Click to join FrankNemecek
Lesson #13. Brother, Can You Spare A Camera? (Part 2)
Digital cameras are wonderful things, but they can be expensive as all hell. When you add in the tripod, spare batteries, battery charger and so on, you won’t be able to get a professional quality package for under $4,000. If you have a budget of under $10,000 to begin with, that’s a huge chunk of your money.
If you have a really tight budget to start with, my suggestion is don’t buy a camera. Rent one. You don’t have to shell out a large amount of cash up front and, with a little bit of creativity and/or pleading with the rental guys, you can fit into both your budget and your production schedule.
If you’re in the Detroit area then two really great resources are the Detroit Film Center in downtown as well as In Gear Productions/Grace & Wilde Studios in Farmington Hills. For everyone else, I would suggest talking to local filmmakers or typing "digital camera rental" + your city’s name into Google’s search engine.
Lesson #14. Build the Team
Filmmaking is a team effort. From your crew to your cast to whoever is helping your promote and distribute your film, it takes a village to shoot a movie.
In my opinion, it’s a good idea to have as many of these people in place before you start production. You don’t need to have everyone in place, but the more slots you have filled the stronger a position you will be in. Feed them. Thank them. Give them credit. Pay them whatever you can afford.
Check with local universities and community colleges to see if they have film, video or theater programs. College students usually know the basics and are eager to work on projects like yours, even when the only payment you can afford to make is a pizza.
Lesson #15. Shoot the Movie
Don’t let lesson #14 be an excuse.
In fact, don’t let much of anything be an excuse. A filmmaker’s job is to make films, not excuses. Your second movie will be easier than your first, but you’ll never get there if you don’t finish your first one.
Give it your best shot, but get movie done.
More lessons will be coming soon. Until then please take a moment to stop by my Yahoo group.