Artist making mini documentaries.

lizzbrady

Hello all! I am an artist from the UK and have received some funding to buy some equipment to create mini documentaries.

I do want them to have a DIY look but also be professional...

My question is, what camcorder should i look at? Is it important to mic the people up ? anything else i need to know?

Thanks in advance!

Terfyn

What is your budget range? It would help to give us an idea for the choice of equipment.

It may also help if you give an idea of your subject matter. Example:- Would it be a local setup or would you be travelling distances? Would you have support to help carry and set up equipment? Would you be indoors or outside?

Do you have a video club near you?  You could get hands on help and, possibly, assistance with your filming.

lizzbrady

Thanks for your reply!

Budget is about £1000.

It will be local and travelling to other cities. Yes i will have one or two other people to help.

Indoors mainly, in artist studios / houses / cafes.

Not sure about a video club, will certainly research that. I am in Manchester.

Terfyn

Well you could try my old club - Altrincham Movie Makers. They have a web site and are based on Park Road, Timperley. See if they "fit the bill"!
When I moved to North Wales, I lost any contact with a video club and I do miss the meetings.

£1000 is not a lot for a pro set-up. Have you any kit yourself?  For a start from scratch:-
Camera. 4K consumer cam ~ £600. Professional camcorders cost around £1000-£2000 or more!
Mics. Example: BOYA 2 channel wireless mics £190 or wired tie clip mics
Tripod? £70
Extra SD cards, Batteries or power supplies for camera, mics and lights.
Lighting? Again will you need it? I use LED photofloods with batteries or a power pack. For a "pro" set-up, lighting is an advantage.
Possibly last (but definitely not least) a video editor for your PC.
This list is not comprehensive. For example mics could be wired into the camera or a table mic could be used.


Still on the technical side, you will need to consider how your final output will be presented. DVD, Blu-Ray, SD card, Cloud? Your own presentations to your customer audience?

Consider your (technical) process in three stages:-
1) Filming the subject. Do include cutaways to use as a transfer  from one scene to another.
2) Editing the video into a coherent film with transitions, voice overs, music and effects.
3) Rendering the final edit into a form suitable for your presentation media.

Hope this helps.

lizzbrady

Thank you so much Terfyn. Lots of research to do i think! I will check out the video club too!

JabbaNut

Hi Lizzbrady

I am Manchester UK too.

It would help if you gave better detail of the type of documentary you want to produce.

Indoors mainly, in artist studios / houses / cafes , you mentioned.

Are you just interviewing people speaking, singing ?

Artist in what subject and medium?  Poets, painters, dancers, music, photography, ryhme, theatre, pottery etc

What requriments do you need to meet to fulfill the funding given?

SD, HD or UHD definition recording, stereo or 5.1 etc sound.

Many things affect the equipment to choose or needed.

JabbaNut

Altrincham Movie Makers

Home Page

lizzbrady

Hello thanks a lot for your response!

Hmmmm type of documentary...I kind of want a DIY vibe, have you seen Tarnation? Not exactly like that but also, taking inspiration from his filming style.

Would be interviewing people talking, not singing...

Artists - Painting, installations, video art, sound art.

There are no particular requirements to meet, i have total freedom thank fully!

Not sure about SD, HD....but the finished pieces will be on youtube or a Vimeo page for audiences to watch freely. (and on my website)

There could be scope for them to be in exhibitions, depending on outcome.

Sorry I am so clueless when it comes to this!

Thanks again!

Terfyn

I don't think you can work in SD now, HD is the current "bottom of the pile" with 4K a level above. Fortunately many Video Editors will connect directly with YouTube and Vimeo to transfer your edited video.
Under these circumstances you could possibly use a shotgun mic mounted directly on the camera. I suspect you may want to film handheld so pick a camera with a decent Optical Image Stabiliser.

Like your web pages. You seem pretty handy with a camera.

lizzbrady

Good advice for the shotgun mic and OIS thanks so much!!!