It's been years since I undertook a video project and even then I was never very serious about it-- we're talking Hi8, onboard mic, deck-to-deck linear editing. Now I want to make a production to prove that I can take sound, lighting, and composition more seriously than I have in the past.

Before I throw myself into the prosumer tax bracket with this hobby, I want to get my feet wet with a very small budget ($1,000 max) production. Unfortuantely it looks like most of that budget has to go to equipment.

My "cinematographer" (really a drop-out photography major) already owns a JVC GR-DVL120U which we were planning on using until I discovered that it features no external mic port and there is no break-out box available!

In this instance, do you recommend either recording the audio seperately and post-syncing it (record to laptop possibly?) or buying a new camera. If so, given my low budget, which do you recomend?

My AV-inclined friend suggested that I consider the Panasonic PV-GS120 for ~$450, but I think I might want to pay a bit more and score an an older GS70 for the manual focus ring.

Production will be 75% outdoors. Mic would be the AudioTechnica ATR 55 @ $60 (unless you have a better suggestion for this budget that does not require a BeachTek) on a homemade boom. Interior lights would be Joren's "Hope Depot" lights.

Admittedly, the technical bar for this production is low -- mostly we want to have fun making the movie, but I also want to spend what I can to maximize the quality. Your advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
-Ray

I don't know what kind of a movie you want to make, but if you got a grand, I'd make the movie one that doesn't need a nice camera or quality sync sound. Use the camera and equipment you got and put that money in front of the camera. Buy props or costumes or actors.

And don't buy the AT55. That thing isn't worth the sales tax you'll pay on it. It adds much more noise than your on camera mic will add in reverb, room tone, and tape drive hum. Instead, if you HAVE to have dialogue, shoot one close up (where the camera is physically close to the actor) and one long shot (where it's tough to SEE what the actors are saying). When editing, use the audio from the close up (even when you cut to the long shot). You may have to do a few extra takes to get the dialogue perfect in a close-up, but it'll sound better. Or ADR (loop).

If you got a thousand bucks, spending the cash in front of the camera and to feed your crew would be the best way to spend it, IMHO. Then you just have to plan your production accordingly.

all the best,

This message has been edited. Last edited by: joren,

Joren:

Your advice is well-recieved -- the whole philosophy of guerilla filmmaking is to making maximum use of what you have available and wanting to spend my budget on equipment that will not add to the quality of the finished project does not enhance the quality of the movie.

Still, I'm having a hard time giving up hope for a passable boom solution given the prevalance of dialogue in my script. Sounds like I just need to find ways to work around it in true DIY style.

Thanks again,
-Ray

yeah, I may have been a little too guerilla-snobby.
One option you may consider is getting one of those hard drive recorders, commonly called mp3 or wav jukeboxes and doing dual system sound. The brands to google are: Nomad, Archos & iRiver.

They start about 200 bucks and often can give cleaner audio (when connected to a decent mic) than any sub $5000 camcorder. ...or so I heard. I don't have first hand experience.

As for mics, I don't know what to tell you, other than I wouldn't choose the AT55. Doesn't sennheiser make something called the MKE 300 for pretty cheap? Or, microphones are really cheap to rent. If you don't have a good production audio rental house nearby, go to a music store.

...some more options to consider.

I have also heard good things about MiniDisc recorders. A quick price scan looks like they would have a cost edge on MP3 jukeboxes, discounting media. No firsthand experience here either, though.

Getting into separately recorded sound is a fair amount of trouble. You'll have to scrape up a soundman, etc...

I recommend rigging up an XLR to 1/8" adapter (the camera does have a minijack in, right?) and using that with a decent mic. The impedance is close enough that this will function fairly well.

Alternately, you could record with the built-in mic. It's likely not THAT bad, and you can clean it up in post.

The major problem was that the original camera didn't have a minijack. I tried some experiements in looping and got mixed results. (My "actors" are just friends.) I ended up getting the Panasonic GS70 and the Azden SGM-X which terminates in a miniplug for $500 total. I am pleased with my test footage so far. Ended up ignoring Joren, but I had to go with my gut.