What equipment is necessary for filming a low budget independent film?

I am making an independent feature film soon, right now I am trying to come up with a list of all necessary equipment that will be needed for making it. Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks.|||The specific equipment you need for ANY project really is dependent upon what the project requires. For instance, if your movie is set primarily in a kitchen with a lot of windows and because it is a romantic comedy, you want the shots to be lit very brightly, then you'll need a specific lights and accessories than if...





... your movie is set in a basement with no windows and it is a serious slasher flick.





So, it is nearly impossible to tell you with any certainty which camera and lighting and sound equipment you need without knowing the specifics of your project.





Also, to help answer your question, you (and anyone else) would have to know what you plan to do with your movie when it is finished. THAT answer will help determine what format you should shoot the movie in. If you plan on distributing the movie for theatrical screening, then that dictates that you shoot on film or a high quality HD camera, like the Genesis or Alexa or RED. But if you are going straight to a DVD, then you can get away with something like an F900R or Canon 5D or even an EX3. If you only want this for internet distribution then you can get away with far less, like an HDV format which heavily compresses the image.





Apart from those questions that MUST BE answered before any equipment decisions are made, it is imperative that you realize the importance of SOUND to a movie project. Audiences will forgive a less-than-perfect image if it suits the story, but if the audio sounds amatuerish, then you and your movie will not be taken seriously and you might as well not have invested the time and expense. This means NOT using an on-board microphone to capture dialogue, but instead having a qualified Sound Mixer AND an experienced Boom Operator on set to capture the best quality sound possible. They will also advise you on bad locations that would necessitate fixes in post-production that will ultimately cost you time and money that you might not have. It's better to do it right the first time instead of having to fix problems later on.





As you hear various people try to give you advice about CAMERAS, you have to know that it takes far more than a camera to make a movie that is worth watching. You need quality accessories to go with that camera, like a QUALITY tripod and fluid head, batteries, lenses, and other support gear to help you mount and move the camera. You also need LIGHTING so that you are not merely shooting what's in front of you, but instead are CREATING the movie that you want to see, otherwise you might as well be shooting a documentary. And as mentioned, SOUND is vitally important so do NOT skimp on that element in any way.





But of course, it all begins with a quality script... a story that is compelling in some way, so perhaps the most important thing of all is what's on paper. If the story isn't there on the page, then it doesn't matter what equipment you use. A bad story in IMAX is the same bad story on YouTube, it would just be bigger and more expensive. But a GREAT story on YouTube can get you noticed by those who have money and influence and that will perhaps give you the connections so that one day you CAN make bigger and more expensive movies.





So, I urge you to respond back here or to any of the forums listed below or to me directly at brian@whatireallywanttodo.com with more specifics about the project and hopefully someone will be able to help guide you in the right direction.





Good luck!|||I seen a short film filmed by a Cannon 5D! Wow! is was excellent.

The thing is being a ordinary camera you can use all your lenses for different effects.

( I'll see if I can find it on you tube )

Of course the lighting is all important! And with the 5D you only have 20 minutes of film time I think but if you have a storage device with you, you can just keep going in theory.

You should be able to rent the equipment.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdaybWRRD鈥?/a>

check out the waterfall in this film! It really is beautifully filmed.

working out side you'd better get a couple really big and good reflectors I would suggest.