Jump to content

50K (USD) to start a production company


Kristoferman
 Share

Recommended Posts

Consider this thread the Volcano to the other thread's Dante's Peak. If you had $50,000 dollars to start a production company, how would you go about it? Someone said buy a RED in the other thread but I don't think that would be prudent. I'll need an A-cam,  B-cams, lenses, lighting, sound equipment, rigs, and a large green screen. Already have a kick ass computer because my background is mostly visual fx and post production. Will be used to appeal to corporate gigs, commercials, music videos and my own narrative stuff.

A-cam options seem to be an old RED MX, FS7, FS700, C500, 1DC,C300 Mk II (financed), Mini Ursa, KineMini, F5, am I missing another good option?

B-cams will probably be 5D mark III and an A7S but again not sure.

Lenses I'm leaning toward cine modded zeiss zf.2 and a couple of canon zooms but could be dissuaded. The Sony cine lenses seem to be a decent bargain but don't have the name recognition. Already have a nice set of Nikkor a is lenses.

The other stuff I have ideas on as well but just wanted to get some professional opinions. 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

EOSHD Pro Color 5 for Sony cameras EOSHD Z LOG for Nikon CamerasEOSHD C-LOG and Film Profiles for All Canon DSLRs

It would completely depend on what you were producing. Corporate, music video, VFX projects, features? Who are your clients, agencies, direct channel, other production houses? Wise investments for each will be drastically different.

Corporate gigs, local commercials, music videos and my own narrative stuff. Mostly direct channel. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Depends hugely on your specifc needs, current and future clients. 

 

Plus does this include the various start up costs for a business? Marketing? Setting up an office and studio space with a green room and sound proofed room for recordings?

 

All of these can very quickly eat into your budget. Leaving not much at all behind for gear!

 

So thus the suggestions in the other thread makes lot of sense then even in the context of this large budget. 

 

Get a FS7 or URSA Mini as the main camera, plus a NX1/A7s//BMMCC as the supplementary cameras. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Depends hugely on your specifc needs, current and future clients. 

 

Plus does this include the various start up costs for a business? Marketing? Setting up an office and studio space with a green room and sound proofed room for recordings?

 

All of these can very quickly eat into your budget. Leaving not much at all behind for gear!

 

So thus the suggestions in the other thread makes lot of sense then even in the context of this large budget. 

 

Get a FS7 or URSA Mini as the main camera, plus a NX1/A7s//BMMCC as the supplementary cameras. 

​Assume the startup costs are taken care of. 

I should have said "Outfit a studio." rather than "start a production company".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So "outfit a studio" doesn't include any costs to actually outfit the studio in terms of non-camera gear? (or lights/batteries/cards)

As even that, can quickly add up to a lot, as a photographer in my city detailed earlier this week on Petapixel (she is very impressive, still a teenager!):
http://petapixel.com/2015/04/20/how-i-built-my-first-photo-studio-over-the-course-of-three-months/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

$50k! Now you're asking.... 

I would do this: 

  • Get the C300 Mk II as A cam.
  • The 1DC used as a B cam. 
  • The A7S as a creative all-round tool. 
  • Zeiss Prime Set from Duclos lenses or similar - EF or Nikon Mount. 
  • 2 decent zoom lenses to cover the full range. 
  • 2 Kino Flo 4-Banks. (get some chroma tubes too)
  • 3-head Arri Lighting Kit.
  • Scorpion Light Complete Set.
  • Gels/Diffuser/Polyboard/Reflector.
  • Ronin Gimbal & EasyRig. 
  • Oddyssey 7Q+ + sony + canon license. 
  • Sound - not sure on models but (wireless transmitter, lavalier, boom, shotgun, external recorder). 
  • Studio - get a DIY space, grab some friends and build your own green screen etc. 
Link to comment
Share on other sites

When pricing everything out, don't forget that every piece of gear needs something to hold it, whether it be a tripod, c-stand, combo stand, etc. Proper sticks, heads and stands for a studio can easily run you 5-10 grand. 

Also, you'll need a ton of modifiers (particularly flags).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Do you have a portfolio already built?


I'm guessing he already he does, at least from his VFX background. But if he doesn't have a shooter/director showreel too, I'd hold off in dropping a large sum of money until that is assembled. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I really cant understand why overspend on C300, when the Nx1 produces better results (http://www.eoshd.com/2015/02/samsung-nx1-vs-canon-c300/).

 

Just because you have loads of money, doesnt mean you should make stupid decisions, figure out whats the best price/performance for what you need and get it, dont just follow the trends.

​The C300 was shot in rec709.... skewed test. Correct me if I am wrong

Link to comment
Share on other sites

​The C300 was shot in rec709.... skewed test. Correct me if I am wrong

The article doesnt really specify :

I was also able to get the NX1 very close to the C300’s Canon LOG for dynamic range, by tweaking the new Gamma DR and Master Black Level settings. If the C300 can do 12 stops the NX1 can do 11.5. In fact as you can see from the frames below (click to enlarge) the NX1 can go as flat and colour looks almost identical, like Samsung had Canon in mind when they calibrated the image processor. The C300 has a tiny bit more highlight headroom – but it’s less than half a stop. Switch to Rec.709 and the NX1 gives arguably the more pleasing, punchy tones out of the box.

 

Eiterway I highly doubt it would produce a higher quality result that would justify + 10k$.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Eiterway I highly doubt it would produce a higher quality result that would justify + 10k$

 

That test was on the original C300, which is only $7k. The mkii has better DR, low light and (finally) 4k. The form factor also counts for a lot (like, a lot a lot). Additionally, you've got pro audio inputs, waveform, 4" lcd, dual-pixel focus assist, 10-stop ND and a ton of other features that make it a really great camera in the studio and out in the field. They can also take a beating.

Nothing against the NX1- it would be a great B cam for a studio with this budget. However, neither it nor any DSLR-style camera should be in the running for A cam, where the competition as I see it is the Ursa (mini or full), FS7, Kinemini, etc.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

​The commemts section did.

I have the NX1, nice camer... the DR is not comparble to the C300, let alone C300 II.... that is without even thinking about all the other things that make an A cam.

​True. If one is investing 50k to start a business then I doubt they'd want an NX1 to be their A cam. Of course it all depends on the type of work he'll be doing. Anything where time is money then the C100/300,FS7,Scarlets etc are a great option for an A cam.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

I would definitely not buy any gear upon starting my company.

I would rent, and hire for specific shootings specialist (on RED, Sony etc.).

But starting a company and buying a 50k$ camera seems to me like a huge handicap...

I do have a portfolio. A few local televised commercials, some dance videos, stuff I did for my previous employer, and then an FX reel.

And I would never spend 50K on a camera right now. This is for an entire setup.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I do have a portfolio. A few local televised commercials, some dance videos, stuff I did for my previous employer, and then an FX reel.

And I would never spend 50K on a camera right now. This is for an entire setup.

​Cool. If you have a portfolio then it makes sense to spend 50k on equipment to take your business to the next level. Otherwise I was going to say spend 10k and make a few good videos with rentals/actors, and use the other 40k to live on while you build your portfolio.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • EOSHD Pro Color 5 for All Sony cameras
    EOSHD C-LOG and Film Profiles for All Canon DSLRs
    EOSHD Dynamic Range Enhancer for H.264/H.265
×
×
  • Create New...