Whether it's a four-year undergraduate program, a two-year graduate school, or a single class, studying film production is different from other fields of study. Film production classes are more like being in a trade school. Students learn and apply work skills, as well as film theory. Most importantly, you will be shooting at least one short film, and to make that film you need equipment, tools, and supplies.
Most film programs provide the cameras, sound equipment, and editing facilities you need, but, to take full advantage of them, some personal tools are necessary. Many of these tools are the same as what professional directors, editors, grips, gaffers, and cinematographers use daily.
Inexpensive Essentials
1. Lens Cleaning Cloth
Keeping your lenses free from smears, dirt, and grime might just save your project. The Sensei Microfiber Lens Cleaning Cloth is a classic. While a T-shirt might work for cleaning your reading glasses, synthetic fabrics could severely damage expensive lenses. Better safe than sorry. And be sure to throw in some cleaning spray as well
2. Gaffer and Marking Tape
You'll likely end up wanting a variety of colors and thickness, but the 2" x 55 yd ProTapes Pro Gaffer Tape is a great place to start. You'll use gaff tape to hold props in place, patch tarp holes, , and about a billion other things. Use ½" paper or cloth tape to make easy-to-remove marks on floors, walls, lights, and lenses, and pick up a 2" roll of black paper tape to quickly create a temporary lens or monitor shade when the need arises.
3. Multi-Tool
Cameras and their associated accessories have so many things that need to be loosened, tightened, and rearranged throughout a shoot, yet try to use your classic screwdriver and be ready for disappointment. What you really need is a multi-tool like the RED DIGITAL CINEMA SIDEWINDER, which includes all the cinema-specific hex's and keys. It pays to have a classic Leatherman on hand as well to quickly access more general tools like a 2.6" blade, wire cutter, Phillips-head screwdriver, and ever-important bottle opener for your wrap beverage.
4. Dust-Remover
Cameras and lenses are a major magnet for dust, which can be difficult to see on a small monitor or viewfinder but become a major issue once your image is blown up on the big screen. A classic air blaster like the Giottos Rocket Air Blaster Dust-Removal Tool can be used to get dust out from lenses, camera sensors, filters, keyboards, and more.
Useful On-Set Tools
5. Production Slate
In addition to helping sync camera and sound, slates are useful for marking scenes, shots, and takes. The popular Elvid 9-Section Acrylic Dry Erase Production Slate comes with a soft case as well, and includes spots for all the relevant information. Slate at the start of each shot and you will be eternally grateful when it comes to making sense of a busy day of shooting after the fact. Don't forget markers and an eraser.
6. Color Chart
Student productions are often small and scrappy, so perfectly dialing in your camera settings for each shot might not always be an option. Enter the color chart. Get a quick clip of the chart in each new lighting setup, and it'll be a huge asset for color work in post-production. The Calibrite ColorChecker Passport Video 2 can even fit in a coat pocket, and includes white balance and grayscale targets as well.
7. 5-in-1 Reflector
Sure, your school will probably give you a basic lighting kit to use, but it might be heavy, power-hungry, and shared between students. A portable reflector is perfect for supplementing the kit or acting as a replacement when you don't have the time or space for anything more ambitious. The Impact 5-in-1 Collapsible Circular Reflector Disc can be used as a bounce, negative fill, or diffusion. Very handy.
8. Gloves
If you are using older lights, or any kind of heavy equipment, a good pair of gloves might just save you a pricey hospital bill. The Setwear Hothand Gloves are a perennial favorite, as they can withstand temperatures up to 482°F and help you avoid tiny cuts and knicks. Plus, they're machine washable and have a beautifully kitschy logo. What's not to love?
Post-Production Basics
9. External Hard Drive
Though your school might give you computers to edit on, shuttling footage between workstations and archiving your projects for later use will likely be your responsibility. The LaCie 5TB Rugged USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 External Hard Drive is a favorite in the editing community, giving you plenty of space for beefy modern video files. It also has drop, crush, shock, and rain protection, and 256-bit AES encryption.
10. Headphones
Yes, your school might give you headphones, but be prepared for them to have seen better days. If you don't want fluff peeling off in your lobes and pads that don't really pad anymore, it's smart to bring your own pair of headphones both for editing work and on-set audio monitoring. The Sony MDR-7506 have been a top seller for years now, with a comfortable fit and a clean, naturalistic sound.
These are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to useful filmmaking tools! Make sure you stick around B&H for more articles about shooting, editing, and bringing your creative vision to life.
