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[Riptwo]

Honestly, I'm looking for simplicity to start out. I have a notoriously low amount of motivation, and if something requires a ton of setup (lights, tripods, carefully controlled environments, ect.) every time I want to use it, I'm very likely to just stop using it.

I have four XA-20s at work and they definitely have their place, but as other posters have said, it really depends on what you're going for. The XA-20 is light, has a pretty decent viewfinder, insane optical zoom, can shoot forever on cheap memory, and has dual XLR inputs with phantom power. I used to primarily run with an XF100, but I prefer the XA-20 in a lot of scenarios.

That being said, you could get a DSLR that kicks its ass in terms of image quality and visual flexibility instead. It really depends on what you're going to shoot.

 

[Sec0nd]

Thanks a bunch for the responses and advice guys. Sorry it took me so long to get back to this thread, but I had a very busy weekend at work.

So I looked into both the Black Magic Cinema cameras and the various DSLR cameras you guys recommended. The Black Magic in particular looks really, really cool, but I'm not sure if it's the right camera for me.

Honestly, I'm looking for simplicity to start out. I have a notoriously low amount of motivation, and if something requires a ton of setup (lights, tripods, carefully controlled environments, ect.) every time I want to use it, I'm very likely to just stop using it.

I currently don't have any major projects actually planned, I just wanna get out there and start shooting stuff to galvanize myself into doing more creative work. Things such as image stabilization, great low light capability and relatively cheap cost is very, very important to me. To give you guys an example of where I'm at, I've been shooting little shorts on my iPhone 5S recently, and I find both the audio quality and video quality decent (obviously, I'm well aware that they're not, but that's where my bar is currently).

Cameras with interchangeable lenses would be great, but they would also be far more than I want to spend for what is going to start out as a hobby. Obviously I want to work this creative endeavor into something much more as time goes on, and it would be great to eventually turn it into some sort of business, but there are no guarantees of that. Honestly, just as likely would be me messing around with the camera for a couple months, making a few short films, then setting it all aside. That's not what I want or expect to happen, but it's a possibility.

So, with that in mind (literally coming from filming with the iPhone 5S and finding it ok, wanting something fairly cheap but not too shitty) would the XA20 be a good choice, or is there something better around that price point and accessibility level?

If you are fine with the iPhone 5S and want something cheap to start out with I wouldn't spend 2000 bucks on the XA20. You can start out with something like the Canon T3i that goes for 400-500-ish which is a great little starter DSLR. Does some pretty great video as well. You've got interchangeable lenses, the ability to do photography and great video functionality for the price point.

Edit: For the love of god don't go Blackcimema for your starter camera by the way. You'll be lost in the features and processing RAW footage will probably be too much.

 

[guldakot]

I would personally never use or recommend a camcorder such as the Canon XA20 for anything or anyone. I personally prefer to shoot my videos as beautiful as I can, and I need to be able to change lenses for that. Camcorders are great for docu work as they are very easy to operate and are more suitable for longer shots and whatnot. If you really want to do the more unscripted, following people around kind of docu work a camcorder might be perfect for you. Be warned that you won't get the most beautiful shots though.

I wouldn't recommend a Blackmagic Cinema Camera Guldakot. I've heard that the battery life is notoriously bad. Not very handy for Documentary work. The GH4 is a very good option. Great battery life, internal 4k, light, and uses very small lenses. However, it's not very good in low light. Since you often don't have control over the lights during documentary work this can be an issue.

I personally would check out the Sony A7s. Great little full frame camera capable of beautiful shots and can shoot 4k with an external recorder. Its most amazing feature is its low light capability though. You can pretty much shoot in pitch black environments with no problem. Which is amazing and can come in pretty handy during documentary work!

The internal battery on the BMCC is fucking brutal, no doubt. We got the bescor battery pack ($200 cheapy battery solution) for it however, and logistics aside (not v-mount, comes in a stupid clipon pouch) that battery is amazing. We literally get full day shoots out of it.
That and the BMCC form factor is atrocious, stupid 4 lb aluminum brick that it is. That being said its 2.5k raw is beautiful, and so easy to use for keying and effects work.

 

[guldakot]

Just curious, does anyone that posts in the filmmaking thread work in the US television market, either broadcast, or on streaming? I need some advice heh.

 

[brerwolfe]

I work in television in the states. My primary client at the moment is PGA Tour. Not the Golf Channel, specifically PGA Tour.

That being said, I've been working in television professionally with various clients since 2003.

 

[Sec0nd]

The internal battery on the BMCC is fucking brutal, no doubt. We got the bescor battery pack ($200 cheapy battery solution) for it however, and logistics aside (not v-mount, comes in a stupid clipon pouch) that battery is amazing. We literally get full day shoots out of it.
That and the BMCC form factor is atrocious, stupid 4 lb aluminum brick that it is. That being said its 2.5k raw is beautiful, and so easy to use for keying and effects work.

I can imagine! I'd love me some 2.5k raw images. I don't see myself ever going BMCC any time soon though. At the 2k price point I'd probably prefer getting something smaller like the A7S or go the extra for an Sony FS7(00).

 

[guldakot]

I work in television in the states. My primary client at the moment is PGA Tour. Not the Golf Channel, specifically PGA Tour.

That being said, I've been working in television professionally with various clients since 2003.

I don't know if your the person to ask then, but what the hell

My production company, in lieu of getting investors just decided that we would film a television pilot which we did.

So, were currently in post getting it just right, we had an intro theme commissioned, all the bells and whistles so to speak. Now we just have to figure out what to do with it lol.

I haven't heard of anyone doing quite what we did, and I am trying to figure out what to do with it now. I personally believe it is of broadcast quality, and IMHO its damned funny.
(mockumentary style ala the office)

Im trying to decide if we should just submit it to amazon pilots, or if we should try and get it picked up trailer park boys style.

 

[guldakot]

I can imagine! I'd love me some 2.5k raw images. I don't see myself ever going BMCC any time soon though. At the 2k price point I'd probably prefer getting something smaller like the A7S or go the extra for an Sony FS7(00).

I've been drooling over an a7s with an hdmi recorder for that lowlight. Our companies planned upgrade path is a couple of f55's, but thats about a year out and who knows something may come up that blows our socks off.

 

[super-heated plasma]

I don't know if your the person to ask then, but what the hell

My production company, in lieu of getting investors just decided that we would film a television pilot which we did.

So, were currently in post getting it just right, we had an intro theme commissioned, all the bells and whistles so to speak. Now we just have to figure out what to do with it lol.

I haven't heard of anyone doing quite what we did, and I am trying to figure out what to do with it now. I personally believe it is of broadcast quality, and IMHO its damned funny.
(mockumentary style ala the office)

Im trying to decide if we should just submit it to amazon pilots, or if we should try and get it picked up trailer park boys style.

What's up with the Collar? Film any new episodes? Your site is down.

 

[Anton Sugar]

I can imagine! I'd love me some 2.5k raw images. I don't see myself ever going BMCC any time soon though. At the 2k price point I'd probably prefer getting something smaller like the A7S or go the extra for an Sony FS7(00).

Why not the Blackmagic Pocket Camera? It has gone on sale for $500 a few times last year, though it's $900 now. I'm sure it will drop to $500 again this year.

 

[Sec0nd]

Why not the Blackmagic Pocket Camera? It has gone on sale for $500 a few times last year, though it's $900 now. I'm sure it will drop to $500 again this year.

From what I've heard pretty bad battery life and even though it shoots RAW it doesn't look better than other cameras I'd rather have such as the A7s. It's a pretty beast camera though for 500 bucks! I almost bought one at that price for no good reason.

 

[Anton Sugar]

From what I've heard pretty bad battery life and even though it shoots RAW it doesn't look better than other cameras I'd rather have such as the A7s. It's a pretty beast camera though for 500 bucks! I almost bought one at that price for no good reason.

Yeah, you definitely need an external battery with just about any Blackmagic cam, unfortunately. I have three 140wh v-mount batteries for my BMCC.

Curious that you found you didn't like the image quality--it's basically the exact same sensor as the BMCC, just cropped. But the A7s is nice!

 

[guldakot]

What's up with the Collar? Film any new episodes? Your site is down.

Gah gotta love when web hosting goes bad Site will be back up on friday, but no, we haven't filmed any new episodes. Even on a shoestring they are just too expensive to film with no investment.

 

[super-heated plasma]

Gah gotta love when web hosting goes bad Site will be back up on friday, but no, we haven't filmed any new episodes. Even on a shoestring they are just too expensive to film with no investment.

I've been filming mine on almost nothing. It's really tough, but managing so far. Hardest part is getting locations.

 

[guldakot]

I've been filming mine on almost nothing. It's really tough, but managing so far. Hardest part is getting locations.

Locations on the collar were easy for us in that we shot on friends/families property, the only exception was the grocery store that we utilized for an episode. For us the main costs were food and paying the actors. Typically a day of shooting was running us around $200 in food, plus another $400 per day in actors.

 

[Red]

Thought this was cool: Sundance film "Tangerine" was shot on an iPhone 5S.

I have a Moondog anamorphic adapter and have been extremely impressed with it, and I've long been an advocate of FilmicPro. It's good to see them both get recognition (and pretty cool that a film-on-phone has been featured at Sundance!).

 

[Sec0nd]

Yeah, you definitely need an external battery with just about any Blackmagic cam, unfortunately. I have three 140wh v-mount batteries for my BMCC.

Curious that you found you didn't like the image quality--it's basically the exact same sensor as the BMCC, just cropped. But the A7s is nice!

Didn't know that! I personally have no experience with any of the cameras from Blackmagic. My opinions of them are based of online reviews and comparison videos. So take that as you will.

 

[super-heated plasma]

Locations on the collar were easy for us in that we shot on friends/families property, the only exception was the grocery store that we utilized for an episode. For us the main costs were food and paying the actors. Typically a day of shooting was running us around $200 in food, plus another $400 per day in actors.

Yikes! I have to pay for food, but luckily all my actors and crew are volunteer. Since I live in Vancouver, there are a tons of actors out here trying to get in whatever they can because of so much competition.

 

[DesertEater]

Here is a little video I did with my camcorder and Premiere few months back
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD_10wr4c5U

And another recording a piano piece edited this one using iMovies:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=httQFEAeorY

Experiencing both, Premiere way way better and easier to use. Even though it looks complicated at first, it is surprisingly intuitive.

Just felt like sharing some videos. Looking at them right now, I feel like I should have bought a light kit along with the camera. I just pulled the trigger on one from amazon.

 

[ShadowKingpin]

I start production for my next short film in April. I am truly excited as this is my first film without a cropped-sensor DSLR and now using a full frame camera with professional-grade lenses. The next film is a sequel to a comedy short I did called, "Sandwich Man" (Found here and my second one is a deep film about the power of depression and the grip that it has upon so many who suffer from it (Hopefully starting production for that in late-May to early-June).

 

[SLV]

My buddy has an issue, maybe someone can chime in ?

It is about Slow waveform refresh time on timeline.

And here

Thanks guys !

 

[brerwolfe]

I think it's a bug. Try zooming in one step on the timeline. For me, the zoom key is the + key (is that also the zero key? I don't have a keyboard in front of me..)

 

[Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKJ6PijrzII

Enjoy!

Spoiler

I was bored! I just had to do it.

 

[Rocket Scientist]

Gaffers should post more films.

 

[oatmeal]

I'm in post on the pilot for a webseries I have been working on forever. I will post some stuff when I'm at my computer.

 

[oatmeal]

I did this for Halloween this year, this YT channel gave me a short paragraph and we turned it into a short film (about 1m long). It's whatever...feels like the intro to something else.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0GBdpN9CMo

Here's some stills from behind the scenes of the pilot we're doing:

The series opens with a wildly ambitious shot that we're struggling with in post but it's coming together. Basically...camera starts on her eye...pulls back 24' as well as doing a 180 degree spin to reveal she's upside down in the car. The way we did this was by mounting the tripod plate on the BACK of the camera so it looks like this:

Then we lay the camera down on a bunch of apple boxes and strapped the shit out of it so the 'pan' now became a dutch roll.

[/IMG]

And a still I pulled:

This was a green screen shot (it's about 60% green screen driving).

If you feel so inclined, you can check out the FB page here:

https://www.facebook.com/blackiceseries

 

[oatmeal]

And a couple of other commercials:

https://vimeo.com/104755751
IronFX Stock Trading competition

https://vimeo.com/101459082
ATF2 Work Out Supplement

 

[killertofu]

Freelancers, any tips for doing taxes?

 

[oatmeal]

Freelancers, any tips for doing taxes?

Pay quarterly.

 

[sans_pants]

oh hey oatmeal i know about half your crew on black ice

 

[oatmeal]

oh hey oatmeal i know about half your crew on black ice

Hah, that's awesome. UNLV?

 

[sans_pants]

Hah, that's awesome. UNLV?

yep finally my facebook feed has come to neogaf

 

[oatmeal]

yep finally my facebook feed has come to neogaf

Surprisingly, it's not happened to me before.

We've crossed the streams!

 

[brerwolfe]

Freelancers, any tips for doing taxes?

Get excited..

I don't like the idea of paying quarterly because I'd rather only have to stress once a year instead of four times a year. I know it comes out to be the same amount of money, but it's easier for me to process it somehow.

Just make sure to try and grab any deduction you can think of-- cell phone bills, dry cleaning, health insurance, any equipment purchased, mileage/tolls on your way to specific gigs, and especially any travel-related expenses (per diem, baggage fees, cab fare, shit like that).

 

[oatmeal]

Get excited..

I don't like the idea of paying quarterly because I'd rather only have to stress once a year instead of four times a year. I know it comes out to be the same amount of money, but it's easier for me to process it somehow.

Just make sure to try and grab any deduction you can think of-- cell phone bills, dry cleaning, health insurance, any equipment purchased, mileage/tolls on your way to specific gigs, and especially any travel-related expenses (per diem, baggage fees, cab fare, shit like that).

If you're doing it annually, start saving.

 

[brerwolfe]

If you're doing it annually, start saving.

Absolutely. Put as much as you can from each paycheck aside. I had plenty in the bank last year but my wife and I decided to build a house, a good portion of my savings disappeared in the form of a deposit on the construction.

The last two years has worked out for me, though. Get the taxes done in February and start saving for a couple months to get them paid.

 

[Strax]

Sup FilmmakingGAF

I just made a showreel for 2015, got any notes or thoughts

Showreel 2015

Also just directed a music video

Music video

 

[brerwolfe]

The showreel looked more like a movie trailer, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, it just didn't scream "I have more experience than I know what to do with". It all looked like it came from the same production.

Also, shouldn't your name be somewhere on the showreel? I'm not sure what role you played in what I watched.

And what was the deal with the big guy knocking on the door? I didn't get that at all.

 

[Strax]

The showreel looked more like a movie trailer, which isn't necessarily a bad thing

Ok I can see that.

It all looked like it came from the same production.

Could you explain better because I kinda find this comment really strange

Also, shouldn't your name be somewhere on the showreel? I'm not sure what role you played in what I watched.

It's a work in progress, it's not finished so I did put my name in there. It's a director showreel.

And what was the deal with the big guy knocking on the door? I didn't get that at all.

Thats from a doc I directed. Its there to break up the drama and tension a little. Like I said its a work in progress so that may go.

 

[ChocolatePuddin]

Wow this thread is exactly what I need. I am busy building a small studio for filming a show in and I have many questions. First off, please can someone explain to me how lapel mics work? I want to buys some but they are very expensive. For example, do you buy the receiver that comes with one lapel mic, does that mean you have to the buy an additional 3 lapel mics if you want 4 people talking or do you have to buy 3 more receivers? I am looking at the below product,

http://www.broadcastlighting.co.za/en/lapel-microphones/701-boya-wireless-microphone-.html

Really appreciate the help guys.

 

[brerwolfe]

Could you explain better because I kinda find this comment really strange

To me, with the exception of the guy knocking on the door, the showreel looks like it is comprised of shots all from one movie. All the shots/scenes look very similar to one another, nothing seen is a huge departure from anything else. I kept watching thinking I might see something different, by the end I was thinking it could be half as long.

I made a camera demo early in my career showing my sports experience-- it was a 3 1/2 minute long highlight video with high school football/basketball/wrestling and then some of my blimp stuff. Showed it to a former advisor, she said it was great to see 3 or 4 clips of each sport, but then I showed like 12 more examples of each... Like, "I get it. You can follow a football."

In your reel, the look is nailed. Got it. I was waiting to see what else you can do and never really saw anything drastically different, in which case, it can be half as long and still get the same idea across.

 

[Anton Sugar]

Hey all! I'm working as 2nd AC on a shoot over the next few days, and our camera package is comprised of C100 Mk II cams. I've never shot on these before--I have experience with Canon T2i DSLRs, but other than that, I've only used Blackmagics.

Any tips or advice? I'd like to be as ready as I can.

 

[thenexus6]

Hey all! I'm working as 2nd AC on a shoot over the next few days, and our camera package is comprised of C100 Mk II cams. I've never shot on these before--I have experience with Canon T2i DSLRs, but other than that, I've only used Blackmagics.

Any tips or advice? I'd like to be as ready as I can.

Have you second AC before? I seconded on a C100 MKI last year and its a very nice camera. Being a 5D MKII user from university I found it pretty familiar although I wasn't going through menus much as I was building camera and slating mostly. If you are pulling focus and aren't confident I think theres a focus assist which is pretty useful.

 

[Buttonbasher]

I'm also a fan of the C100. We shot my first fully crewed short on one with at Atomos Ninja Blade that converted the footage to ProRes 422HQ on the fly. I really like the image we got from it.

Our second AC was primarily just slating, though they also would help balance our Steadicam between takes.

 

[Anton Sugar]

Have you second AC before? I seconded on a C100 MKI last year and its a very nice camera. Being a 5D MKII user from university I found it pretty familiar although I wasn't going through menus much as I was building camera and slating mostly. If you are pulling focus and aren't confident I think theres a focus assist which is pretty useful.

I've AC'ed in general, but this situation is a little different--I'm basically 2nd AC for three cam crews, each with its own 1st AC. I'm meeting with the crew today, but I assume they'll be assisting with a lot of the cam operation and I'll be doing basically whatever else they need help with.

I've just never used a C100 before and am nervous about getting basic operations-level shit wrong. I also almost exclusively used Magic Lantern on my T2i, so that may add even more separation between me and the "default" Canon user experience.

 

[Buttonbasher]

I've AC'ed in general, but this situation is a little different--I'm basically 2nd AC for three cam crews, each with its own 1st AC. I'm meeting with the crew today, but I assume they'll be assisting with a lot of the cam operation and I'll be doing basically whatever else they need help with.

I've just never used a C100 before and am nervous about getting basic operations-level shit wrong. I also almost exclusively used Magic Lantern on my T2i, so that may add even more separation between me and the "default" Canon user experience.

I can say that as a non-camera guy, that was just fiddling around with it before the shoot; I found it to be really easy to navigate. You should be good if you're at all familiar with DSLRs. Realistically, you'll probably be slating for the bulk of it though. In any case, here's a link to the C100 manual, should that help: http://www.texasmediasystems.com/PDFs/Canon C100 Manual.pdf

Best of luck with the shoot!

 

[killertofu]

Anyone into Motion Design?

I got hired as a editor/graphics at my new job and have been doing a lot of motion design lately. I really want to step up my game but don't know how. Feel like I've already gone through a bunch of tutorials.

I heard about School of Motion's "Animation Bootcamp" but it kind of seems like I'm already in the middle of all that and wouldn't want to ask my boss to spend 800$ on a 6 week course where I'll know most of it already.

 

[Anton Sugar]

I can say that as a non-camera guy, that was just fiddling around with it before the shoot; I found it to be really easy to navigate. You should be good if you're at all familiar with DSLRs. Realistically, you'll probably be slating for the bulk of it though. In any case, here's a link to the C100 manual, should that help: http://www.texasmediasystems.com/PDFs/Canon C100 Manual.pdf

Best of luck with the shoot!

Thanks, I appreciate all your help!

 

[-griffy-]

Anyone into Motion Design?

I got hired as a editor/graphics at my new job and have been doing a lot of motion design lately. I really want to step up my game but don't know how. Feel like I've already gone through a bunch of tutorials.

I heard about School of Motion's "Animation Bootcamp" but it kind of seems like I'm already in the middle of all that and wouldn't want to ask my boss to spend 800$ on a 6 week course where I'll know most of it already.

Have you visited Videocopilot.net? I assume so, but just in case you haven't there are a lot of great tutorials there, including their own "Basic Training" series (as well as a bunch of plug-ins and presets), all free.

 

[guldakot]

Have you visited Videocopilot.net? I assume so, but just in case you haven't there are a lot of great tutorials there, including their own "Basic Training" series (as well as a bunch of plug-ins and presets), all free.

I second Video Copilot, Kramer rocks, his tutorials are amazing, even if he does cheese it up at times ^^