Recent content by danielp

I'm with you; I prefer keeping the camera rolling... You can use virtually any light (including natural lighting) and you can get amazing results if you plan it well. I shot in the desert at night once using the headlights of a couple of trucks (with gels and diffusers... ) and it didn't look...

Ok, fair enough, I would probably use something like this: DP/operator 1st AD (multiple tasks) script supervisor (this is a very critical task, but I would assign other tasks when not shooting) gaffer (experienced) key grip (experienced) grip/electric audio recordist (experienced) boom op...

I understand - it's not for everyone... but if you're going for 500k (such a complicated amount for multiple reasons) you should probably consider to go for 1.5 ~ 2M, since you open the door to more interesting financing options and you can attract reputable sales agents, etc.... I would...

You're absolutely right. If you're making a film with a small crew, the type of film, and how you make it (how you light it, how you film it, the equipment, etc.), has to all fit. You are limited to certain type of films, no argument there. The question is how, within all those limitations...

I think you build a plan that works for you and your expectations. There are many films being made around the world using very little resources and crew that are true gems. And there are well produced films that don't go anywhere or are "crap" like you say. And viceversa. At the end it's all...

Not at all. My original question to you was:"what are you doing that you need such a large crew in a low budget." Maybe I shouldn't have said "large", but we never defined "low budget". Maybe I'm thinking less than 20k, and you're thinking 250k, where you can afford the crew you described. We...

You start with a vision of how you see the movie being told and then you discuss it with your DP (not with every crew member). The DP knows folks he or she has worked with and he'll suggest a crew and equipment. In some case the DP may suggest ideas and you go from there. It depends on many...

We're practically in agreement but the problem is that we're "discussing" a generic production and every production has its own needs. So discussion any "list" makes little sense if we don't know the details - wouldn't you agree? Your list may be fine depending on the requirements of script, the...

Exactly, we all know that certain things in any production are expensive and others not so much, etc. and we tend to write that way... and many times limiting ourselves from the get go. My point is that if you're making a movie using the Hollywood production flow that's fine... you write your...

I'm not assuming that "story" and camera work are mutually exclusive at all. But if you're on a low budget something has to give... ... and just because you may have a camera and a tripod only (for instance), and nothing else, doesn't mean the movie will be sloppy or neglected in the camera...

Very cool!! I love it.

it's right here: http://www.kaayia.com - see the blog at the bottom of the page. I'll feature it later in the front banner. I truly like it.

To me the question is "what are you doing that you need such a large crew in a low budget." If you're going to set up 400 lights, dolly shots, jibes, etc. and you have 2 ton of equipment to move around, of course you need "bodies", and lots of them, to move quickly. I think that in a low...

I absolutely agree with you.

It's possible that if they say they have a budget of $500, that they actually have that amount in the bank. It's there a bigger context to your question? A budget typically refers to 2 things: 1) a spreadsheet with the itemized costs to make a movie = "I have the budget ready, let's go get...