Funding. BIG problem. Little Film.

[brandeenoh]

Hey people of HV20 forums,
I'm having a really hard time getting an hv-20, and i really want one.
what suggestions do you guys have?
However, I'm not old enough to get a job yet. (YES, i admit it.)
Asian family who doesn't really support my idea of becoming a filmmaker.
So,
What do you guys say?



thanks,
brandeenoh.

[sabahsefer]

how old are you? if you don't mind

[Ivan Fuentes]

i suggest getting a cheaper camera.

Hi8 cameras are really cheap, and, while not ideal, they will help you begin taking your path to becoming a filmmaker.

[skiltrip]

Yeah, no reason you should HAVE to hold back on your creativity for the HV20. Use what you can get your hands on. Borrow a camera, or like others suggested, look for a used Hi8 cam. I've done some music videos for bands on a Sony Hi8/Digital8 cam, and with creative use of lighting (cheap home depot $7 lights) i had pretty good results. It's all about learning to be a good storyteller, and you can do that with any camera.

If you wait for better and better gear before you finally get shooting, you'll never get started. There's always better image quality, always better sound to be had, always better lights you can get, etc , etc. Get your hands on whatever you can and start doing your thing! It's awesome you're getting the film bug at such an early age. Take advantage of that. A lot of us don't get started till much later.

If you get a chance, read Robert Rodriguez's book "Rebel Without a Crew". It's inspiring in that he kind of uses creativity instead of money to get things done. (A tip for saving money on books, get a library card if you don't already have one. you'd be amazed at the books you can get at your library and not have to spend a cent - unless you return stuff late and even then it's like 10 cents a day ).

[brandeenoh]

OK,
I need to convince my parents to get me a Canon hv-20.
Sadly, I don't have one yet.
I will soon though.
WITH a Rode SVM.
So, please help me give me some reasons to convince these people!



Thanks,
Brandeenoh.

[Ivan Fuentes]

tell them why you need it.

how come you need so much an HV20, when you don't even know good reasons to have one. lots of people might write some great HV20 facts, but if you don't know why YOU do need one, then who else does?

so, tell, why do you want an HV20?

[bansheeproductions]

wow or you could stop being a huge bitch and get a job and save your ass up for one.

sorry to come off as an ass but that's what I had to do for all my equipment,

[T_Bone]

Quit crying

No need to convince your parents to buy you a HV20. Buy it yourself.

So you say you are a young dependant with no money...

Then I ask, is there a lawnmower available for you to use?

Oh, it's winter. Do your parents own a shovel?

Can you babysit?

In other words, get off your duff and earn the money to buy your HV20 and whatever else you may need or want.

A youngster in my neighborhood took my advise and asked the neighborhood barber if he could sweep hair and just keep the shop clean and tidy throughout the day. The shop owner agreed and the youngster earns his own money and is not idle walking the streets.

Consider thid firm advice and work, save your money, and BUY YOUR OWN HV20. You will be much happier and appreciate the item all the more...

[Lunchbox]

brandeenoh, there is no need to start two threads with the same content.

[Sean Richwine]

No family cameras laying around?

I think it's great you want to be a filmmaker. But don't fall into the misconception that good equipment makes up for talent. If you're talented and creative, you can make do with what you have. Film Noir was born largely out of financial low-times (The Great Depression). Warner Brothers couldn't afford lavish sets and advanced lighting like MGM, so they used shallow depth of field, stylish lighting, and centered everything on the characters.

[Chicken Warrior]

Plenty of theater releases were filmed on plain old miniDV. Granted, most of them not with consumer camcorders, but in terms of sheer resolution there's not a lot of difference. If you absolutely must go HD, you can get much cheaper camcorders (under $300). If you have no camcorder at all, though, it will be a big benefit to start very simple (look in your local classified, you might find a hi8 camera for as little as $50). If you feel like you're ready to move beyond that, you'd be just as well investing in better software.

Before I got my HV20 I told myself I had to do the following (and did):

Learn FCP
Seriously start a feature-length script
Create 12 short-film treatments
Research all comparable cameras

Even then, I only splurged on the HV20 because it was on sale. I'd already made several films with a basic hi8 Sony (including a 30min doc).

I absolutely love my HV20, but there's not a lot I couldn't do without it.

Also, don't think you need a nice camera to be part of a community like this one and learn through discussion. Not everyone here has an HV20 and prospective buyers are just as welcome.

[Worley]

We shoot several hours of my sons each year using the movie facility on a digital stills camera.

The quality isn't great, but through good editing, a good story can be told.

A good story is more important than the paper you write it on.

[lordtangent]

brandeenoh, if you think not having an HV20 is an actual impediment to your becoming a film maker you are not going to get very far in Real Life.

First of all, do you even know what kind of film you want to make? Do you have a script?

Or maybe you are interested in cinematography (not directing). There is a lot you can learn before you need ANY expensive equipment. Hell, you can learn almost everything you need to know about lighting photography with a manual view finder camera and a used light meter. That is the kind of gear you can get as a hand-me down for free or next to nothing. You could use a crapp-ass old digital camera as well.

The resourcefulness that you learn by working with LESS will serve you well in the real world. Film making is all about compromise and making due. Surely you can get a hold of the gear you "need" without owning a camera. Heck, you could probably get a pretty decent used SD DV cam for under $100.

[Duke]

First, don't spend money.

1) Go to the library and read everything they have on real film making:
a) Reel to Deal
b) How to make a film for $80
c) Guerilla Film Maker's Handbook
d) Save the Cat
Heck I can't write them all. Look Here for examples.

2) Get free software:
a) Scriptwriting software - www.celtx.com
(You ALWAYS start with a great script, or don't start.)

b) Animation software - www.openfx.org
(Because animation software includes cameras and lights you'll learn a
lot.)

c) All of the Avisynth, DGIndex, HDVSplit, etc programs because you'll learn about color, editing, etc.

The very BEST think I can tell you, as if you were a son is DON'T FEEL ENTITLED. If people see you working it will come, and sometimes as a surprise.

Duke

[koolpenguin89]

I agree with all of the above posts. When i was in the fifth grade i bought my first video camera. I saved up all my allowance, birthday money, etc. for 2 years, and when i was 11 i bought my samsung Hi8 camcorder. I am now 16, and the only reason im not still using that camcorder to make my films is because my house was robbed last april and almost everything of value, including the camera, was stolen. So i got a job, saved up some money, and bought my HV20. (okay, so i didnt actually buy my HV20 until january of this year because of other financial constrictions, but my point still remains valid!)

The point is the same as everyone elses points: you dont need good equipment to make a good film, just a good creative mind. And if you feel that you DO need that equipment, then earn it. Get a job. If youre not old enough to get a real job, do as others suggested and try to earn money doing chores for neighbors, your own family, etc. And on top of it all, have fun with it, i know i do =)

dylan