Starting cheap... need advice

[Micah]

Hi Everyone,

Well right now i have a budget of $2,000.00. And of course I'm looking to be financed maybe by a thousand or so more.

However, I need to know for a newbie what laptop and camera would be ideal for the above budget?

I was considering in getting a mac pro book but as to what kind of camera for a beginner i have no clue.

Please help...

 

[srproductions]

I say get a MacBook Pro on eBay for around $1500, get Final Cut Studio on eBay for around $500, and get a used DVX100 on eBay for around $1500. This would give you an awesome setup. Enough to do most anything you want.

 

[mbafilmgeek]

Is this for a short or for a company? If it's for a short, read on.

The DVX 100 is a great camera for the "film look" on an indie budget, and you can get them for pretty reasonable on eBay, but have you looked into renting? How many days is your production and post-production? You may find some film students in the area who would rent you a DVX for 25-50 a day (or weekend if you negotiate).

As far as computers go, you probably want to work on your own. What computer do you currently have? There are some prosumer software programs that are just fine for right out the gate (Pinnacle Studio, Final Cut Pro express) that don't offer all of the bells and whistles the professional programs do, but at a very good price. Besides, you don't need all the fancy transitions and menus the professional programs offer (star transitions are so 1980).

 

[Bob Kessler]

Think about the sound of your project(s) and the gear you will need. Many otherwise decent projects fall flat because of poor production sound. You can get a decent shotgun mic with accessories for about $500.00, much less if you make your own boom pole.

"Sound if half of the experience" - Steven Spielberg.


I'm not really sure, but it's my understanding that Mr. Spielberg is supposed to know a little bit about filmmaking. :mrgreen:

You may want to check out my blog about production sound basics:

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?f...n=07B47091-4833-42A3-8C89C592DA5A46A124262993