Hey everyone, Adrian here. This year I wanted to do things right when it came to camera equipment.
Compared to last year, the setup I have now is on a completely different level, not because it is overkill, but because it actually fits the type of film we are making. Last year I rushed into buying a full camera without really understanding what I needed. I ended up with the Sony ZV 1F, which honestly was not terrible, but it was a waste for the situation we were in. We barely used it, we were not prepared, and we made major mistakes like not having windproof microphones. This year I took that as a lesson.
For this film, I committed to a cinematic phone filming method. The phone sits inside a universal dual hand grip wireless phone cage, which already feels way more stable and professional than what we worked with before. The cage has multiple open slots, which allowed me to attach two portable LED video lights. These lights have adjustable brightness, color temperature, and a bunch of different effect modes, which gives us way more control over lighting without carrying huge gear around. Here is a showcase video I made for you guys to see.
I also picked up a magnetic suction cup phone mount with a powerful magnet. This will be used specifically for car scenes, especially exterior shots where the camera needs to be mounted securely without shaking.
Another piece I was really excited about is the lens kit I ordered. While it includes multiple lenses, the one that stood out to me was the fisheye lens with a 205 degree field of view. I plan on using that for a short clip in the film to simulate body cam footage, possibly from a police perspective. It adds distortion and immersion in a way a normal lens just cannot.
The most important upgrade by far is the DJI Mini microphone system for iPhone. This was not cheap, but it was necessary. One of the biggest mistakes we made in our previous project was audio. The beach scene was completely ruined by wind, and the mall scene had overpowering background noise. This mic setup has one of the best windproof designs I have seen, and the audio quality is on a completely different level. The mics can clip directly onto the phone cage when needed, but they can also be clipped onto actors during dialogue scenes, which gives us flexibility depending on the setup.
Looking back, this is honestly the equipment I should have invested in last year. But I am glad I waited, because this time I actually know what I am doing and what the film needs. I have already been testing everything heavily, and the results are promising. This year the goal is simple. Bigger, bolder, and better. I will be sharing test footage and updates very soon, so stay tuned.
