Joshua Thomas Gallegos

I wasn't looking for a full package with 1k, I just wanted to spend 1k for the SLR body. The rest of the equipment I will buy separately. I wouldn't want to use a camcorder to shoot any narrative material!

Put your camera down. Watch films, observe and learn. There's a saying "A camera is only as good as the person using it." point being you could have an Arri and still produce awful images. You need to learn the basics about framing and composition. There's a book called The 5 Cs of cinematography. It helps.

John Huston said that great directing is in the casting. In fact he stated "80% of directing is in the right casting". having said that, none of that will matter unless you have a good script to shoot. As a mere observer, I also understand that simplicity works better, unless you're making a music video. Traditionally, I think the best films are about people and their stories, so getting the right actor is the most important thing, once everything else is right. That being said, I need to learn how the technical aspects of movie making work, which is important, but I don't think the latter matters, if people don't truly understand what cinema is. Martin Scorsese simplified everything to me when he said: "The biggest challenge in cinema is getting what's in here *points to his head* onto the screen, that's it." So, learning the technical aspects of filmmaking is crucial to understand how it works...once these things are learned, then practice them. I think that helps avoiding silly mistakes.

Hello, I'm currently a film student - I had about 1k to pick an SLR camera to shoot as a novice filmmaker. I was thinking about the Rebel t4i to begin shooting a few short films that I have written. Also, what are the best affordable lenses to get for shooting short narrative films? So far I wanted to invest in an affordable 50mm Prime lens and a tripod. But what other lenses should I consider for the best cinematic look? Thank you.

I am by no means a cinematographer, but I think the most essential films a cinematographer must see are those that can evoke life and feeling to the eyes. When one looks upon the silver screen we primarily connect with the people who are living and breathing before us, the mise en scene or what have you is merely a template of the scene, and enhances the sensibilities of the watcher. Therefore, I must consider Sven Nykvist as the most important cinematographer of our time. My list is as follows: 1. Persona (Ingmar Bergman) 2. The Third Man (Carol Reed) 3. Citizen Kane (Orson Welles) 4. Grapes Of Wrath (John Ford) 5. Cat People (Jacque Torneur) 6. The Blue Angel (Josef von Sternberg) 7. Ben Hur (William Wyler) 8. Night Of The Hunter (Charles Laughton) 9. Nights Of Cabiria (Federico Fellini) 10. Any William Wyler film to show you how to become disciplined and efficient with your shots: Jezebel, Roman Holiday, Little Foxes, etc.

Preferably someone with experience, and someone who can photograph b&w efficiently, and adept to extreme low budget conditions. I am shooting a short film "Tell Tale-Heart" this winter. I was thinking of shooting it on a Sony F3 in b&w (2:40). I wanted to capture the feel in the photography that's seen in "Night Of The Hunter", a very stark look. I have a storyboard for the project and will get finances to shoot in winter. Also, after this project is finished I will be commencing pre-production on a Night Of The Living Dead prequel. I would prefer someone who had an appreciation and knowledge of b&w photography, such as those seen in Val Lewton horror films. Please e-mail me at : joshuathomasgallegos@live.com or follow me on twitter https://twitter.com/#!/joshuathomasg