In this roundup, we’ve collected a few video production tutorials on stabilization, composition, and lighting — that you can afford.
Cover image via Jacob Lund.
Indie filmmaking has always forced creatives to find innovative ways to tell their stories. But since the dawn of DSLR filmmaking, not only have we seen an increase in the number of working filmmakers, videographers, and VFX artists, we’ve also seen the industry’s creative boundaries expand. With new cameras and filmmaking gear coming out seemingly every month, we have more tools than ever to rise to the filmmaking challenge. And what is that challenge? Finding new ways to tell stories without a ton of resources. So, in that spirit, lets take a look at few budget-friendly DIY solutions to expand your capabilities as a filmmaker.
Wireless China Ball
Advances in filmmaking technology are constantly pushing the boundaries of the industry by helping filmmakers reach new places and get shots everyone previously thought were impossible. This china ball is a perfect example of frugal filmmaking at its finest. The process is simple: you just need a 12-volt lawn and garden battery connected to a power inverter, tape them together with gaff tape, connect the lights, then carry the power in your backpack as you run the cords along a painters pole.
- 12-volt rechargeable lawn and garden battery
- AWG battery connector
- 24-inch China ball
- Hanging lantern cord
- 750-watt power inverter
- 3-in-1 light socket splitter
- 3 100-watt-equivalent LED bulbs
- Painter’s pole
- Battery charger
Overhead Camera Rig
The inspiration for this rig was pretty straightforward: top-down instructional and cooking videos are more popular than ever with channels like Tasty and YouTube stars like Casey Neistat making their own setups and telling stories in new and exciting ways. So, this rig is pretty simple: you just need a solid base to set it on, and enough wood for the structure. For this build, I created a cube-like structure to keep everything sturdy and secure.
To attach the camera, you really only need a 1/4″ hex bolt to screw through the “plate.” The camera will just screw right into the board. Make sure the piece is long enough so that it doesn’t fall off the rig (because your camera would then fall, thus crushing your dreams, your spirit, and your credit score).
- (8) 35 inch long boards (1 1/2 inch wide)
- (1) 33 inch back support beam (1 1/12 inch wide)
- (1) 38 inch camera mount board (1 1/2 inch wide)
$50 Dolly Build
The real MVP of your DIY tool kit is a working dolly. It’s an excellent way to get truly cinematic, high-end shots. The best part of this build is that you don’t need to go into debt for it. As you can see in the video, you can build this dolly with a few L brackets, some screws, two PVC pipes, some hex bolts, and a 2X2 piece of wood. Oh, also, you’ll need some skateboard or rollerblade wheels, but these are a lot cheaper than you might think.
- 1/4 inch hex bolts (8)
- 1/4 inch nuts (16)
- 1/4 inch washers (8)
- 2′ x 2′ plywood board
- L brackets (4)
- Wheels (8)
- PVC Pipe (2)
DIY Meteor Strike
Are you in serious need of a good post-meteor strike setup? Well, you’re in luck. This practical, clever approach to creating a meteor-damaged roof resembles real life more simply than spending hours in After Effects. But the real genius here is that you can apply this effect to other aspects of your work.
In this tutorial, you’ll also learn to play with focal lengths in new ways and try out new shots (I mean, look at his camera setup for this VFX shot). Get practical, get creative, and always watch Mark Vargo‘s videos because the guy is a legend.
Looking for more video tutorials? Check these out.
- Tutorial: How To Clean Up Noisy Audio In Under A Minute
- Gear Recommendation: The Best Mouse For Video Editing
- Camera Lenses 101: When to Choose Wide or Telephoto
- How to Use Motion Graphics Templates in Adobe Premiere Pro
- Video Tutorial: 5 Tricks For Working with Photos in Premiere Pro