This is a complete guide to filming. This is how you can make sure you are on the right track to begin filming your advertisement or a short movie. If you are just getting started, take a deep breath and enjoy this process. Creating art is not easy but it is rewarding. These are the things that you need to get started, in the right order.
Camera
Depending on your project needs and size, you can pick any of the good DSLR cameras. I recommend Canon 70D which is my favourite. This camera has amazing 1080p quality and it is within a good price range so it’s not impossible to get. If you are just starting out, you shouldn’t invest more than 1500 euros or USD into the camera gear.
Lighting
Lighting can be a challenge. I can’t stress this enough: lighting is very important for a movie or any other video project. Lighting should be manipulated for the best effect. Lighting gear can range from very cheap to very expensive, so please do not break the bank with this. Make sure you can reuse or resell your lighting gear after you’re done using it. If you have an option to rent expensive and good lighting gear, you should do it without thinking because this is how your video or movie will look like. Go all in here. Use this power wisely. Lighting is a powerful tool, I recommend you educate yourself about how it works as I simply don’t have enough space to explain here.
Computer Hardware
You need a computer with a good CPU and GPU inside. Most modern CPUs and GPUs will do just fine as long as you pick ones from mid to high range (class). Don’t forget to include 16 GB of RAM at the very minimum as RAM will make everything run smoothly during your editing process.
Of course, you might also need to hire a professional editor, depending on your project scope and intentions. You can hire a freelancer to do work for you if you choose to do so. This can also speed up your workflow. Speaking of editing, let’s take a look at the software you might need.
Computer Software
If you are using a Mac computer with Mac OS on it, you can use Final Cut Pro. It is a very popular choice for sure. If you are using a Windows computer, I recommend you go with Adobe Premiere. It is a modern and fast software. The best part about this is that you can subscribe to the software instead of paying for the lifetime license. This will keep your expenses low. At the time of writing, the licence is around 30 Euros or USD per month. You will also get the complete Adobe CC (creative cloud) package. That means you will also get Adobe Photoshop, among other very powerful software packages.
And now you are all set to begin filming. Lights, camera, action!