I dont know much about running a production company ,but I do know a thing or 2 about computers. I'd be inclined to not recommend a all-in one computer like that Dell (or the iMac for that matter but with Apple you don't have much choice). If alone for the lifespan argument. When that Dell becomes too slow for your workflow, you need to get a new PC. That means also tossing out your videocard, your ram, your ssd's and your monitor, as it's all put together, often not possible to disassemble it and if so not always compatible. It also has horrible resale for the previous mentioned reasons. Just getting a monitor and a seperate tower means you can be much more specific with your parts (Does Resolve like CUDA or OpenCL? What videocards are best for that, etc etc, You are free to choose all that rather than relying on what Dell (or Apple) offers you) and more important, when your processor becomes too slow for your new 8K RED footage workflow ( ;) ) you can buy just a processor, or just some ram and get right up to speed. You don't need to toss out your existing computer but can simply upgrade it. It's also better at cooling , potentially quieter etc. Lots of benefits, especially if you pick and assemble yourself, but even if you choose to buy an off the shelf workstation from say HP or Dell, you're still getting a lot of the above mentioned benefits. Just figured I'd add my 2 cents there.
Thanks for the comment! I can see your point, having the flexibility to upgrade is a nice option. I did that with our older Mac Pro towers for years, and they lasted nearly 10 years (which is a pretty long life-span for a computer). I just think the technology has reached a point where my $2800 iMac is better than the over $10,000 that I invested in my Pro Tower. But sure if you're doing really high end work, having a tower may be a better option. But I think many people looking for a solid editing machine can now turn to an all-in-one. I know 5 years ago, I never would have said that, but my iMac is so fast. We just edited and mastered a 4K feature film on it (Elfette Saves Christmas that got national distribution), and it was crazy how easy it was. Like butter! :)
I prefer towers mostly because components are replaceable. I've replaced more than one floppy drive in my time. What I find -- and I have been buying computers since 1982 -- is that by the time a computer is obsolete, it is cheaper to buy a new PC. For example, I wanted a better graphics card but had to sacrifice performance heavily because my power supply could not support what I really needed. That computer is currently in storage, but it is much slower than my newer laptop I use now because it lacks an SSD, despite having a Core 7 CPU.
@@thecaliforniawar5635 yeah towers are great if you can afford them. Our post shop is primarily Mac and I just looked at the new Mac Pro towers and they’re nearly $10,000 just for a mid level model with 2TB, 48gb RAM, and Vega graphics card (and no monitor!). We could have 3 iMacs or MacBook Pros for that price that can all handle 4K and 6K footage easily. So it really didn’t make sense for us to go with towers. But I do have 4 of the older Mac Pro towers that still work (10+ years later) but only for 1080p stuff. And they were more in the $3000-$4000 range. Crazy how the high end computers have increased in price so much.
@@FilmJams Of course, I'm talking about WIndows machines. I've never paid over $900 for a desktop PC, at least not since I bought an Amiga 1000 in 1985. I've never priced Macintosh, not since they came out almost 40 years ago.
@@FilmJams I nicked my on a church gig - quite by accident of course. When I realized I'd brought it home, I sent them an email about it. They told me to just keep it, they'd call if they ever needed it. That was 5 years ago and I swear I've used in on 99% of the productions I've done.
For sure! Lots of great cameras out right now. Mirrorless are great but if you’re trying to start a production company, I recommend a video camera with integrated ND filters and with full size XLR inputs like the Canon C100 or Sony Fs5. Having these two features alone (plus ability to dual record on C100) is better suited to Client work. Though I love using my A7III and EOS R for b-roll and gimbal shots. But they’re not as good all around as the other ones I mentioned. I haven’t had experience with or seen the XF400 or XA50 on set so don’t have experience to recommend them.
@@larsosejohansen Yes we have the XLR adapter for the A7s and A7iii. The adapter works fine, but also an extra cost like $799 for the good one. How do you like the Xa50?
You answered my question, which video editor you use or recommend. I fully trained myself on Divinci Resolve so I'm stoked that you used it! Now I just need a lot of that other great stuff and a STUDIO and CREW and........!
Matt Horvath also a good choice! Depends on what you’re shooting tho...I use that longer range quite a bit and don’t need wide that much. For Interviews I like longer focal length better.
If we're talking about starting a production company - any advice on nailing down clients? I already own a solid camera/audio/light kit. I imagine since you guys have been working in the same area for over a decade most of it is word of mouth. How did you go about getting your first handful of clients off the ground? What was the first year like? I do production full time for a company and do the occasional freelance gig but I've never been able to get a client base large enough to justify quitting my full time editing role.
Definitely great question. The first year was filled with uncertainty, and trying to make ends meet for sure. One thing that we tried to do at first was a variety of jobs...so whether it was shooting photos, doing audio, camera, or editing...even did a little web design at first - just so there were more chances for clients. Then as we went along we focused more on just video production - but since we had some clients from all of those areas - we were able to market video to say our web clients. I'd also make sure you get listed on Production Hub and Mandy and all the major video sites. A kick ass website that ranks on google always helps too! You'll have to invest some money in that if you don't do web, but it's worth it. And once you get the calls, make sure you can close the deals. Have a sales person help part-time if you don't like closing clients. Hope that's useful! And good luck. It's a whole new world out in freelance, but you'll love it.
@@FilmJams Thanks for such a thoughtful response - you guys are awesome. Did you originally market yourself as a freelancer or a production company as a whole? My guess would be a company if you want to reel in bigger fish. Any thoughts on looking into a sales person for getting clients? Is this something you've tried in the past?
Nice Guy thanks! Glad to help. I did both and still do. Sometimes we get company jobs and sometimes I work as a freelance DP for other people. Helps having both streams of income. As far as sales person we did use a few people early on and they were people I met through networking - friends of friends or at networking events.
It depends on what you want to use the camera for. If you’re just starting out and don’t have a $100,000 budget for your camera package then the Canon EOS Cameras are great options. This video is about how to start a production company for under $10,000, that’s why we recommend the EOS cameras in this video. They’re solid workhorses that are very popular and good money makers. But we do have other videos on high end cinema production cameras if you want to learn more about those. Just remember the bigger the camera, the more crew and support equipment you need to use it. You’ll need a larger tripod that alone can cost $10,000 to $20,000 to support a fully kitted up Alexa or Red camera. So I don’t recommend buying a camera just cuz it’s bigger and looks professional. But it if you actually need it :)
Hey Kyle! The links are in the description below the video. The kit is sort of one we made ourselves - but what you’ll want are the Quasar science tubes, the Impact dimmers, and the 5 bulb case (those links are all in the description for ya ;)
Film Jams As a one man owner of a production company. How do you grow a team and why should you grow a team. The ups and down of freelancers vs employee. Can one person be so creative to be a producer, director, lighting, script writer, camera man, location director, costume, make up artist? Where do you start your production company? In your room, lounge, hire office, or use hotel function rooms, open country side, etc? How do you Promote your work, social media, website, TH-cam, etc? What make a good production company 2020? My opinion. Thank you!
Anita Alexus Okocha great ideas! We’ll work up some of these for sure soon. We have touched on a few of these ideas too... Make sure to check out our Guide to Filmmaking playlist here: th-cam.com/play/PLMX4BQsnjAt9x9Li9NCA_AQUJgB2d4gRh.html
grate , you will probably need to work for 5 years to gather the 10k , then probably 2 years to get good at what you do , now that you are good you can start charging for your work , most project will be 100-200 , probably gone get one every 6 months , if you are lucky. and now your gear is probably 3-4 years old , you will need soon new computer and camera , so you spend 8 years have make 1000-2000 spend 10k and you will need soon 5k to get new gear , and if you make you company leget , you also have to pay the state , well if you don t have any rich friends or relatives , you can start sale you gear , and go back your old job ,
and since is 3 year that you stop working , to become a cinematographer , your land lord has kick you out , gf too , so is back to your parent basment :P and is at that moment your computer die , and need 3000 to get new one since you decide to get a i mac and no parts can be save once a single part fall on mac you throw everything away , and at this point your 5000 buck camera is worth less than 1000 well good thing is your tripod and ligth have retain most of the value (the 50% )
That sounds like the alternative Biff timeline from Back to the Future! I guess if you really have some bad luck anything is possible. But honestly…Just don’t steal the Grays Sports Almanac! To be clear, the exact gear in this video is how I grew my business from working out of my house to having a 14,000 sq ft film studio. Just spend more time making videos and less time writing TH-cam comments. 😆👍🎥
@@FilmJams almanac will be grate solution h ahhah !!! well if you live in country where the economy suck , and average wage is 200-500$ or you can not find wealthy clients , and the price of gear is the same no mater where you are , and i live in one of thow shiti country , and that alternative reality become real fast :P
@@darkphotographer oh true! Yeah being in a good busy city def helps to get video work - tho where I’m from (St Pete, FL) was not very busy 15 years ago when I started. Where are you from? The nice thing today is you can do video work remotely and with clients around the world as technology has changed. We have clients in 5 countries. So maybe you can find clients out of your country. Do some TH-cam videos to establish your brand. There are ways!
@@FilmJams greece thessaloniki , is the second biggest city , i work with musician but most of them are broke ,:) and also average wage is 500eu p mounts , as you can see from most of my video on my channel they suck due to low budget ,
I spent about $15k to buy gear for my production company. Only the PC I build and lighting equipment are brand new. Everything else I buy used. Couldn’t be happier.
Very cool! Glad to hear that. I think people sometimes assume it takes a lot more to start. $15k is still a lot but for around the same price of a car loan you can be making money with your own production company. :)
@@FilmJams Like people overlook or are hesitant about buying used gear. I've had many instances where people gave me weird looks or comments about being scared of getting scammed or getting broke gear, but lucky that's never happened.
Great Video! So many filmmakers now always invest in fancy equipment first like drones or gimbals which they don't need at all, while forgetting about the important basics. On real shoots, you'll need lighting and rigging options for that matter so much more often than gimbals.
Pfirsich drop haha that’s true! I see so many friends buy more gimbals and drones. My drone has been sitting dormant on a shelf for almost a year. Companies like DJI did a great job hyping them to new filmmakers... but I rarely get asked for drone footage anymore. And yes that rigging will come in much more handy! Hey thanks for watching! 😆🎥
Thanks! Definitely a few changes. I’d probably go for some aputure lights. P300c or 300x or 600D. For cameras I think a C300mkii you can get pretty cheap now. But a Sony fx6 is also a great alternative. Microphones haven’t changed much. Editing computer, I’d probably do a MacBook Pro m1 / m2 or Mac Studio. Hope that helps!
How can one pretty much develop a TV production group at low income? I would like to produce Game shows, News Programs, my own subsidiary of Superhero Series, Reality Competitions, and Academic Shows all under one production. But, what is the best first step of doing this?
Absolutely. Highly recommend Rokinon for starter kit. Still use mine! Here’s a video we did comparing the Roke’s to $20,000 Cooke lenses. See if you can tell the difference: th-cam.com/video/cDoIb_sS1Lc/w-d-xo.html
@@FilmJams Im starting in Atlanta, Ga but the content is for another country entirely. If we took the buzzfeeds, jubiees, Cut and etc and apply those same type of videos and distribution to a different country and lang esp a new and growing market like India, its going to be game changing. My only issue now is my mic input crapped out on me on my Sony A73 So Idk sud I get it fixed for 300 or buy something like a Atomos Inferno 700 which got XLR inputs as well as well as the ability to burn luts on log footage.?? Any suggestions
DonJayeTV nice! Atlanta is a great spot for film right now. Interesting concept. As far as your gear...If it’s only $300 to fix the XLR adapter I’d probably do that. I like having good solid audio on my main camera and if you ever want to sell, having a fully functioning package will be easier to resell it. But it doesn’t hurt to have a backup so maybe pickup the inferno down the line. Or a small mixer that can record sound like the Sound devices Mix Pre 3 or 6. I’m planning to pickup one of those so I can do more sound gigs without a sound tech.
I bought a Panasonic GH4 and added a GH5 when it came out. The GH4 is $800 brand new. The GH5, $1497. Add a couple of Lumix zooms, and you are good to go. I love the color, even on a big screen. So for $3000, you have two cameras and two lenses. The rest of your recommendatiins are right on, though I'd go with the Sachtler sticks. With the Panasonics, you'll need a separate audio recorder; the Zoom H4 or H6 has amazing sound.
Scott Slotterbeck nice! Yes the GH4 and GH5 are solid choices and have great color. Add that audio recorder and you are in business :D thanks for watching!
Wali Boi go deep into the Forrest. Hunt a raccoon, a squirrel and 2 eagles. Spread their entrails across your belly and lather thoroughly. Then sleep by campfire until the next full moon. Shower off the remnants of the animal entrails in a nearby stream. Don’t tell anyone what you’ve done. Go home and drink 6 shots of Jagermeister and put one dollar under your welcome mat. Then when you awake the next morning a man by the name of Hans Schmitt-Stein McGillicuddy will knock on your door. He will deliver all you need to start your production company. He may also stab you in the gut depending on his mood. So be prepared for a dagger fight.
Ooh that’s a tough one. I’d go for a pinhole camera and box of lottery tickets! Seriously tho, just start with an older used camera and a free editing program like Resolve and build up as you go. You can get cheap lights like the $35 ones we have a video on under our reviews section. And you can buy the other items we list in the video used too so they can be found cheaper. Good luck!
Hey mate 😀 great video! I have an eye handicap making it so I can’t get a driver’s license. Do you think I can fit everything on a backpack + hand carry to use public transport/Uber/Taxi to go to clients? Thanks! That’s what’s scaring me. 😅
Thanks! 😆👍🎥 For sure... you can always downsize your kit if needed. Camera gear keeps getting smaller and smaller. I definitely think you can do it! We shot a whole section of our movie in New York City using Uber to get around with our gear. Invest in a small portable cart to help you transport gear. And for the bigger jobs hire a PA to help you carry if needed. Good luck and thanks for watching!
For anyone wondering the Neewer light he mentioned really is incredible. I have 2 and plan on getting more. The bi color doesn't have any major color shifts with weird greens or magenta (they exist but they're very minimal) And they're plenty bright enough for everything ive needed so far.
Oh interesting, neewer is a brand that i don’t even look at when it comes to lighting, i have bought their C-stands and a few other things but lighting and color is something i am a bit too particular about to cheapen out on.. the cheapest i allowed myself to go was Aputure. You are now making me curious about these neewer lights, i might try one. Thanks
BabyG thanks so much! Glad it was helpful :) if you can use our affiliate links when you buy, it helps us keep creating more videos for you. They are below in the description. Cheers!
FYI GUYS! I'm the camera operator/editor on The Brandon Wilson Show and I edit EXCLUSIVELY with HITFILM its completely free and is basically Adobe Premier and After Effects put into one software. We absolutely love it and they offer packs to purchase plug in and effects. You can also buy the whole program with free updates for a year with an option to upgrade to the newer version after the year at a reduced cost. This isn't a promotion or anything I just feel like a lot of channels either don't know about this program or they leave it out. I'm really enjoying the tips on your own home film studio thanks for the video!
@@RolinRutledge woohoo thanks! And we’ll definitely be checking out Hitfilm when we have some time. I still need to master Resolve but I’ll put that on my list too 😆👍
@@FilmJams I use resolve for color grading so I know what you mean there lol. Trust me once you use Hitfilm you won't want to use anything else. The community is great. They put out updates all the time. They have a whole youtube channel dedicated to teaching how to use the program as well. Everything from how to put text in your shots to how to import and use 3d models etc. I'd love to see you do a video on it after you have some time to check it out. It would definitely help the indie filmmakers out there looking for a cheaper option. 🤟🏻😀
@@RolinRutledge For sure we likey freeee! It def sounds like a great option for indie filmmaking. I would love to do a video on it when I have some experience with it!
sharath chandra didn’t forget it. You can record any of the mics we show in the video directly into the XLR inputs on either the C100 or FS5 cameras we recommend. You don’t need an external sound recorder to start getting great audio...and using an external recorder can sometimes lead to more problems if you don’t have the extra crew to manage it (I’ve seen it happen - people set the recorder to wrong frame rate or batteries run out, etc). I personally record all my interviews directly into the camera’s XLR ports from the shotgun. Works great!
@Brisdad53 I hear what you're saying, and I agree sound is important. But as far as using an external recorder, it really depends on the camera you're shooting with. I don't shoot with our Alexa, Red, or Pocket 6K, or any DSLRs without a recorder. But something like a Canon C100, C300, or Sony FS5 and FS7, I shoot interviews on all the time with sound direct to camera. The preamps on the Zoom H6 are actually noisier than the preamps on the Canon C series or Sony F series cameras. They're meant for professional audio and that's why they have dual XLR inputs with phantom power. So while I agree that a basic audio recorder can help on certain jobs with certain cameras that don't have Pro Audio built-in, there are many cameras that do. And on the cameras we recommend in this video, I would not recommend using an external recorder especially if you're just starting out. If you're one-man-(or woman)-banding, I've found the less gear in the chain, the less chance for errors. And you'd have more noise floor anyway with an H6, so you would be getting lower quality audio by doing that. I've never once in 20 years doing this had a client say something about recording audio direct to camera - unless of course they hired a sound tech and expected one to be there...that's a different story.
Thanks, my friends and I are trying to start a film club at school so we can become known for when we get out of school. We needed advice . Anyone else got tips?
Is there a reason you didn't suggest the Godox SL60? They are sub $200 each, and they have a bowens mount. They are not battery powered, out of the box, but i'm sure there is an adapter available.
Cole Mowery I personally haven’t used them so don’t have experience with them like the other lights in the video. I don’t like recommending gear I personally haven’t used. I have heard good things about them but just judging from the specs they seem very low power compared to the other lights I recommended and also they look like they are not bi-color so you have to choose tungsten or daylight. I much prefer the flexibility of the Astras and Kino LEDs that are bi-color. Hope that helps answer your question and thanks for watching!
Cole Mowery if you’re just looking for a cheap light that’s low power and has bi-color I recommend these (see link below). They’re only about $40. We shot this video with 3 of them to show how you can do 3 point lighting for under $100. th-cam.com/video/Q74NtESSLDw/w-d-xo.html
I ended up will a similar setup after spending $10k, I think were I differed the most is I bought a drone, a few other lenses, a gimbal, and an extra camera for a B cam. I'm just using a A7iii and an a6400 which match well, but miss some functionality that a C100 would offer. I'm light on C-stands, and do mostly external audio recording with an H4n and F2BT... I got two great mono pods (sirui and manfroto used), but my old tripod and budget tripod are severely lacking.
Hi there! Thanks for sharing that. That’s cool to hear you had a similar setup. Those XLR ports are nice to have on the C100 but the a7III cameras are great and a little easier for gimbles plus the benefit of photos. It’s interesting to see how different people start their setups. Have a good one!
@@FilmJams thanks for replying. I’m sure I might have done something different if I had to do it over. Definitely prioritized a good tripod earlier. The Sirui SH25 for $250 would be a great starter.
Thanks for your video and channel. Just found it and subscribed. $4,000 for 1 camera as a new production company😳 that's a lot. Can you do a video about selecting the best camera for price, quality and functionality?
Thanks for watching! Yes you can definitely get cameras cheaper today than they were when we made this video. The C100 goes for about $1000 on eBay now haha. But yes we will look at making a video on how to choose a camera. Cheers! 😆👍🎥
I just spent 10k in auction to start my company but before watching this video and discover your TH-cam channel (I just subscribed!)... this is what I get, it's used but in perfect condition: - DJI Inspire 2 with X5S camera, SSD 240GB, SSD station, 4 batteries and 2 remote controllers. - Blackmagic mini ursa pro 4,6k with 24-105 Mark II - GH5 with kit lens and few batteries - Panasonic DVX200 (I don't really know what to do with it) - 2 tripod Sachtler - Sennheiser G3 wireless mic - Zoom H4n pro - Synology DS916+ with 4 hard drive 4TO - 2 headphone backbeat pro 2 - Ronin M I already own an iMac same version as you... NOW I'M BROKE HAHA shotout from Paris!
Pit Kaine thanks for the sub! Hello over to Paris :) that looks like a good kit of gear you got! What type of projects do you Film mostly? The DVX-200 might be good for documentary style productions or covering live events. But yes looks like you have a nice foundation for the production company!
@@FilmJams You deserve more subscribers:) I mostly shoot Weddings film, commercial, interviews and sometimes music video. I'll try to sold this camera to invest in light 💡 thanks for the answer
Pit Kaine thank you! Hope we can build the channel more next year. We do a lot of similar type work as well. And yes if you aren’t going to use it sell and get some nice lights. Good idea :) Best of luck!
Otab Will some pieces of large gear we rent but if you’re in the business for the long term, I definitely recommend buying a standard kit you can film with. Buying the essential gear in this video is a good place to start. I wouldn’t go out and buy a Red or Alexa right away, but our Canon C100 (which you can get now for under $2000 has paid for itself many times over).
Film Jams What about the bmpcc 4k? Would you recommend that over the c100? Thinking mostly in terms of if clients have a preference or if one would get you more work over the other.
Otab Will they both have pros and cons. To me the C100 is a more all around camera that works in most situations. The fact it has built in ND filters is a big reason I’d recommend it over the BMPCC 4k. If you’re shooting outside in sunlight this is invaluable and you can move quickly as a one man band. Also I like the dual recording on the C100. Shooting dual record, I always have a backup. This has saved me a few times when a card did get corrupted during a shoot. I also like having 2 XLR inputs on my C100 for sound. Now if your clients are needing 4K and slow motion and you don’t need to worry about situations where you’d need an ND filter or sound as much, the BMPCC could work for you. Personally I’d go C100 then add a BMPCC 4K later. That’s what we did.
I actually didn’t have insurance when I first started and still worked consistently enough to grow the business. It wasn’t until I started producing projects for larger clients where they asked for insurance that I eventually got it. But absolutely if you can afford it when you’re starting out, not a bad thing to have! Car…well in a lot of big production cities you don’t need a car. Anytime we do work in NYC or London there’s transpo 90% of the time. I also know production folks who Uber to set. I’d leave that one up to dealer’s choice and location. But hey thanks for the feedback!
@@FilmJams Was more like a joke, because me and my friends also had no insurance until we had to film in greece, where we were forced to store the gear in the VW. I also have no car, not even a driving license, because here in Germany you pay for the right to drive between 3000 and 4000 Euro these days. Everyone wants to rip you off since capitalism entered it's final form, I guess. 😂😅 We have public transport, but even here the clients want someone who can drive, because "professional". I don't know, how I will handle that issue, because film school costs too. And sadly in Germany we have to attend film school to become a filmmaker, not like in other countries where working on sets and experience is worth more than licenses and academic grades. German film industry is so extremely elitist. And I never got why, because compared with other countries our productions are pretty lame and forgettable. But it's all about the money and the special place beneath the sun, only the rich and wealthy can effort, I guess.
@@hidicproductions4849damn that sucks! Didn’t realize it was like that in Deutchland. You should come to America! We’ve actually had 2 German interns at our company and many from Europe. Many times the internships lead to good work! Even if not with our company many other US companies offer them too.
@@FilmJams Would be an option, if your country wouldn't try to become a dictatorship. 😅 But to be fair, here in Europe it doesn't look better on the political side... And you are right, Germany sucks in case of filmmaking. We have great ideas, but the execs and investors just don't want to risk something. And so, all good ideas end up in the bin. With DARK German creatives showed, what could be possible. But only with Netflix stepping in. Under the control of a german fund, that whole thing would have been a Till Schweiger comedy. I am sick of the restrictions, the glass floors, the constant rely on vitamin b and the elitist behavior around stuff, that shouldn't be called "art". The older I become, the more I understand, why Werner Herzog left this country and tried his luck in the states.
Malawi Gold nyuck nyuck nyuck! 😆 believe it or not we had one on our steampunk film Skyship Chronicles! Lol. Also once had an elephant wrangler! One day maybe an ostrich wrangler but we can only hope...
LaWanda Brown depends on budget. But EOS R is great for Mirrorless - you can do video and photos. And if you’re doing only video the Canon C200 and C300mkii are both great.
I am from INDIA and I badly want to start a business or a production company. But I am under age and no financial support. Can you give a suggestion small investments to start it
@@tombeachue6355 I’d talk to family members or a mentor if you have one - they can often help and often are willing to help especially if you have a good plan in place. Start small and build from there. You don’t need the most expensive gear to start. Buy used equipment or find companies that have older gear they might be willing to sell to you. Good luck!
Shree Bhabutgiriji Studio are you looking for a camera that costs $1500? Try the Canon C100 used on EBay. Or the Blackmagic Pocket 4k camera. Here’s a link to that: th-cam.com/video/X1PveEXJd6Q/w-d-xo.html
Thank you, very helpful. I had wanted to spend 15K plus right now on camera alone Sony FS7MK2 and extras exluding other things you mentioned. Thank you so much really, really helpful. Bless you, well appreciated.
Cole Mowery yes that’s a slightly different process and cost in each state and country so didn’t want to get into that. Our channel is about helping on the video production side of the process. But I’m sure there is a tutorial for your specific state or country on TH-cam on how to setup the paper work for a new business and also the costs specific to your region.
As much as gear matters, it matters to only a true extent. To start a video prod company you need a lot more than gear. You need knowledge in business, marketing , customer service and ao much more. The video is kinda misleading. As if someone would buy all of this and his or her prod company would be successful cause they bought some gear. Oh man.
Misleading to those easily misled maybe. I would have killed for this specific list of gear coming out of film school or when I first started my business. Any great entrepreneur will tell you: The first stage in starting a business is knowledge gathering. This video gives free knowledge from our experience. Don’t take it as the only knowledge...use it as a piece of the puzzle to become successful. Many already have done that and sent us emails about how it’s helped them. So make sure you’re asking the right questions and not looking for flaws in those offering help and support to get you started.
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I dont know much about running a production company ,but I do know a thing or 2 about computers. I'd be inclined to not recommend a all-in one computer like that Dell (or the iMac for that matter but with Apple you don't have much choice). If alone for the lifespan argument. When that Dell becomes too slow for your workflow, you need to get a new PC. That means also tossing out your videocard, your ram, your ssd's and your monitor, as it's all put together, often not possible to disassemble it and if so not always compatible. It also has horrible resale for the previous mentioned reasons.
Just getting a monitor and a seperate tower means you can be much more specific with your parts (Does Resolve like CUDA or OpenCL? What videocards are best for that, etc etc, You are free to choose all that rather than relying on what Dell (or Apple) offers you) and more important, when your processor becomes too slow for your new 8K RED footage workflow ( ;) ) you can buy just a processor, or just some ram and get right up to speed. You don't need to toss out your existing computer but can simply upgrade it. It's also better at cooling , potentially quieter etc.
Lots of benefits, especially if you pick and assemble yourself, but even if you choose to buy an off the shelf workstation from say HP or Dell, you're still getting a lot of the above mentioned benefits. Just figured I'd add my 2 cents there.
Thanks for the comment! I can see your point, having the flexibility to upgrade is a nice option. I did that with our older Mac Pro towers for years, and they lasted nearly 10 years (which is a pretty long life-span for a computer). I just think the technology has reached a point where my $2800 iMac is better than the over $10,000 that I invested in my Pro Tower. But sure if you're doing really high end work, having a tower may be a better option. But I think many people looking for a solid editing machine can now turn to an all-in-one. I know 5 years ago, I never would have said that, but my iMac is so fast. We just edited and mastered a 4K feature film on it (Elfette Saves Christmas that got national distribution), and it was crazy how easy it was. Like butter! :)
I prefer towers mostly because components are replaceable. I've replaced more than one floppy drive in my time. What I find -- and I have been buying computers since 1982 -- is that by the time a computer is obsolete, it is cheaper to buy a new PC. For example, I wanted a better graphics card but had to sacrifice performance heavily because my power supply could not support what I really needed. That computer is currently in storage, but it is much slower than my newer laptop I use now because it lacks an SSD, despite having a Core 7 CPU.
@@thecaliforniawar5635 yeah towers are great if you can afford them. Our post shop is primarily Mac and I just looked at the new Mac Pro towers and they’re nearly $10,000 just for a mid level model with 2TB, 48gb RAM, and Vega graphics card (and no monitor!). We could have 3 iMacs or MacBook Pros for that price that can all handle 4K and 6K footage easily. So it really didn’t make sense for us to go with towers. But I do have 4 of the older Mac Pro towers that still work (10+ years later) but only for 1080p stuff. And they were more in the $3000-$4000 range. Crazy how the high end computers have increased in price so much.
@@FilmJams Of course, I'm talking about WIndows machines. I've never paid over $900 for a desktop PC, at least not since I bought an Amiga 1000 in 1985. I've never priced Macintosh, not since they came out almost 40 years ago.
@@thecaliforniawar5635 cool. Yeah like I said our shop is mostly all Mac. It’s apples and oranges.
Whoooo Hoooooo MKE600. Pure gold Jerry.
Matt Spaugh Photography she’s a classic!
@@FilmJams I nicked my on a church gig - quite by accident of course. When I realized I'd brought it home, I sent them an email about it. They told me to just keep it, they'd call if they ever needed it. That was 5 years ago and I swear I've used in on 99% of the productions I've done.
Matt Spaugh Photography 😂 that’s awesome. The film gods wanted you to have excellent sound!
I just started film and video classes with a goal to shoot a short in May of 2021. This has been such an informative video about gear! Many thanks!
Glad to hear that Eric! Good luck with the short! 😆🎥
Also chech out the Canon XA50, XF400/405, Sony A7 III, Nikon Z6 and Eos R/RP. You also got Panasonic and Sony video cameras.
For sure! Lots of great cameras out right now. Mirrorless are great but if you’re trying to start a production company, I recommend a video camera with integrated ND filters and with full size XLR inputs like the Canon C100 or Sony Fs5. Having these two features alone (plus ability to dual record on C100) is better suited to Client work. Though I love using my A7III and EOS R for b-roll and gimbal shots. But they’re not as good all around as the other ones I mentioned. I haven’t had experience with or seen the XF400 or XA50 on set so don’t have experience to recommend them.
@@FilmJams Yep, totally agree. I got the Xa50. On the Gh5 and Sonys you can buy their XLR-adapters.
@@larsosejohansen Yes we have the XLR adapter for the A7s and A7iii. The adapter works fine, but also an extra cost like $799 for the good one. How do you like the Xa50?
I started with the Canon C100 - which later ghot the DAF upgrade. Great camera. ;)
Nice! C100 is such a great camera. And that DAF is so useful. Thanks for watching!
You answered my question, which video editor you use or recommend. I fully trained myself on Divinci Resolve so I'm stoked that you used it! Now I just need a lot of that other great stuff and a STUDIO and CREW and........!
Hey Frank! thanks for watching. Yes Resolve is awesome. Good luck on your search for the studio and crew. And happy filming in 2022! 😆👍🎥
Very brilliant summary 👍🏼👍🏼
Thanks for watching! Appreciate that!
The 17-55 2.8 would be a much better choice for your C100 than a 24-105. 24 is not really that wide on super35.
Matt Horvath also a good choice! Depends on what you’re shooting tho...I use that longer range quite a bit and don’t need wide that much. For Interviews I like longer focal length better.
Id go with the Sennheiser G3 over the Rode, any day!! Ive used both, and bought the G3. Sooooo happy!
robert Burks nice! That’s a nice mic too! Good addition :)
Don’t forget the matte box!! Make yourself look more professional 😉
Haha! Always! Gotta matte box it up for those clients :)
"Network, network, network, network!".
Yes indeeed! And also…network! 😆👍🎥
If we're talking about starting a production company - any advice on nailing down clients? I already own a solid camera/audio/light kit. I imagine since you guys have been working in the same area for over a decade most of it is word of mouth. How did you go about getting your first handful of clients off the ground? What was the first year like? I do production full time for a company and do the occasional freelance gig but I've never been able to get a client base large enough to justify quitting my full time editing role.
Definitely great question. The first year was filled with uncertainty, and trying to make ends meet for sure. One thing that we tried to do at first was a variety of jobs...so whether it was shooting photos, doing audio, camera, or editing...even did a little web design at first - just so there were more chances for clients. Then as we went along we focused more on just video production - but since we had some clients from all of those areas - we were able to market video to say our web clients. I'd also make sure you get listed on Production Hub and Mandy and all the major video sites. A kick ass website that ranks on google always helps too! You'll have to invest some money in that if you don't do web, but it's worth it. And once you get the calls, make sure you can close the deals. Have a sales person help part-time if you don't like closing clients. Hope that's useful! And good luck. It's a whole new world out in freelance, but you'll love it.
@@FilmJams Thanks for such a thoughtful response - you guys are awesome. Did you originally market yourself as a freelancer or a production company as a whole? My guess would be a company if you want to reel in bigger fish. Any thoughts on looking into a sales person for getting clients? Is this something you've tried in the past?
Nice Guy thanks! Glad to help. I did both and still do. Sometimes we get company jobs and sometimes I work as a freelance DP for other people. Helps having both streams of income. As far as sales person we did use a few people early on and they were people I met through networking - friends of friends or at networking events.
Why would you opt for a smaller EOS camera over a professional big camera as seen on movie sets in Hollywood?
It depends on what you want to use the camera for. If you’re just starting out and don’t have a $100,000 budget for your camera package then the Canon EOS Cameras are great options. This video is about how to start a production company for under $10,000, that’s why we recommend the EOS cameras in this video. They’re solid workhorses that are very popular and good money makers. But we do have other videos on high end cinema production cameras if you want to learn more about those. Just remember the bigger the camera, the more crew and support equipment you need to use it. You’ll need a larger tripod that alone can cost $10,000 to $20,000 to support a fully kitted up Alexa or Red camera. So I don’t recommend buying a camera just cuz it’s bigger and looks professional. But it if you actually need it :)
Do you have a link for the light kit you referenced in the vid with case + clips?
Hey Kyle! The links are in the description below the video. The kit is sort of one we made ourselves - but what you’ll want are the Quasar science tubes, the Impact dimmers, and the 5 bulb case (those links are all in the description for ya ;)
Hahahahahaha the shirt!!!!
Jerry Nieves 😆🤘
What would YOU like to see in our next video?
Film Jams As a one man owner of a production company. How do you grow a team and why should you grow a team.
The ups and down of freelancers vs employee. Can one person be so creative to be a producer, director, lighting, script writer, camera man, location director, costume, make up artist?
Where do you start your production company? In your room, lounge, hire office, or use hotel function rooms, open country side, etc?
How do you Promote your work, social media, website, TH-cam, etc? What make a good production company 2020?
My opinion. Thank you!
Anita Alexus Okocha great ideas! We’ll work up some of these for sure soon. We have touched on a few of these ideas too... Make sure to check out our Guide to Filmmaking playlist here: th-cam.com/play/PLMX4BQsnjAt9x9Li9NCA_AQUJgB2d4gRh.html
@John Dough I'm not sure what you are saying. But I do like eating homemade soup while watching Tarantino movies.
@John Dough Hold on, I'm halfway through Reservoir Dogs and a nice New England Clam Chowder...what's that now?
CHOREOGRAPHY!
grate , you will probably need to work for 5 years to gather the 10k , then probably 2 years to get good at what you do , now that you are good you can start charging for your work , most project will be 100-200 , probably gone get one every 6 months , if you are lucky. and now your gear is probably 3-4 years old , you will need soon new computer and camera , so you spend 8 years have make 1000-2000 spend 10k and you will need soon 5k to get new gear , and if you make you company leget , you also have to pay the state , well if you don t have any rich friends or relatives , you can start sale you gear , and go back your old job ,
and since is 3 year that you stop working , to become a cinematographer , your land lord has kick you out , gf too , so is back to your parent basment :P and is at that moment your computer die , and need 3000 to get new one since you decide to get a i mac and no parts can be save once a single part fall on mac you throw everything away , and at this point your 5000 buck camera is worth less than 1000 well good thing is your tripod and ligth have retain most of the value (the 50% )
That sounds like the alternative Biff timeline from Back to the Future! I guess if you really have some bad luck anything is possible. But honestly…Just don’t steal the Grays Sports Almanac!
To be clear, the exact gear in this video is how I grew my business from working out of my house to having a 14,000 sq ft film studio. Just spend more time making videos and less time writing TH-cam comments. 😆👍🎥
@@FilmJams almanac will be grate solution h ahhah !!! well if you live in country where the economy suck , and average wage is 200-500$ or you can not find wealthy clients , and the price of gear is the same no mater where you are , and i live in one of thow shiti country , and that alternative reality become real fast :P
@@darkphotographer oh true! Yeah being in a good busy city def helps to get video work - tho where I’m from (St Pete, FL) was not very busy 15 years ago when I started. Where are you from? The nice thing today is you can do video work remotely and with clients around the world as technology has changed. We have clients in 5 countries. So maybe you can find clients out of your country. Do some TH-cam videos to establish your brand. There are ways!
@@FilmJams greece thessaloniki , is the second biggest city , i work with musician but most of them are broke ,:) and also average wage is 500eu p mounts , as you can see from most of my video on my channel they suck due to low budget ,
Canon 90D is a beast for a video camera I made a movie on it it came out really good people underestimate that canon 90D power fr
Nice! Yeah 90D is hot! Thanks for watching and stopping by the channel.
I spent about $15k to buy gear for my production company. Only the PC I build and lighting equipment are brand new. Everything else I buy used. Couldn’t be happier.
Peter Lai nice! Yes used Gear can be a great way to save some Pesos! What camera package did you end up starting with?
Very cool! Glad to hear that. I think people sometimes assume it takes a lot more to start. $15k is still a lot but for around the same price of a car loan you can be making money with your own production company. :)
Deadass man, people sleep on buying used gear.
Ayechino Prod. People sleep on it? What u mean?
@@FilmJams Like people overlook or are hesitant about buying used gear. I've had many instances where people gave me weird looks or comments about being scared of getting scammed or getting broke gear, but lucky that's never happened.
Great Video! So many filmmakers now always invest in fancy equipment first like drones or gimbals which they don't need at all, while forgetting about the important basics. On real shoots, you'll need lighting and rigging options for that matter so much more often than gimbals.
Pfirsich drop haha that’s true! I see so many friends buy more gimbals and drones. My drone has been sitting dormant on a shelf for almost a year. Companies like DJI did a great job hyping them to new filmmakers... but I rarely get asked for drone footage anymore. And yes that rigging will come in much more handy! Hey thanks for watching! 😆🎥
gimbals are helpful lot
Awesome video, Chris even for 2022! I still have that Sennheiser mic and I adore it since day 1!
Thanks brother! That mic is awesome. Hard to bear for the price! 😀🤘🎥
Thx, I am trying to start a film crew with my friends.
Nice! Good luck. Thanks for watching!
@@FilmJams thank you!
@Bruno Jauregui 👍 😀
Great video! It's two years old, any changes/upgrades you would advise in your final buy list for 2023?
Thanks! Definitely a few changes. I’d probably go for some aputure lights. P300c or 300x or 600D. For cameras I think a C300mkii you can get pretty cheap now. But a Sony fx6 is also a great alternative. Microphones haven’t changed much. Editing computer, I’d probably do a MacBook Pro m1 / m2 or Mac Studio. Hope that helps!
How can one pretty much develop a TV production group at low income? I would like to produce Game shows, News Programs, my own subsidiary of Superhero Series, Reality Competitions, and Academic Shows all under one production. But, what is the best first step of doing this?
What about Ronokin Lenses? Are they a recommended starter lens kit?
Absolutely. Highly recommend Rokinon for starter kit. Still use mine! Here’s a video we did comparing the Roke’s to $20,000 Cooke lenses. See if you can tell the difference: th-cam.com/video/cDoIb_sS1Lc/w-d-xo.html
Wow this has been a great help. I am putting together my own media company and this definitely put the equipment prices into perspective! Thank you!
Thanks for watching! Glad it was helpful! Where are you starting your company at?
@@FilmJams Im starting in Atlanta, Ga but the content is for another country entirely. If we took the buzzfeeds, jubiees, Cut and etc and apply those same type of videos and distribution to a different country and lang esp a new and growing market like India, its going to be game changing. My only issue now is my mic input crapped out on me on my Sony A73 So Idk sud I get it fixed for 300 or buy something like a Atomos Inferno 700 which got XLR inputs as well as well as the ability to burn luts on log footage.?? Any suggestions
DonJayeTV nice! Atlanta is a great spot for film right now. Interesting concept. As far as your gear...If it’s only $300 to fix the XLR adapter I’d probably do that. I like having good solid audio on my main camera and if you ever want to sell, having a fully functioning package will be easier to resell it. But it doesn’t hurt to have a backup so maybe pickup the inferno down the line. Or a small mixer that can record sound like the Sound devices Mix Pre 3 or 6. I’m planning to pickup one of those so I can do more sound gigs without a sound tech.
This video is kind of oddly specific to a class I'm taking.
Interesting! Which class?
great video guys, i love the colors on the c100 as well
Thanks for watching! Yes great camera!
Awesome!! Thanks for all the tips!
Anytime! Glad it was helpful!
I bought a Panasonic GH4 and added a GH5 when it came out. The GH4 is $800 brand new. The GH5, $1497. Add a couple of Lumix zooms, and you are good to go. I love the color, even on a big screen. So for $3000, you have two cameras and two lenses.
The rest of your recommendatiins are right on, though I'd go with the Sachtler sticks. With the Panasonics, you'll need a separate audio recorder; the Zoom H4 or H6 has amazing sound.
Scott Slotterbeck nice! Yes the GH4 and GH5 are solid choices and have great color. Add that audio recorder and you are in business :D thanks for watching!
Now tell me how to start a production company for 1$
Wali Boi go deep into the Forrest. Hunt a raccoon, a squirrel and 2 eagles. Spread their entrails across your belly and lather thoroughly. Then sleep by campfire until the next full moon. Shower off the remnants of the animal entrails in a nearby stream. Don’t tell anyone what you’ve done. Go home and drink 6 shots of Jagermeister and put one dollar under your welcome mat. Then when you awake the next morning a man by the name of Hans Schmitt-Stein McGillicuddy will knock on your door. He will deliver all you need to start your production company. He may also stab you in the gut depending on his mood. So be prepared for a dagger fight.
Consider used equipment, as well as your cellphone. That's good enough for your personal creativity.
Please tell for under 1000dollars, from india
Ooh that’s a tough one. I’d go for a pinhole camera and box of lottery tickets! Seriously tho, just start with an older used camera and a free editing program like Resolve and build up as you go. You can get cheap lights like the $35 ones we have a video on under our reviews section. And you can buy the other items we list in the video used too so they can be found cheaper. Good luck!
This was very helpful, thanks.
Glad to hear that. You’re welcome!
You are the best!
Thanks! Glad you liked the video!
Bruh i cant even buy a 200$ cam
Where will i get 10k dollars
ISRAAD VISUALS I took out a loan. If you can buy a $10,000 car...you can def get $10,000 to start a production company!
Hey mate 😀 great video! I have an eye handicap making it so I can’t get a driver’s license. Do you think I can fit everything on a backpack + hand carry to use public transport/Uber/Taxi to go to clients? Thanks! That’s what’s scaring me. 😅
Thanks! 😆👍🎥 For sure... you can always downsize your kit if needed. Camera gear keeps getting smaller and smaller. I definitely think you can do it! We shot a whole section of our movie in New York City using Uber to get around with our gear. Invest in a small portable cart to help you transport gear. And for the bigger jobs hire a PA to help you carry if needed. Good luck and thanks for watching!
I love my C100 mark ii, the thing is a beast. As for lenses the sigma 18-35 f/1.8 is great. It doesn’t have the wide focal length but still.
Right on. Such a great camera for the price! Thanks for watching 😁🎥
Thanks for the tips 😊
You’re welcome. Thanks for watching 😆👍🎥
For anyone wondering the Neewer light he mentioned really is incredible.
I have 2 and plan on getting more. The bi color doesn't have any major color shifts with weird greens or magenta (they exist but they're very minimal)
And they're plenty bright enough for everything ive needed so far.
CV Productions thanks CV! Appreciate the note and you watching. Have a good one! 😆🎥💥
Oh interesting, neewer is a brand that i don’t even look at when it comes to lighting, i have bought their C-stands and a few other things but lighting and color is something i am a bit too particular about to cheapen out on.. the cheapest i allowed myself to go was Aputure.
You are now making me curious about these neewer lights, i might try one. Thanks
Yeah worth a try tho Aputure is killing it and so popular now. It’s hard to not buy their gear as we get requested often and it’s very affordable.
That T-Shirt. ❤
Thanks! Love that one too haha 👍🎥
Awesome suggestions! I love the rode wireless mics and am probably going to get them thanks to your suggestion. The audio was great!!
BabyG thanks so much! Glad it was helpful :) if you can use our affiliate links when you buy, it helps us keep creating more videos for you. They are below in the description. Cheers!
FYI GUYS! I'm the camera operator/editor on The Brandon Wilson Show and I edit EXCLUSIVELY with HITFILM its completely free and is basically Adobe Premier and After Effects put into one software. We absolutely love it and they offer packs to purchase plug in and effects. You can also buy the whole program with free updates for a year with an option to upgrade to the newer version after the year at a reduced cost. This isn't a promotion or anything I just feel like a lot of channels either don't know about this program or they leave it out. I'm really enjoying the tips on your own home film studio thanks for the video!
Thanks Ro-dog! Glad to hear you liked the video. Come back to the channel anytime and hang 😆👍
@@FilmJams that comment along with the great content earned my sub! Will be checking out more. 🤟🏻
@@RolinRutledge woohoo thanks! And we’ll definitely be checking out Hitfilm when we have some time. I still need to master Resolve but I’ll put that on my list too 😆👍
@@FilmJams I use resolve for color grading so I know what you mean there lol. Trust me once you use Hitfilm you won't want to use anything else. The community is great. They put out updates all the time. They have a whole youtube channel dedicated to teaching how to use the program as well. Everything from how to put text in your shots to how to import and use 3d models etc. I'd love to see you do a video on it after you have some time to check it out. It would definitely help the indie filmmakers out there looking for a cheaper option. 🤟🏻😀
@@RolinRutledge For sure we likey freeee! It def sounds like a great option for indie filmmaking. I would love to do a video on it when I have some experience with it!
Thank you for sharing!
You’re welcome! Thanks for watching!
You forgot audio recorder!🤷 How can you record with shotgun mic without recorder!
sharath chandra didn’t forget it. You can record any of the mics we show in the video directly into the XLR inputs on either the C100 or FS5 cameras we recommend. You don’t need an external sound recorder to start getting great audio...and using an external recorder can sometimes lead to more problems if you don’t have the extra crew to manage it (I’ve seen it happen - people set the recorder to wrong frame rate or batteries run out, etc). I personally record all my interviews directly into the camera’s XLR ports from the shotgun. Works great!
@@FilmJams you are right!,👍
sharath chandra happy to help! :) are you putting a production company together? Let us know if you need anything else.
@Brisdad53 I hear what you're saying, and I agree sound is important. But as far as using an external recorder, it really depends on the camera you're shooting with. I don't shoot with our Alexa, Red, or Pocket 6K, or any DSLRs without a recorder. But something like a Canon C100, C300, or Sony FS5 and FS7, I shoot interviews on all the time with sound direct to camera. The preamps on the Zoom H6 are actually noisier than the preamps on the Canon C series or Sony F series cameras. They're meant for professional audio and that's why they have dual XLR inputs with phantom power. So while I agree that a basic audio recorder can help on certain jobs with certain cameras that don't have Pro Audio built-in, there are many cameras that do. And on the cameras we recommend in this video, I would not recommend using an external recorder especially if you're just starting out. If you're one-man-(or woman)-banding, I've found the less gear in the chain, the less chance for errors. And you'd have more noise floor anyway with an H6, so you would be getting lower quality audio by doing that. I've never once in 20 years doing this had a client say something about recording audio direct to camera - unless of course they hired a sound tech and expected one to be there...that's a different story.
Thanks, my friends and I are trying to start a film club at school so we can become known for when we get out of school. We needed advice . Anyone else got tips?
Very cool. Good luck! If you have any questions for the team let us know.
Is there a reason you didn't suggest the Godox SL60? They are sub $200 each, and they have a bowens mount. They are not battery powered, out of the box, but i'm sure there is an adapter available.
Cole Mowery I personally haven’t used them so don’t have experience with them like the other lights in the video. I don’t like recommending gear I personally haven’t used. I have heard good things about them but just judging from the specs they seem very low power compared to the other lights I recommended and also they look like they are not bi-color so you have to choose tungsten or daylight. I much prefer the flexibility of the Astras and Kino LEDs that are bi-color. Hope that helps answer your question and thanks for watching!
Cole Mowery if you’re just looking for a cheap light that’s low power and has bi-color I recommend these (see link below). They’re only about $40. We shot this video with 3 of them to show how you can do 3 point lighting for under $100. th-cam.com/video/Q74NtESSLDw/w-d-xo.html
based on the three cameras that you showed. I'm going for the gh5 with both the 12-35 and 35-100
Can’t go wrong with that setup! Enjoy it! Thanks for watching.
This was ace, loved the info. Efficient and quirky.
Marty thanks Marty! Really appreciate that. Cheers! 😆🎥
Damn dude, good topic :D .
Haha thanks! It’s actually how we started ours and I hope it’s helpful ✌️🎥😁
@@FilmJams Experience is the most valuable piece of info.
@@cubul32 right on! 🙏
I ended up will a similar setup after spending $10k, I think were I differed the most is I bought a drone, a few other lenses, a gimbal, and an extra camera for a B cam. I'm just using a A7iii and an a6400 which match well, but miss some functionality that a C100 would offer. I'm light on C-stands, and do mostly external audio recording with an H4n and F2BT... I got two great mono pods (sirui and manfroto used), but my old tripod and budget tripod are severely lacking.
Hi there! Thanks for sharing that. That’s cool to hear you had a similar setup. Those XLR ports are nice to have on the C100 but the a7III cameras are great and a little easier for gimbles plus the benefit of photos. It’s interesting to see how different people start their setups. Have a good one!
@@FilmJams thanks for replying. I’m sure I might have done something different if I had to do it over. Definitely prioritized a good tripod earlier. The Sirui SH25 for $250 would be a great starter.
@@theelbrando6662 haha yeah same! I waited to long to get a decent set of sticks. And a good cart too! Loading in solo to locations is never fun 😊👍
Thanks for your video and channel. Just found it and subscribed. $4,000 for 1 camera as a new production company😳 that's a lot. Can you do a video about selecting the best camera for price, quality and functionality?
Thanks for watching! Yes you can definitely get cameras cheaper today than they were when we made this video. The C100 goes for about $1000 on eBay now haha. But yes we will look at making a video on how to choose a camera. Cheers! 😆👍🎥
@@FilmJams thank you!! Checking out the c100 now.
You’re welcome! Good luck :)
I just spent 10k in auction to start my company but before watching this video and discover your TH-cam channel (I just subscribed!)... this is what I get, it's used but in perfect condition:
- DJI Inspire 2 with X5S camera, SSD 240GB, SSD station, 4 batteries and 2 remote controllers.
- Blackmagic mini ursa pro 4,6k with 24-105 Mark II
- GH5 with kit lens and few batteries
- Panasonic DVX200 (I don't really know what to do with it)
- 2 tripod Sachtler
- Sennheiser G3 wireless mic
- Zoom H4n pro
- Synology DS916+ with 4 hard drive 4TO
- 2 headphone backbeat pro 2
- Ronin M
I already own an iMac same version as you... NOW I'M BROKE HAHA
shotout from Paris!
Pit Kaine thanks for the sub! Hello over to Paris :) that looks like a good kit of gear you got! What type of projects do you Film mostly? The DVX-200 might be good for documentary style productions or covering live events. But yes looks like you have a nice foundation for the production company!
@@FilmJams You deserve more subscribers:) I mostly shoot Weddings film, commercial, interviews and sometimes music video. I'll try to sold this camera to invest in light 💡 thanks for the answer
Pit Kaine thank you! Hope we can build the channel more next year. We do a lot of similar type work as well. And yes if you aren’t going to use it sell and get some nice lights. Good idea :) Best of luck!
Tout ça pour 10k?? Wow ça tue! Bravo
Une fois que tu as des lights tu auras vraiment une bonne base!
@@joelelhadj6993 yes depuis j’ai investi chez nanlite, une 60, une 300 et les pavotube 30 ;)
Thx for not holding back :) ❤️
😆👍 Thanks for watching!
Do you even need equipment as a company? Do you think it’s better to rent based on the job? Or open and charge for the equipment?
Otab Will some pieces of large gear we rent but if you’re in the business for the long term, I definitely recommend buying a standard kit you can film with. Buying the essential gear in this video is a good place to start. I wouldn’t go out and buy a Red or Alexa right away, but our Canon C100 (which you can get now for under $2000 has paid for itself many times over).
Film Jams What about the bmpcc 4k? Would you recommend that over the c100? Thinking mostly in terms of if clients have a preference or if one would get you more work over the other.
Otab Will they both have pros and cons. To me the C100 is a more all around camera that works in most situations. The fact it has built in ND filters is a big reason I’d recommend it over the BMPCC 4k. If you’re shooting outside in sunlight this is invaluable and you can move quickly as a one man band. Also I like the dual recording on the C100. Shooting dual record, I always have a backup. This has saved me a few times when a card did get corrupted during a shoot. I also like having 2 XLR inputs on my C100 for sound. Now if your clients are needing 4K and slow motion and you don’t need to worry about situations where you’d need an ND filter or sound as much, the BMPCC could work for you. Personally I’d go C100 then add a BMPCC 4K later. That’s what we did.
I have a Canon C500 II.
Romy Sarkar Rakshit amazing camera! You are way ahead of the game haha :) how do you like it?
Who will pay the rents 🤣🤣🤣 ?
Hopefully your clients! 😆🎥🚀
Yeah... you forgot insurance, costs of starting a business, and the car. Because everybody needs a car these days... 😬
I actually didn’t have insurance when I first started and still worked consistently enough to grow the business. It wasn’t until I started producing projects for larger clients where they asked for insurance that I eventually got it. But absolutely if you can afford it when you’re starting out, not a bad thing to have! Car…well in a lot of big production cities you don’t need a car. Anytime we do work in NYC or London there’s transpo 90% of the time. I also know production folks who Uber to set. I’d leave that one up to dealer’s choice and location. But hey thanks for the feedback!
@@FilmJams Was more like a joke, because me and my friends also had no insurance until we had to film in greece, where we were forced to store the gear in the VW. I also have no car, not even a driving license, because here in Germany you pay for the right to drive between 3000 and 4000 Euro these days. Everyone wants to rip you off since capitalism entered it's final form, I guess. 😂😅
We have public transport, but even here the clients want someone who can drive, because "professional". I don't know, how I will handle that issue, because film school costs too. And sadly in Germany we have to attend film school to become a filmmaker, not like in other countries where working on sets and experience is worth more than licenses and academic grades. German film industry is so extremely elitist. And I never got why, because compared with other countries our productions are pretty lame and forgettable. But it's all about the money and the special place beneath the sun, only the rich and wealthy can effort, I guess.
@@hidicproductions4849damn that sucks! Didn’t realize it was like that in Deutchland. You should come to America! We’ve actually had 2 German interns at our company and many from Europe. Many times the internships lead to good work! Even if not with our company many other US companies offer them too.
@@FilmJams Would be an option, if your country wouldn't try to become a dictatorship. 😅 But to be fair, here in Europe it doesn't look better on the political side... And you are right, Germany sucks in case of filmmaking. We have great ideas, but the execs and investors just don't want to risk something. And so, all good ideas end up in the bin. With DARK German creatives showed, what could be possible. But only with Netflix stepping in. Under the control of a german fund, that whole thing would have been a Till Schweiger comedy. I am sick of the restrictions, the glass floors, the constant rely on vitamin b and the elitist behavior around stuff, that shouldn't be called "art". The older I become, the more I understand, why Werner Herzog left this country and tried his luck in the states.
Hah ! Horse wranglers, jokes !
Malawi Gold nyuck nyuck nyuck! 😆 believe it or not we had one on our steampunk film Skyship Chronicles! Lol. Also once had an elephant wrangler! One day maybe an ostrich wrangler but we can only hope...
@@FilmJams I like ur shit, just sub'd
Malawi Gold thanks! 😆🎥 appreciate it!
thanks
Thank you for watching!
Very informative
TheLoneWandrer thanks for watching! Glad it was helpful.
Which Canon do you suggest with 4k
LaWanda Brown depends on budget. But EOS R is great for Mirrorless - you can do video and photos. And if you’re doing only video the Canon C200 and C300mkii are both great.
@@FilmJams how's the slow motion on that camera
LaWanda Brown they all have 1080 60p. C200 has 4k 60p. I like the look of it. You can watch some of our other videos to see the slow motion.
LaWanda Brown you can see c200 slow mo in this video: th-cam.com/video/Wl2psCKiPVo/w-d-xo.html
LaWanda Brown you can see some Canon EOS R slow mo in these videos: th-cam.com/video/8nIduCYUfks/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/pi9eqWWhhI4/w-d-xo.html
10 stacks ?
LLLUUU Bluetigers 10 stacks gets ya on the tracks!
this was great!
Step Afrika thanks! Glad it was helpful!
Thank for that... !
Mister Camworks thanks for watching!
Anyone thinking of loans
Are you thinking of getting a loan?
@@FilmJams thinking about it any advice
I would recommend getting prequalified from a bank to see how much you can get approved for. Any specific advice you’re looking for?
I am from INDIA and I badly want to start a business or a production company. But I am under age and no financial support. Can you give a suggestion small investments to start it
@@tombeachue6355 I’d talk to family members or a mentor if you have one - they can often help and often are willing to help especially if you have a good plan in place. Start small and build from there. You don’t need the most expensive gear to start. Buy used equipment or find companies that have older gear they might be willing to sell to you. Good luck!
How to u make money starting off?
Thanks for watching. We've got some tips on how to get work in this video: th-cam.com/video/LZV3CmQxgJs/w-d-xo.html - have you checked that out?
Say me camra 1500
My Nambar 9082678454
Shree Bhabutgiriji Studio sorry what are you asking?
@@FilmJams Get me camera of 1500
Shree Bhabutgiriji Studio are you looking for a camera that costs $1500? Try the Canon C100 used on EBay. Or the Blackmagic Pocket 4k camera. Here’s a link to that: th-cam.com/video/X1PveEXJd6Q/w-d-xo.html
Thank you, very helpful. I had wanted to spend 15K plus right now on camera alone Sony FS7MK2 and extras exluding other things you mentioned. Thank you so much really, really helpful. Bless you, well appreciated.
Anita Alexus Okocha thanks so much! Glad it was helpful! 😆 that FS7 mk2 is a nice camera package! Very cool! Happy shooting.
Thank you got the message! Bless your helpfulness to humanity. Take care 👍
Anita Alexus Okocha thank you! :)
Thanks for the advice I can't wait to get started
For sure! Glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching! 🎥😁🤘
get a PC not the iMac
FX_ Gtx there you go! We listed both options as some people prefer the Mac OS. Also you get a great low cost editing option with Final Cut X on Mac.
Wrong. Ive used both. Mac all day
You also didn't include the cost of registering your business with the government and all the forms which are associated with that process.
Cole Mowery yes that’s a slightly different process and cost in each state and country so didn’t want to get into that. Our channel is about helping on the video production side of the process. But I’m sure there is a tutorial for your specific state or country on TH-cam on how to setup the paper work for a new business and also the costs specific to your region.
As much as gear matters, it matters to only a true extent.
To start a video prod company you need a lot more than gear. You need knowledge in business, marketing , customer service and ao much more.
The video is kinda misleading. As if someone would buy all of this and his or her prod company would be successful cause they bought some gear. Oh man.
Misleading to those easily misled maybe. I would have killed for this specific list of gear coming out of film school or when I first started my business. Any great entrepreneur will tell you: The first stage in starting a business is knowledge gathering. This video gives free knowledge from our experience. Don’t take it as the only knowledge...use it as a piece of the puzzle to become successful. Many already have done that and sent us emails about how it’s helped them. So make sure you’re asking the right questions and not looking for flaws in those offering help and support to get you started.