Gift Ideas for Filmmakers, Producers, Film Students, Etc
Nov25

Gift Ideas for Filmmakers, Producers, Film Students, Etc

What to you give to the person that works 15 hour days on film sets? Dr Scholl’s inserts? A gift card for a massage? Those actually aren’t horrible ideas for stocking stuffers (I love a good massage- especially after long shoot weeks), but they aren’t exactly on theme. So, here’s are a list of goodies I’ve found useful over the years that would make fantastic gifts. It’s broken into three categories: On Set for those who are currently in the biz; Learning Tools — for those just starting out, or students; or Just for Fun — affordable gifts with a film industry theme. So, whether your loved one is currently a filmmaker, wants to work on sets, a film student, or a high school student, here’s a list of gift ideas. Gifts for Life On Set Goldfold Callsheet Wallet A callsheet wallet will make life infinitely easier for assistant directors and production assistants.  I also think it commands a little bit of respect! I’ve happily promoted Goldfold for years, as it’s truly the best product on the market. Made by hand by a 1st AD in Hollywood, Goldfolds are designed and engineered with practicality in mind. Buy a Goldfold callsheet wallet from Goldfold.com for $150   Portable Phone Charger A handy little external battery pack is a game-changer. I became hooked the first day on set I used one: In the middle of a rodeo, nowhere near an outlet or any kind of electricity! I simply plugged in and slipped the portable charger into my back pocket. Production life is stressful enough without agonizing over how to make 14% battery last for the final critical hour of the shoot. Buy a portable phone charger from Amazon – $15-$40   Hip/Belt Bag I’ve crowed about hip bags before. Production assistants are expected to carry a wide array of things on them at all times: cell phone, notebook, sharpies, pens, flashlight, leatherman, call sheets, extra sets of sides, etc — and having an extra pouch is a huge help. Happy Cow’s hip and belt bags are made out of recycled leather, are durable, and stylish. They come in a wide array of styles, for gals and guys. I purchased mine in 2011 and it’s still holding up, but they have raised their prices. Amazon has comparable options for almost half the price. Buy a belt bag from Happy Cow or Amazon – $30 – $120   iPad / iPad Mini This may be a bit obvious — who wouldn’t want an iPad? — but they’re extremely versatile on set! There’s a wide variety of industry apps that make life so much easier. You can use an iPad as a slate for generating timecode, obtaining release photos and signatures, filling...

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Film Gear Essentials: The Hip Bag
Jul28

Film Gear Essentials: The Hip Bag

Recently, I’ve been thinking about gear I use on film sets that I couldn’t live without. For years, I’ve had this page — a list of all of the gear I used and loved as a production assistant. I’m finally taking it one step further, by giving you an in-depth review of gear I’m particularly passionate about — what I consider to be “on set essentials”. Confession time: I wear a hip bag at work… and I love it. Before you think I’ve gone bonkers, let me explain. Hip bags, waist packs, fanny packs, bum bags, even a basic tool pouch — are INCREDIBLY useful for the demands of television and film sets. And so I don’t lose all credibility, I’m not talking about the frumpy dad fanny pack (although I guess you could choose that style to be ironic). Why I Love It I’ve used a leather hip bag – or leather hip belt with pouch, whatever you’d call it – for most of my production career. I originally bought it to replace my purse for my overseas adventures — but I quickly realized how practical it was for my daily on set life. I’m constantly on the move and need a LOT of stuff within my reach at all times. My little bag contains my cell phone, call sheet/sides, leatherman, pens, notepad, petty cash coin pouch, and most importantly, my external battery charger. (I also use the opposite side of the belt to clip my walkie and comtek.) When I first started out, I was wearing cargo shorts — mostly to have enough pockets to hold all of the aforementioned crap. As a result, I was constantly tightening my belt to keep my shorts from falling down. As my career progressed, I wanted to dress a little nicer – so I ditched the cargo shorts and embraced the hip bag. Plus, I feel like a badass while wearing it. Who Uses a Hip Bag? Almost every department will carry some sort of bag or pouch on their person — but the type and amount of gear you’ll need to carry will dictate the size and style. In my experience, these leather and canvas bags are most commonly worn by production assistants, assistant directors, story and field producers, associate producers, production coordinators, and occasionally art department. Examples of the Leather Hip Bag My go-to for the last five years has been a cleverly styled leather pouch with three zippered compartments and two pouches. It’s held up pretty well under the duress of set life, and of all the hip bags in the world, it looks the least like the dorky Disney fanny pack and more like something Lara Croft or an assassin would wear. There are...

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The Best iPhone and iPad Apps For Filmmakers
Jun25

The Best iPhone and iPad Apps For Filmmakers

Smart phones and apps are making all of our jobs easier, particularly those of us that work in film and television. With hundreds of iOS apps available that target filmmaking, which ones are actually used by industry professionals? I put the question on Facebook, and rounded up the apps that my colleagues use the most on the job. Since this my blog, I also included my favorites that I can’t work without. Remember to write-off any technology purchases that help you do your job. (This includes your iPhone, iPad, any work-related premium apps, and monthly usage fees.)    MovieSlate 7 This app is the one that made me realize how versatile and helpful smartphones can be on set. At a price tag of $29.99 (plus $49.99 for in-app purchases), MovieSlate is far from cheap — yet it provides several perks that mere clapperboard apps do not, such as timecode synchronization via headphone jack. Download MovieSlate 7 for iPhone / Download MovieSlate 7 for iPad Also download: Timecode Buddy Sun Surveyor  This is iPhone app is dearly loved by directors, directors of photography, gaffers, and photographers. When scouting a location, it’s rare that the time of day of the scout matches the time of day when you’ll actually film there. That’s when this app is a lifesaver, and helps DPs make decisions on how much additional lighting support they’ll need. Download Sun Surveyor for iPhone / Download Sun Surveyor for iPad Similar apps: SunSeeker 3D ($9.99), Helios ($29.99) pCam Film + Digital Pro  pCam has been making calculations for photographers, cinematographers, camera operators, camera assistants, gaffers, script supervisors, etc. for 17 years — since the early days of the Palm. Designed specifically for photographers and filmmakers, pCam comes with a long list of features worthy of its own blog post — and it may be the most popular app in the film industry. Download pCam Film + Digital Pro for iPhone Shot Lister  First ADs and directors on the go are fans of the Shot Lister app, an app designed by fellow filmmakers. With Shot Lister, you can organize, schedule, and share shot lists; you can also continually tweak while you’re on set. The super-techy will love that it’s also compatible with Apple Watch. Download Shot Lister for iPhone / Download Shot Lister for iPad Cine Meter II  Light meters still have a broader range of capabilities (they’re also much more expensive), but as app technology gets better and more versatile, Cine Meter II has grown in popularity as a spotmeter for cinematographers. Its niche is very specific, designed solely for film and video use, and it can’t measure strobing. Be sure to read the fine print to be certain it’ll fit your needs. (To learn more about light metering, here’s an...

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Building a Film Gear Package/Videographer Kit For Less Than $1,000
Jul26

Building a Film Gear Package/Videographer Kit For Less Than $1,000

  Purchasing film gear is expensive.  I’ve been in the market for a new camera, one that shoots HD video. (Maybe I can earn a few extra bucks uploading some crap to a stock footage website, right?) And then I thought of all the additional gadgets I’d need to pull off a successful shoot on my own: Good lighting, a tripod, editing software, and maybe even audio equipment. Before long, I’m assembling my own film gear kit! I wondered…can a basic videographer’s kit be built for less than $1,000?   The Camera (1-2 Lenses) – $700 Canon T3i or Nikon D3200. This kills the majority of the budget, but a decent camera and good lens are (obviously) vital. Occasionally, Amazon will run a deal that includes not just the kit lens, but a telephoto lens as well. Smaller budget commercials, music videos, and independent films have been shot on the T3i and the quality is impressive. Tip: Choose one brand of camera that you plan on “upgrading”, that way, your lenses will be interchangeable between camera bodies.  1/2016 Update: This is a space that is constantly changing since I wrote this article 3 years ago. I’ve been impressed with the quality of video from Sony’s mirrorless cameras. Check out the a6000 or, for full-frame and bigger budgets, the a7. Recommended Add-On: Polarizer filter & lens hood (additional $15-$20)  Tripod – $50 A tripod is necessary for any interviews or lock-off shots you may need. High-end tripods cost $2,000+, but for $50, pick up a heavy-duty tripod capable of supporting the weight of your DSLR. Note: If you want to do a lot of handheld recording, shop around for DSLR shoulder mounts or learn how to build a DSLR shoulder mount out of PVC pipe. Cards and Card Reader – $75 This will depend on the type of camera you purchase – you can pick up a 32GB Transcend SDHC Flash card for $25. Get at LEAST two memory cards to start, three if you can fork it over. Recommended Add-On: External Hard Drive ($100-$200; FireWire 800 highly recommended for fast transfer of media)  Spare Camera Battery – $50 This is enough to get a name-brand backup battery. You can find an off-brand for a lot less, but in my experience, they don’t hold as much of a charge.   Audio Equipment (Shotgun Microphone)– $30 Eventually, you will need to invest in lavalieres and a mixer (or better yet, an audio guy), but for now, a budget shotgun microphone will boost the audio quality without breaking the bank. Note: If you have a little more money to spend, pick up a portable Zoom ZH4N recorder, which are easy to operate and will record 4 audio channels.  ...

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