] 1.85 : 1[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: label"] Camera[/TD]
[TD] Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon L-Series Lenses[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
 
Steve Das said:
He..he...One of my film teachers taught Jack Black in High School...his grades were actually pretty mediocre..but he got into
the UCLA Theatre program on the strength of his acting audition. He did something from the classical repertoire like Shakespeare or something. But it
was so good it got him in inspite of his grades. Talent not A grades wins out in the end.

If you have a Canon DSLR and Canon lenses you already have enough.
People have shot movies with that exact same combination and done independent movies that have made
literally millions of dollars. Talent not gear wins out in the end.

Frances Ha...2012
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2347569/

Box Office

Gross: $4,063,238 (USA) (6 September 2013)
Opening Weekend:
$137,398 (USA) (17 May 2013)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2347569/technical?ref_=tt_dt_spec

[TABLE="class: dataTable labelValueTable"]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: label"][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: even"]
[TD="class: label"] Aspect Ratio[/TD]
[TD] 1.85 : 1[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: odd"]
[TD="class: label"] Camera[/TD]
[TD] Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon L-Series Lenses[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Click to expand...

Love these types of posts. Also Lena Dunham's "Tiny Furniture" shot on a 7D (Pl modded I think). Now look where she is
 
Get a job and buy a cheap T2i or GH2 and go shoot.

nothing was given to any of us...well unless you are a kid with rich parents that became a "DP" over night when they bought you a RED. Have seen this tale more than once!

Great camera technology will only go so far. Pay your dues, get on set, shoot, shoot, and shoot some more. Show people what you shot and let them rip you a new one & grow from that. If you were one of my students that said they needed a $10,000 camera to make anything worthy I'd make you film everything on a VHS camera the entire semester and not let you touch the big toys until you learned & respected the medium.

My post is only kind of targeted at you, it's more directed at the thousands of others that think the same way...or worse

go learn. whether it be college, film school, internships, volunteering to work on student films, etc. Buy a cheap 1080p DSLR with manual video mode and go play and learn
 
Shame I'm late to this thread - I get a feeling from the replies that the original post would have been an interesting read...

Edit - Google cache to the rescue.
 
I've recently returned to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where I did my undergraduate work. I'm taking a couple refreshers before moving on to an MFA (which I am paying for out of pocket BTW) and... there is a girl in my advanced filmmaking class who shoots everything on VHS. Her shit is fucking awesome. I shoot Red's and Phase One on the still side because I busted my ass for 20 years and now I can afford whatever I want. I'm rambling, I know, but the point I'd like to get to is... don't sweat the gear. The work you are doing right now is garbage. I don't mean you specifically... but EVERYONE who is at where you are right now. The first 10 years of your work is all just fodder to grow from. It's not worthy of the gear that you're wasting your time drooling over... and I say this with love... get out there, fuck up, make mistakes and learn! Hell, get a BM PCC, it's a grand and shoots great little pictures.

Gear is such a trap... so many filmmakers set their sights on an Epic and then they think they'll be set. These people all end up fucked and broke.

</rant>
 
I went from a Canon GL2, sold all of my toys (that i collected since i was a child) to buy my first DSLR. Then saved every penny and whored myself out doing everything from weddings to sweet 16's to buy my first Scarlet (i could only afford the body didn't get to use it for another 3 months). Worked my way to buy the Epic the to Dragon the same year!!! That is the problem with the new generation they think they are entitled to everything without working for it. there is nothing like earning your own way :) Earn your dreams man that is the only way you will be successful!!!!
 
Christopher Barrett said:
Gear is such a trap... so many filmmakers set their sights on an Epic and then they think they'll be set. These people all end up fucked and broke.
Click to expand...
Mr. Barrett is a very wise man. I wish it were as easy as just buying the equipment.
 
Christopher Barrett said:
I've recently returned to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where I did my undergraduate work. I'm taking a couple refreshers before moving on to an MFA (which I am paying for out of pocket BTW) and... there is a girl in my advanced filmmaking class who shoots everything on VHS. Her shit is fucking awesome. I shoot Red's and Phase One on the still side because I busted my ass for 20 years and now I can afford whatever I want. I'm rambling, I know, but the point I'd like to get to is... don't sweat the gear. The work you are doing right now is garbage. I don't mean you specifically... but EVERYONE who is at where you are right now. The first 10 years of your work is all just fodder to grow from. It's not worthy of the gear that you're wasting your time drooling over... and I say this with love... get out there, fuck up, make mistakes and learn! Hell, get a BM PCC, it's a grand and shoots great little pictures.

Gear is such a trap... so many filmmakers set their sights on an Epic and then they think they'll be set. These people all end up fucked and broke.

</rant>
Click to expand...

THIS x 1000!!!^^^^^
 
And there is additional benefit which is in thought spent on a shot prior to shooting it (unlike in post), after getting used to lugging 20lbs+ around.
Highly recommended.
 
OK I just picked up Canon T5i for my daughter. I took video of her singing in church 1080 30p-gorgeous. Two lenses -$300 stablized 17-50 f2.8 Tamron and 28-105 2.8 Tamron. This camera has auto face tracking for Gods sake. Clean ISO 1200.
All together cost me around $1100. You can shoot any short film with that- ANY.
Cinema masterpieces were shot with gear that's infinitely inferior to that $1100 kit. How could they possibly do that without 4,6K cameras??!!
It was a miracle!!;)
 
Christopher Barrett said:
I've recently returned to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where I did my undergraduate work. I'm taking a couple refreshers before moving on to an MFA (which I am paying for out of pocket BTW) and... there is a girl in my advanced filmmaking class who shoots everything on VHS. Her shit is fucking awesome. I shoot Red's and Phase One on the still side because I busted my ass for 20 years and now I can afford whatever I want. I'm rambling, I know, but the point I'd like to get to is... don't sweat the gear. The work you are doing right now is garbage. I don't mean you specifically... but EVERYONE who is at where you are right now. The first 10 years of your work is all just fodder to grow from. It's not worthy of the gear that you're wasting your time drooling over... and I say this with love... get out there, fuck up, make mistakes and learn! Hell, get a BM PCC, it's a grand and shoots great little pictures.

Gear is such a trap... so many filmmakers set their sights on an Epic and then they think they'll be set. These people all end up fucked and broke.

</rant>
Click to expand...
Considering your very successful career, I think there is a great lesson in what you are doing. The learning never ends. Trying to improve never ends. If you are willing to put in the extra work at this point in your career, someone just starting out should be willing to put in even more work.

Every day, I realize how little I know. Every time I work with someone who is a master of their craft, I realize how little I know. And I suspect that when the day comes when I see my final sunset, I will realize how little I know.
 
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