grahamstanly

I guess I have some questions to answer. First The cameras I am looking at using are the cannon Xh-A1, or the Sony FX-7 both shoot HDV the cannon has some more features, but the sony has a sharper look. I have heard about problems filming HDV with skate video so I was thinking mabey I will go SD with 24 frames in magic bullet. but I dont know for sure. But I also forgot to mention this is actually a "lords of dog town" type of shoot. This team I am making the movie for doesnt ride new age boards, they are all ride old school. The cool thing is they do some crazy stuff you would never see in regular skate videos, like bombing hills, and sliding on their bellys under trucks and cars. These guys are wild I watched them train to get a better feel for how to film it. I kinda want to make it look aged. because thats their style, How would I go about an aged feel. I was thinking some different tints but I am not sure. I would love to have the audience feel like they are watching a skate video filmed in the 70's or 80's so any help on that would be great. Also thanks for all of the posts!

Hey I am kinda stuck between these two cameras the FX7 seems to be superior feature wise, but the FX1 costs more on BH. Am I missing somthing, Or is this really too good to be true. Thanks!

Ok I have seen a few skate films in my day and i have a general Idea of how to film this but in a month or so I will be filming a skateboarding video for a small team. It will be in Hd and the camera I am using has a top handle so I can get some low angle shot but what else should I throw in there. basically whats the best way to go about filming and editing a skate video? It seems simple enough but i would like your input on how to go about this. Thanks!

great tips david, but I think i am a bit to young to work on a movie set I am still a senior in Hs so it might be a while but i will check out that book

No It makes plenty of sense I have been in film classes for about 3 years now. and i figure it was time to start learning more about the industry. And thank you all again for the help.

thank you for all of the help, I am probably going to order that book on the weekend it looks like its packed with helpful tips. Also one more question. Do the Ac's jobs change when shooting digital or Hd video? or is it generally the same.

Hey guys I recently started looking into different film jobs for after college I always wanted to be a D0P but I would like to have a back job that I am confident with so I am looking into the equipment, and tasks of other jobs. First If you could tell me the task of an AC I would love a rundown of an AC on the set of a film feature, and or digital Tv broadcast. second what equipment should an AC own, or be comfortable using? on the shoot for a film, or digital Tv broadcast. and third, what is the average pay of an AC, on a feature film, or a tv broadcast? o and one more small thing If someday I wanted to move my way up to a Director of photography, whats a better job to start with AC, or a grip, and which one generally pays enough to live off of? Thank you for all you help!

Ok I have looked for the answer to this for a while, and I am a bit lost as to the tasks a grip has. and the equipment a good grip should have or be comfortable using. first I would like to know the main tasks of a grip, on a movie set, and the set for a TV show, like the news. second, I would like to know what equipment a good grip should own, or know how to use. and third, I would love to know how an average grip job would pay. i know it changes with the type of job, so lets say the pay for a TV grip, a film grip, and a News grip. I want to know these things because I am exploring my options for a job in the industry someday. and I want to know about all of the main jobs. So really any light you want to shed on the subject is appriciated. Thank you very much for any and all comments!

I am with david and I personally would not purchace the fx1 it lacks to many features. I have been looking to buy as well for a few months now, and my choices were narrowed between the 100b, and the HDV cannon XH-A1. I think I am going with the A1. Now I know that wasnt one you were looking at but this camera does of 24 frames, and has TON's of options, sd, or hdv 1080i, ect. its a great pic if you want to go HD, and the Standard def is good as well. The image apears a little flat compared to the panasonic hvx200, but you get what you pay for, the cannon is only 3,400 on www.bhphotovideo.com. It might be smart to go with Hd if you going to buy now because know one can say how long we will be shooting in sd. Good luck to ya!

Ok for the last 3 weeks I have been using a DVX-100b, with a 35mm lense, its a great camera but the guy who owns it who i trust he is a film school student but a smart one, but he told me not to go sd at this time, he said that he would go hd, or wait. and by the way I did mean the XH-a1 cannon, which I have looked into much more and honestly for my festival work it seems like a really good choice, a lot of options come with it and at a pretty killer price. I can shoot effectivly in sd, and hdv and I think i will just buy a rail system and put a new 35mm lense on it so i can have an even better look. Tell me your thoughts on this because I would love to hear some reveiws on this or see some footage shot with it, I have only seen stills shot with it. Thanks

One of the cameras I just started looking at is the cannon XL-A1. I totally agree that it isnt the best time to buy a camera, but i would really love to start filming and getting my name out there, mabey I will hold off a bit longer but If i do that I am going to continue to work on getting a good deal and learning the new tec. So do any of you have an opinion on the xl-a1? Thanks again for all of the help

well i understand the p2 cards, its just i was also looking at the cannon hx-a1 and i wanted to be sure you needed hd tapes, but how much are good tapes? i have heard its pretty pricy.

I know this is probably a stupid question but I couldnt find the answer to it To film HD do you need HD Tapes? or is it possible to do it on a regular tape?

Hey all I am plannin on makin a horror film and we basically have no budget like 1000 dollars but we have a good story some acting students and some all of our equipment including lighting, mics, and a camera. but what is considered feature length in a festival? I think our movie will be about 30-45 minutes long, but i always thought a feature was an hour and up. but to be a short 30 minutes seems long...but I could be wrong.

hey its cool you already got 4 bids. how much do you think you will make off of this? Its a pretty funny idea, good luck to you!!

ok so you can use the camere. perfect, thanks for your help

Well actually I dont really have a question I just want you guys opinion on the XH A1 for your HD needs in comparison with panosonic or sony cameras.

Ok guys thank you so much for the help you have been amazing I have talked a lot with my other buddys and my film teachers about the best directions to go with purchacing my own camera. also since i am still just starting out in film and film school my parents see my passion for film and they agreed to loan me 3,000$ which i really needed now with that and my own money I have the funds to purchace about a 5,500 dollar camera, now please dont see me as spoiled because this is a strict loan so i will have to pay them back but making that money shouldnt be a problem. I have narrowed my choices down to 3. 1.cannon xl2 2.panasonic dvx100b 3.Panasonic AG-HVX200 I have used the xl2 many times through my school so i am really framiliar with it, and I have tried out the dvx100b. and the hvx200 just seems like a killer camera with the p2 cards and all but it might be a little bit more than I want to spend. So if you all want to help me one more time by telling me in your opinions the pro's and cons or each of these camera's I would really appriciate it. Keep in mind i am wanting to get a lot of experience have a lasting product, and somthing tough for learing. Thanks again for the help.

O yea a student discount ok that will help. o and one more thing i wasnt sure about, can i upload footage from my p2 card to my computer using the camera or do i need one of the transpher devices?

Hmm is final cut 5.1 is 1,000$ right?

ok thanks a ton the apple site really helped but I still have one more question can I edit and upload my footage from the p2 card using finalcut pro express hd 3.5?

Ok I am going to start shooting a new short using an HVX200 and I am really confused because I have never shot HD at all. I have heard this is one of the best cameras to use for HD footage. but whats the deal with the no tape system I sort of understand the p cards, but can i still use a tape with this camera? or do I have to use these cards? also to edit in HD what tools will I need, I am a finalcut pro user so I would assume I need finalcut hd, but If I was using cards then obviously that rules out a tape deck so to transfer onto a macbook pro, will I just use the camera? Also If This camera can also use tapes do I need to pay for an HD tape to film in HD? Please forgive my ignorance on this matter. and thank you in advanced for the help.

thats a great tip david the main reason i wanted to get one sooner is because through my church I do a lot of video stuff, and I will get some good deals with them. And I plan to enter a few film fests and make some shorts before I go off to school and while I am in it. but your probably right I should wait a bit longer. thanks

I feel that I should add this peice of info. in the future after film school, i am hoping to DP, do Camera, or AC for a TV station or show. and I am guessing by the time I am out of film school pretty much all TV will be filmed in HD. So my thinking was that it would be benificial to get a feel for it now.

Thanks for the help. my first two days went ok, I figured out the camera basically it was a bit different because there was a 35mm lense on the camera, to give it a film look. We used 24p mode, and just ajusted the settings till it looked good. It came out just how we wanted it. The lense was very nice, and made it look pretty professional. So thanks for some of the tips and replys.