Camera track?

[filmmakingjunkie]

hello,
I am brand new here and I'm a young aspiring filmmaker, 17 years old. So far, I've only taken photographs and done home videos, but I'm dreaming of the big screen. Before anything else, I'm figuring out what my budget will be, what equiptment I'll need, where to get a crew, where to get actors, how much to pay them, etc...and oh yeah, what my script/movie is gonna be,lol.....If you have any answers to those questions, please let me know some sites etc... to find that stuff or your own advice....
BUT anyway,
I was watching this thing on the country music channel about the making of a music video and I've seen it tons in movie making shows also, the camera man is always set up with his camera on a tripod or whatever and he's moving sideways along a set up 'track', what is the proper name for this and how expensive are they? they seem kinda necessary to me for a smooth moving film and steady shots, are they???? Also, what is the last 'quote' or what you think someone would need to make a feature film, money wise. If anyone knows and would like to help me, I'm looking for an approx. price on everything I'd need total, including, crew, camera + equiptment, liscences & permits, set design, film, actors, editing, putting the film onto lots of dvds, etc...EVERYTHING from beginning to finish.....I know only about 1 in 1,000,000 or less get onto the big screen but it's a dream I'm willing to spend my whole life chasing, starting very very soon. I want to have my film completed within 2 years and I hope I can get there with a little bit of your help.

 

[Gohanto]

http://www.rondexter.com/professional/equipment/skate_wheel_dollies.htm

Here's what you'd probably rather have. I've built one, and if you google it you'll find a lot more options.

If you can't estimate what a feature film would cost you, then it's probably not time yet to start making it. Get professional looking shorts first.

A feature can cost $0 - $250,000,000. It just depends what you have, who you know, and what type of movie you want to make. A two people in one room talking for 90 minutes? Cheap. Having Spiderman fight Sandman in the middle of New York? Not so cheap.

There's so many things to consider that I couldn't fit in even if I wrote for days.

 

[Lazlo]

Feature films are extremely difficult to make on a number of levels... Short films are difficult to make on a number of levels. I would agree with the previous post, if you can make great short films, then the transition to feature will be much much easier.

In terms of cost, they can basically cost I guess as much as you want. It really depends on what you're going for. Feature film is just a term that defines a general length and structure (that's followed in good short films as well though more compressed). In terms of production value. If you were to shoot on film... well... look up prices for 35mm and 16mm stocks. Then the renting prices of those cameras. Than the renting price of the tripods, steadi-cams, dolli's... basically, there's a million variables in any film. Maybe you should start thinking about what story you would be willing spend this money on instead of the equipment. Stories are really the hardest part, and good equipment can't really make a bad story good. Anyways, hope this helped. Good luck with your filmmaking endeavors.