The Only Film Production Equipment Checklist You Need

Did you know that more than 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute? That equates to more than 80 years of video content being uploaded every day.

Smartphones have had a big part to play in this, allowing us to create video wherever we are with just the click of a button.

If you’re looking to create high-quality video, however, then there is still no replacement for professional video equipment.

Read on to learn about everything you’ll need to create great video content with this film production equipment checklist.

Video Equipment

When you’re shooting with your phone, it will record the video and audio, as well as trying to make the best of the lighting conditions. When you’re shooting with professional equipment for film production, these roles are taken on by different pieces of kit.

First off, you’ll need to capture video.

Camera

You can’t film anything without a camera. If you want the best quality video, however, then you need a high-quality camera.

Many of today’s digital cameras such as DSLRs will offer incredible video capture capabilities, or you can plump for a dedicated video camera. If you’re going old school, you might even consider a 35 mm film camera.

Lenses

A camera is nothing without a lens. If you’re investing in the best film production equipment, it’s important not to skimp on lenses.

The type of lens you use can have a huge impact on your production. If you’re looking for a cinematic look, then the right lens can give you the shallow depth of field you need. Wide lenses are ideal for establishing shots.

Ideally, you’ll want a range of lenses to cover the different types of shots you want to film.

Filters

Filters can make a huge difference to the quality of your footage. Polarizing filters will help to reduce glare or capture great skies, whilst a neutral density filter allows you to capture perfectly exposed content even in bright light.

Stabilization

Whilst there has been a shift in both TV and movies to a more raw, hand-held look, many types of video will still require a stable image. That’s where stabilization equipment comes in.

Tripods

Tripods allow you to keep your camera perfectly still when shooting. You can also use monopods for a quick and effective way to stabilize your shots.

Sliders

Sliders are necessary if you want to capture perfectly smooth shots where the camera moves in a horizontal plane. The slider allows you to keep the camera stable as it slowly moves sideways.

Gimbals

Gimbals have been a game changer in filmmaking.

Gimbals use a series of sensors and motors to keep the camera steady even when the operator is moving around. It makes shots that were once incredibly challenging to capture much, much easier to shoot.

Shoulder Rig

If you’re looking for a slightly more rough-and-ready style of shooting, then a shoulder rig allows the operator to keep on the move when they’re shooting whilst still offering some support. It means you can shoot without getting tired from supporting the camera.

Audio Equipment

Many cameras can also capture audio. If you want a high-quality production, however, you’re going to need dedicated audio equipment.

Sound Recorder

A sound recorder is required to capture digital audio from your shoot. This audio can then be synced with the capture video in post-production.

Microphones

You’ll need high-quality microphones to get the audio into your sound recorder. The type of mics you need will depend on what you’re shooting. You might use lavalier mics for documentary interviews, or directional shotgun mics if you’re shooting more dramatic content.

Boom

A boom is a pole that allows you to get your mic closer to the action. If you’re shooting a lot of dialogue, a boom can help you to capture better quality audio.

Headphones

It’s vital that you can monitor the audio that is being recorded. If you discover that the quality isn’t right when you get to post-production, it’s too late.

That’s why high-quality headphones are essential.

Lighting

You can have the best camera and lenses in the world, but if the lighting is poor, you’re not going to capture great images. That’s why lighting equipment is key.

Lighting Kit

When you need good, consistent lighting, then a full lighting kit is the way to go.

Three-point lighting allows you to illuminate the subject from multiple angles, ensuring that you don’t have any distracting shadows. You can hire high-quality lighting if you don’t want to invest in your own kit.

Reflectors

For some shoots, a reflector may be all you require. These are sheets of reflective material that can be used to bounce light onto your subject and provide just enough lighting for your needs.

Other Accessories

As well as the items listed above, there are also some items of basic film production equipment that are always useful to have to hand.

These include things such as sandbags to weight down tripods, C-stands, electrical equipment, frames, gels, tools, clamps, and more. If you don’t own these items, you can consider renting a grip truck which comes everything you could need included in the truck.

The Right Film Production Equipment for Your Needs

The above list is by no means exhaustive; the exact film production equipment you will need will depend on the type of shoot you’re doing.

If you’re shooting a documentary, for example, then you’re going to need different equipment to what you’d need for shooting a full action sequence. You’ll need to tailor your equipment to the type of shoot. Think ahead about the types of shots you want to get, the type of sound you want to capture, and the kind of lighting you’re going to need. This will help to inform your decisions.

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