Businesses of all sizes need better ways to offer their products and services to the world, and video is clearly the new language of brand communication. Learn how to plan a multi-camera production, increase production value through camera movement, and create cinematic lighting on a budget. Plus, get tips for adding great music and sound effects, saving time and money in post-production, and more!
All the video gear featured on (and used to produce) this course is available here.
Some links might be affiliates. If you purchase gear with them, I might receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks in advance for your support!
Questions?
Feel free to ask any questions regarding this course (on anything else) on Instagram.
From planning a shoot to DIY lighting solutions, learn how to produce professional videos with very little gear, tight deadlines, shoestring budgets, andno crew.
All the video gear featured on (and used to produce) this course is available here.
Some links might be affiliates. If you purchase gear with them, I might receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks in advance for your support!
Questions?
Feel free to ask any questions regarding this course (on anything else) on Instagram.
I created three lists to share my favorite tools; one for the travel filmmaker who’s priority is size and weight. The second gear list is for those who are getting started or are looking to add new/better tools. And the third list is for more experienced filmmakers who want to take their productions to the next level.
Here’s the third gear configuration I’d suggest:
The Cinematic Look
This list is for people who already own the essential tools, but want to increase the quality of their video productions. A cinema camera and lenses, additional lighting tools, and better audio gear are included.
The “Cinematic Look” is what I’ve used for high-end corporate gigs, music videos, and even short films. Not all the items on the list are supposed to be used simultaneously. For example: I’d use the NanLite MixPanel 150 and a PavoTube Kit on most situations, unless shipping gear is required. In that case I’d use the Fiilex kit.
The same goes for lenses. Under controlled and well-planned situations, I prefer to use the Rokinon Cine lenses, but depending on the story, subject and shooting schedule a fast zoom lens might be a better option.
The gear lists are not paid or sponsored by anyone. They reflect my own independent opinion, and the companies and products I use and trust. Some links might be affiliates, which means I may get a few pennies if you decide to purchase something. Thanks in advance for your support!
This is the third audio test I share on 1PersonCrew.com
On the first test I tested 12 different mic configurations and the second test was about 3 different wireless systems for filmmakers. Since then I’ve received lot of different ideas and suggestions, mostly positive, that I’m adding to today’s test.
Mic 2 and Mic 4 are connected to an H4n Pro field recorder (newest model) via XLR Cables. Mic 2 is on the Left Channel and Mic 4 is on the Right Channel.
DISCLAIMER This article is not paid or sponsored by anyone. It reflects my own independent opinion. I only recommend companies and products that I trust. Some links might be affiliates, which means I may get a few pennies if you decide to purchase something. Thanks in advance for your support!
Last week I received my first official complaint about 1 Person Crew. It was a very polite email from Michael G. saying “I truly appreciate the time you take to share your thoughts, but the last few posts have been about hardware. At some point, would you mind sharing some of the applications you use as well?”
Michael is totally right. I stand corrected and thanks for the feedback!
So, today’s post is about some of the software applications, plugins and smartphone apps that help me work more efficiently. The list isn’t organized in any particular order. I simply looked at my phone and computer and added the apps I use most often. I’ve added direct links for your convenience.
DaVinci Resolve – The free video editing software I’d recommend for anyone getting started.
I created three lists to share my favorite tools; the first equipment guide is for the travel filmmaker who’s priority is size and weight. The second list is for those who are getting started or are looking to add new/better tools. And the third list is for more experienced filmmakers who want to take their productions to the next level.
Here’s my second suggested gear setup:
Up and Running
This list includes the most essential items for people getting started, or who are currently shooting video but want to upgrade some gear. Lenses, mics and lights are fairly typical items. Size and weight are important, but not super critical.
I’d recommend this setup for anyone involved in run and gun scenarios like vlogs, education and training, weddings, red carpet premieres, product launches, sporting events and documentaries.
A typical example for this setup is corporate gigs where I have the luxury to setup one day, shoot multiple interviews for a couple of days, and then take my time packing everything carefully.
The gear lists are not paid or sponsored by anyone. They reflect my own independent opinion, and the companies and products I use and trust. Some links might be affiliates, which means I may get a few pennies if you decide to purchase something. Thanks in advance for your support!
Which camera should I buy? What’s your favorite lens? How many lights do I need? What’s better, a shotgun mic or a lavalier mic?
I don’t know.
These are the kind of questions I get every week, and unfortunately it’s very hard for me to answer them objectively and responsibly. Why? Because I need a lot more info. For example, what’s your budget? Do you have other gear or are you getting started? Are you mostly working on location or in a studio?
The “ideal” gear for a travel filmmaker working alone is completely different than the one required by someone shooting products in a studio environment. A documentary shooter needs a few versatile lenses and works mostly with available light. Someone producing similar content, but as an in-house, full time employee at a corporation can afford more time and gear, especially lights.
As you probably know by now, my approach is “how to do more with less.” My goal is to own as little gear as possible, not only to keep my overhead low, but most importantly to select the gear based on each story, my client’s requirements, and obviously, the available budget.
I created three lists to share my favorite tools; one for the travel filmmaker who’s priority is size and weight. The second list is for those who are getting started or are looking to add new/better tools. And the third list is for more experienced filmmakers who want to take their productions to the next level.
After doing a lot of research and trying multiple options, it’s clear that the best way to keep models, specs and prices always up to date is to host the lists on Amazon.com.
Here’s the first of three kits:
The Travel Kit
This ultra minimalist setup consists of the most essential items I take with me on travel and lifestyle assignments, which is the main bulk of my production work. Travel assignments require extremely light and compact gear that must fit in one backpack, and maximum a carry-on bag.
It doesn’t matter how awesome a piece of gear is, if it’s too big or heavy, I can’t take it with me. On travel assignments most of the work is done with available/natural light and only essential sound (like interviews) is recorded on location.
Some post-production might be performed during the assignment (especially waiting at airports and during long flights). Backup is extremely critical as re-shoots are often impossible.
The gear lists are not paid or sponsored by anyone. They reflect my own independent opinion, and the companies and products I use and trust. Some links might be affiliates, which means I may get a few pennies if you decide to purchase something. Thanks in advance for your support!
Today’s tip is about how to create sequence so you can edit multiple cameras in real time, with the click of your mouse (or using the number keys on your keyboard).
Like many people shooting documentaries and interviews, I often shoot with two (or even three) cameras, and record audio separately.
Syncing the footage with the clean audio source in Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve is relatively easy, but not always accurate. That is why for many years I’ve been using a plugin called PluralEyes.
Live editing is a great way to cut VERY quickly, but it involves a few “hidden” steps:
If you are serious about the craft of video editing, this new online course by Oscar-winning editor Tom Cross (Whiplash, La La Land and First Man) is pure gold. Highly recommended.
Do you find these tutorials and resources useful? Let me know!
Last week we talked about the differences between Video Codecs, and more specifically about the advantages and disadvantages between ALL-I and IPB.
DISCLAIMER This article is not paid or sponsored by anyone. It reflects my own independent opinion. I only recommend companies and products that I trust. Some links might be affiliates, which means I may get a few pennies if you decide to purchase something. Thanks in advance for your support!
Audio File Formats
Since last week’s post I’ve received several questions about audio formats. Instead of rewriting what has been already done well, I’ll direct you to an article by Izotope, which is in my humble opinion the provider of best audio plugins in the market.
The article covers the differences between wav, aiff, mp3, and m4a, which is pretty much all we need to know as filmmakers.
Audio Gear
Lots of folks have also been asking about “the most minimalist audio kit” I’d suggest.
Here it is: a wireless system, an audio field recorder, and extra mic that can doble as on-camera shotgun mic or boom mic, a couple of XLR cables (always bring backup cables), and enough rechargeable batteries to have a fully charged backup at all times. The H4n Pro is specially power hungry, so I’d strongly suggest getting the kit with the AC adapter.
I added one more item that is nice to have, but nor essential; the Rycote Undercovers, which allow you to “stick” a lavalier mic to a subject over or under their clothes. Much more useful than you would think.
In the 1950’s the ocean freighters were heading into bankruptcy. It was too expensive and slow to move cargo around the world by water. The merchandise waiting at the docks often got spoiled or stolen.
The shipping companies, did what they usually do to lower costs. They fired a lot of people, and focused on making the ships faster, bigger, and more fuel efficient. That worked for a while, but the costs kept increasing and the shipping times didn’t improve substantially.
A good idea.
Then, someone had a great idea: What if the cargo could pre-loaded, so when a ship arrived, it would take hours, not days to load and depart? Bingo! The shipping container was born.
An even better idea.
A few years later, someone else had an even better idea; what if the shipping containers could have all the necessary parts to build a product, and the time from A to B could be utilized to assemble that product? Bingo again!
Today, all the necessary parts to build a car are loaded into a shipping container. The ship arrives, loads, and departs. While in transit, the cars are built. Three weeks later, when the ship arrives to its destination, complete cars get off to the dock and the empty containers are replaced with fully loaded ones. Brilliant.
Now, how can we possibly apply a similar approach to video productions?
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about this challenge. The first step is to identify the most complex or time consuming processes, and then find ways to simplify them down to the least amount of gear and steps.
So buying a faster computer, a larger monitor or hiring a faster editor are just temporary solutions. What if we could blend some pre-production and productions steps? Even better, what if we could replace post-production all together?
The topic will the “1 Person Crew productions.” I’m used to travel and work alone, but for this course, for the bar has been raised. A lot. I need to find ways to do everything myself: shoot the story, capture behind the scenes footage, and produce valuable educational content, essentially at the same time. I’ll be producing short-form documentaries with real people in active locations, so I need to be respectful of their time. Not an easy challenge, but a very exciting one.
How am I going to pull this off?
I don’t know (yet).
My wife insists that a Vlog, could be a great way to document and share some of the ideas, tests, and challenges I’m dealing with in preparation to the 1 Person Crew online course.
I’m not so sure. I’m not young enough or thin enough to start vlogging. Even worse, I don’t have a mustache and I don’t wear tiny hats or striped shirts.
If (with an IF the size of a billboard) I go this route, I’d like to keep everything as RAW as possible, in other words, people would see my unmade bed, unshaven face, a crazy collection of cables, and a very unorthodox, but effective, workflow.
Why would I even consider doing this? I honestly believe that anyone interested or involved in run and gun scenarios (documentary, education, weddings, corporate, red carpet premieres, product launches, sporting events, music videos and even short films) will get something useful from my experiments (and public suffering). Let’s see. I might test the idea this week and see what happens.
Here’s an article, and a couple of related books, in case you want to know more. The “Minimalism” documentary is also worth watching because these people TRULY live with the bare essentials.
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