Gregory Pratt Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Making a film in the coming weeks; much of the pre-work is done. We've got most of the script (I'll finish it this week, hopefully), the actors, etc. etc. What we are about to do is get a little bit of equipment. Now let's be clear: we're going to go as "cheap" as we can, with just a camcorder (and not an especially fancy one), but I do have a few Qs about sound. Will a good camcorder record the sounds of people talking well or do you have to get mics for that in addition? Do you get small mics? Big mics? (I don't think we'll need those big ass mics they use on TV, professionally, but do we need to get small ones hooked to our clothes?) Most scenes are two people scenes. And what do you do with the mics? Do they connect to the camcorder? You record the sound AND the film at the same time but with separate utensils? What do you do? Any help would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Pratt Posted January 29, 2008 Author Share Posted January 29, 2008 The follow-up, to clarify, is: can we have reasonably good sound with just a camcorder? Someone says to me, Yes! but I don't trust his ass as much as I do SoxTalk!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shipps Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 You sound as if you are willing to go on the cheap when it comes to the mics.A good microphone is sooooo important to the professionalism of a production. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Pratt Posted January 29, 2008 Author Share Posted January 29, 2008 I am not, in the least, going for professionalism. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanOfCorn Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Ah, right up my alley since this is what I do for a living. At the very least, you should replace, if you can, the on board camera mic for something better. The on board mics are ok if you are videotaping a bris or grandma's 80th birthday party, but not for a movie. If you don't want to get a boom, that's ok, but you should try and get a camera that can handle a shotgun directional mic. You can mount it onto the camera and plug it into the XLR port (that's the three pronged cable). It's stronger and picks up sound much better than the on board. But, they will pick up more of the ambient sound of the room or wherever you are. Whoever you rent from should be able to set it up for you and give you a quick tutorial. A better option are lavalier mics. Those are the ones used in newsrooms and clip to clothing. There are some tricks for hiding them, but you have to be careful of clothes rustle. These mics don't pick up as much room noise and are a little harder to deal with if you aren't familiar with them...especially if you get wireless lavs. So, all in all, my recommendation is to rent a camera with external XLR ports, rent a good shotgun mic, and use that mic to replace the mic that comes with the camera. That's the best and the easiest. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Pratt Posted January 29, 2008 Author Share Posted January 29, 2008 You're the man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobDylan Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 If you want the film to be anything professional, DO NOT go with the sound recording on the camera. It will sound like crap when you hit the final cutting board. Small or big mikes will work, but with the small mics, you have a lot more options of where to put them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Pratt Posted January 29, 2008 Author Share Posted January 29, 2008 QUOTE(BobDylan @ Jan 29, 2008 -> 04:42 PM) If you want the film to be anything professional, DO NOT go with the sound recording on the camera. It will sound like crap when you hit the final cutting board. Small or big mikes will work, but with the small mics, you have a lot more options of where to put them. Basically know what camera I'm going to rent and it should be good, mic-wise, because we're getting an attachment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobDylan Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Jan 29, 2008 -> 04:46 PM) Basically know what camera I'm going to rent and it should be good, mic-wise, because we're getting an attachment. Well, if it helps, I could potentially hook you up with all the equipment needed (including a good camera, lighting, sound) through my school. I'd just have to get a buddy of mine in their film program to tell a small lie for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Controlled Chaos Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 Dude I can totally act. I can't even tell you how many people think I'm a nice guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Pratt Posted January 30, 2008 Author Share Posted January 30, 2008 QUOTE(Controlled Chaos @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 09:17 AM) Dude I can totally act. I can't even tell you how many people think I'm a nice guy. Haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Pratt Posted January 30, 2008 Author Share Posted January 30, 2008 Alright, so this is more work than I anticipated, and just when I realized that and decided that even with all the work I'm fine because it's working out really well and everything's coming together, I decided it'll be a good idea to make a second film, a documentary, completely unrelated to the fiction film I'm working on. And I decide that I want to be done by late March or very early April at latest. It'll be done, but I've got much to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Jan 30, 2008 -> 11:42 AM) Alright, so this is more work than I anticipated, and just when I realized that and decided that even with all the work I'm fine because it's working out really well and everything's coming together, I decided it'll be a good idea to make a second film, a documentary, completely unrelated to the fiction film I'm working on. And I decide that I want to be done by late March or very early April at latest. It'll be done, but I've got much to do. Good luck with them both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Pratt Posted January 31, 2008 Author Share Posted January 31, 2008 I've almost finished the script for the Fiction, and have almost got all the arrangements I'll need for the documentary. It felt good to sit down this morning and get over the hump with the screenplay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanOfCorn Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 (edited) QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Jan 31, 2008 -> 12:28 PM) I've almost finished the script for the Fiction, and have almost got all the arrangements I'll need for the documentary. It felt good to sit down this morning and get over the hump with the screenplay. Take your time. And if it isn't done by the time you want it to be, don't fret. Good movies take time. And good luck. Edited January 31, 2008 by CanOfCorn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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