[Marsha Foyle]

Hi there,

Ok. Thank you for the motor noise tip I will definately do that. I was wondering, do you know if using an analogue mic will give me a better sound – warmer?

Mac OSX

[Marsha Foyle]

Hi there,

thanks for your reply. I want to record sound on camera – an actor’s voice and outside – in a walled garden for one movie.

I was wondering since like you say; your mic is only as good recording as your worst bit of equipment – well for me my worst piece would be then the camcorder. If I am going to upgrade my camcorder in the future to something in the £2-3000 bracket I suppose it would be better to invest in a mic and mixer suitable for this camcorder but which I can also use now, with my gs230 camcorder.

I was thinking for ease of use to get a mini mixer of some sort and obviously a decent mic. The camcorder I am thinking of buying is a Sony HVX200 or a Sony EX1 (much more expensive). Because I want to be outdoors and moving around using these bits of kit I want something not too bulky. Maybe I need to go to a shop and have a look!

Mac OSX

[Marsha Foyle]

Hi Bob,

Yes, I have been looking at the Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera and some sample videos and apart from the Canon official video for their product I wasn’t all that impressed – the autofocus did not look very good. I think with the Canon video they used many different expensive lenses to get the look they did. People (at the amateur video makers club!:-)) have told me that the RED camcorder is the next big thing.
I looked at some Panasonic HVX200 footage with a 35mm lense that one of you guys recommended me and thought that looked pretty amazing. I didn’t know you could add lenses to the camcorder.

The problem is however that although I will upgrade my imac to 2GB of RAM, it only has 1GB at the moment, I was told that 2GB is enough to run HD footage. I am already using final cut pro with my DV camcorder although it is not version 6. At this moment in time I have not got the foggiest what to do. I guess I will just continue using my naff DV camcorder and if what I shoot is that great I can get it transfered (that’s what the lady at the lab said; she transfers dv shot films for festivals). So I imagine by the time I have saved up the money to get a camera and better computer of some description, the prices will have gone down, computers will have got better and that elusive special camera will be around.

Thanks for telling me the truth about life in film ‘IT IS A WAR’ I have copied it and stuck it above my computer to remind me. Or I’ve got one ‘DOG EAT DOG’ that’s why I’m a buddhist as you can find ways to get out of the world of animality and deadlock by viewing people differently. I have experienced all that you talk about many times but I’m still here and I will continue. I think you have to get to a point where you do not give a damn what other people think about you – whether they like or dislike you. It’s irrelevant.

Anyway, thank you for your helpful advice. Much appreciated.

[Marsha Foyle]

Hi,

Thanks for the advice but I am going to get a new computer and a stills camera now. Rental is too much hassle and very expensive. I want my own kit as I will be shooting a lot.

Regards.

Mac OSX

[Marsha Foyle]

Thank you for your comments.

I just spoke to someone at a 16mm conversion lab and they told me unless I have around £40,000 pounds to spare for a decent film camera and lenses, to forget it. The lady also told me that she receives many DV tapes to be converted up to film/hd? can’t remember, for film festivals so now I know if I do something on DV it is not a total waste, my film does have a future. She also said she had seen DV blown up on the big screen and it looked good.

The most important thing she told me though was that for what I wanted to do – short, 1 minute or so duration pieces of film, she advised and had seen amazing results when blown up to cinema screen size simply from using a 35mm digital stills camera tethered to a computer, and particularly, with regards to what I want to do; 1 minute movies, she said that this would be perfect for the job since they also have a built in memory card where you can shoot a video.

She said to forget about HD unless you have at least 4GB of RAM in your computer.

What do you think? This 35mm digital stills camera seems like the way forward for me although she did say it would cost about £1000 for a good one.

[Marsha Foyle]

Hi,

Thank you guys for your encouraging words. I really appreciate it. I think as you say rental of equipment is the way forward since it seems to depreciate very quickly. I was contemplating buying a Canon XL-HL for some £3,000 on a credit card yesterday but there is also an issue with that; my computer only has 1GB RAM and I use Final Cut Pro, the HD camcorder is too powerful for the computer or is that correct?

Thank you for your advice on the correct attitude to adopt as a film maker, I am aware of that I have read lots of books but I don’t want to talk about it anymore I just need to get out there and do it.

This site is absolutely great, the mixed responses show the diversity of people and if I get a bad reaction sometimes I don’t mind that much, we all have bad days sometimes.

I know it is going to be the hardest thing to do to be able to success make films but as Werner Herzog says ‘you need guts to START making movies’ and he is right.

Thank you for comments.

Regards.

[Marsha Foyle]

Hi,

Well, now I know for sure – it will look CRAP. Thank you. I am not going to do anything you say though. I don’t need to get experience with professionals, that is a lie. You also misunderstand what I have said I was actually well aware how useless my camcorder is. I just wanted to get some confirmation of that from a professional. What you are telling me is this ‘I will not give you any information, go out and find it out for yourself’. Well fine if you want to be Mr Grumpy I will just find out the information somewhere else. Have a nice day.

[Marsha Foyle]

Hi, I think you are being a little severe. I have the best intentions with making films that’s why I have posted on this message board. I have done a degree in Art and a screenwriting course and just in the last few weeks decided upon actually taking the practical steps needed in order to get my ideas actualised in reality. I am trying to find out the best approach.

Maybe I have posted on here in a panic of sorts, since I recently went to my local amateur video makers club and was told to continue with using a DV camera and that buying an expensive one was not necessary contrary to others were telling me. I have been trying to justify this move to myself by getting accurate information about the future of my film; it’s output format would be a screening on a cinema size screen and so using DV (a panasonic nv-gs230) would be a waste since the picture I have been told would be terrible.

My specific intention is to produce a series of 1 minute or so mini movies which will finally be viewed on a cinema size screen. I just wanted to know how I could get the best quality results even if I have to tinker with the film in post production. To talk to me as if I have just left school is disrespectful. I have taken the trouble to find a composer and a sound recorder, am making costumes and props all myself, all out of my own pocket. I will be editing the finished films with Final Cut Pro. I am not interested in taking short cuts because I want to get the best result I can. I was hoping I would get some honest advice on this forum and I feel absolutely let down by you as I thought someone would want to help me.

[Marsha Foyle]

Hi there,

thank you for your reply. I mean how bad will it look – ‘soft’ – what does that mean? You say the problem of DV can be eliminated in post production. Would that be somehow sharpening up the picture? Could you explain briefly how to do this and will it make a big difference.

Impossible question I know but do you know what is the cheapest camcorder I could get that would look adequate blown up to a large screen. I have been told I have to buy a HD camcorder and all the gear amounting to some £10,000 if I want the film look. I don’t care about that now I just want a camera where the footage when blown up to big screen will look adequate. Someone told me a sony pd170 is pretty good but that also costs a fortune!

Like you say at the moment I have no choice I am just wondering how bad it is going to look.

Regards.

Mac OSX

[Marsha Foyle]

Thank you for your comments. I will post back when I have sussed it. Might be a while though!

Mac OSX