Tools of the trade

Hello again!

I've been busy all day playing with one of my birthday gifts: the GlideGear SYL 1000 steadicam outfit. What that is, is a metal curved camera stand with a joystick-type handle at the base where the camera screws into, with weights at either end to ensure a steady outcome. And with it, I even come up with camera angles I couldn't capture before (hint hint)!

The reason I brought this up was because today I'd like to introduce you to the equipment I use whenever I'm out on a shoot. Some may be outdated, but they've been worth every penny since the day I first got them.

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First, and foremost, the cameras:

I own two Flip Ultra cameras (from Cisco Systems' now-defunct Pure Digital Technologies division, God rest their soul)—one HD, the other SD. Personally, I prefer the former because I can film footage on a wider scope, and it even has an HDMI port. The only trouble I have with them (and who doesn't?) is the battery power it uses. I keep having to recharge them on and off from time to time. But still, both Flips have proven useful to help me get the footage I want when I need it.

The other camera I own is this: the Vivitar HD Action Camera (model DVR785HD) for vantage shots. It comes with various other doodads, like a waterproof case and stands for placing on a helmet or bike. I use this one sparingly unlike my Flips, as their preferred output for footage is AVI.













Next (besides my new GlideGear), the stands:

Three tripods and one monopod, to be exact. First off, the ProMaster 7100—three extendable legs, a pan head, a quick-release mounting plate, a hook at the base... what more can you ask for? I use this for stationary shots with my Flip Ultra HD.

The other one, which I got for Christmas last year, was the ProMaster Vectra 3720—the same gimmicks as the one above, but in a metallic shade, and minus the base hook.

Then there's a much smaller one, the Sima STV-BPL large flexible tripod—which can easily wrap around branches, bars, just about anything!

Oh, yeah—I don't wanna forget my equally trusty monopod, the STX Model MP-1. I use that for roving shots, especially during filming concerts. Nothing much but an extendable foot, but it still works wonders.















And of course, no videographers' toolbox is complete without this important Swiss army-knife, the treasured software application. With it, this is where imagination really comes into play. All it takes a vast knowledge of keyboard shortcuts, transitions and keyframes to supplement it with the footage. My top choices for this include Sony Vegas and Apple Final Cut Pro. I started with the former, then graduated up to the latter.

There is also the factor of education, because even digital video production has people who have much to teach us about this profession. In doing so, I also attended a workshop at the Convention Center last August, headed by video editor Adam Epstein (from NBC's Saturday Night Live Film Unit), showcasing everything there is to know about digital video. See for yourself...

Put them all together, and I've got myself a failsafe toolkit for doing digital video the only way I know how.

Expect more soon!