[George Kroonder]

As for the music/sound as well als stock video, lower thirds and other design elements, you should look at http://www.DigitalJuice.com. They also have some great online video’s (DJTV) and you can preview all libraries online.

Renting equipment is good advice, especially if you don’t have a steady number of gigs in the pipeline. However, if you are committed and failure is not an option, you can also look at financing. New cams like the Sony EX1 also come with attractive financing deals that can include other equipment as well. Talk to your broadcast dealer.

Also you may not want to buy everything new. If you have experience with a cam that will ‘do’ for now, there may be used ones on offer from trade ins. A brand spanking new set of camera’s lights and accessories easily runs over the $10k and when you include a new Mac and software, you’ll soon be out of pocket twice that.

Generally to start should only own what you will need for every production and rent everything else. As you grow your business you will aquire the other stuff you find usefull. With renting it is also easy to charge your client for the costs and later when you own the equipment to make a return on it.

A boom mike (wired) may be more reliable then wireless lav’s and more convienient (for the talent as well).

Don’t forget the “small stuff” like gels, reflectors, stands and clamps, a backdrop (or two), maybe a couple of gobo’s, enough tape, tools/toolset (inlcude a tacker) and some make up.

That’s all I could come up with today…

George/