22 DIY DSLR Camera Rigs

DSLR cameras have revolutionized the world of independent filmmaking. One of the most attractive features is their relatively low cost, but once you starting adding rigs and other accessories that cost can go up quick. In an effort to expand your DSLR’s capabilities without shrinking your wallet we put together this DIY DSLR round-up for you. $20 DIY PVC SnorriCam A SnorriCam (also chestcam, bodymount camera, bodycam or bodymount) is a camera device that is rigged to the body of the actor, facing the actor directly, so when he walks, he does not appear to move, but everything around him does. Here is a simple SnorriCam using PVC tubes. VIA: Tom Preska DIY PVC Dolly This is an simple track dolly using 40mm PVC tubes and some wheels taken from a pair of Rollerblades. VIA: Knut Uppstad DIY Automated DSLR Timelapse Slider If you want an automated slider/timelapse rig, but don’t want to pay the cost, here is a DIY one you can build yourself. VIA: Greg Royar DSLR DIY Pocket Dolly VIA: Ben DIY Cable Cam

202 DIY Filmmaking Tutorials Why buy it when you can build it? Well… most of the time you don’t have a choice. Other times it’s just way too much fun! In our first DIY (“Do It Yourself”) featured list we will focus on the production side of filmmaking. ****Update: We have two new entries in our 202 Series “202 Sony Vegas Tutorials,” “202 Final Cut Pro Tutorials” and coming soon “DIY Horror: From Script to Scream!” Dollies XL-1 Table DollyIroning Board DollyDolly and Track SystemBuild Plan DollySkate Wheel DolliesRadio Controlled Camera PodBuild a Tracked Camera Dolly for CheapSimple DollySnodart’s DollyPVC dollyEazy DollyD8 Ladder DollyFilming Dolly With 10′ TrackSodart’s DollyJsal27′s Dolly system Stabilizers/Steadicams $14 SteadycamLight-Duty “Steady Cam” StabilizationImproved Steadicam for under 40 dollars! Car Mounts Poor Man’s process method for shooting an in-car sceneBack-seat-view car mountExterior car mountLow-budget (not DIY) car mountCar RigsCinesaddle Car Mount JIB Arms/Cranes Misc. Lighting Audio Make-Up/Gore

The Physicality of Camera Assisting and How It Could Cost You a Job My body has taken a beating on some shoots. I’ve come home with bruises the size of baseballs and stiff muscles that lasted for days. I’ve watched my hands harden to stone and my feet bore blisters. Make no mistake: filmmaking, especially below-the-line crew work, is intensely physical. Whether you’re running heavy stingers or moving RED One cameras, there’s a level of physicality that is associated with both a hard day’s work and an earned paycheck. And if you’re going to make a career in the film industry last — unless you choose a non-physical job like directing or producing — you’re going to need to bring a certain level of physical ability. How a Lack of Physical Ability Could Cost You a Job A few weeks ago I went to lunch with a cinematographer friend of mine who had just returned from shooting a short in Canada. “He was OK,” he said. I pushed him further and asked why his response was so lukewarm. “Well, he wasn’t terrible. The Three Physical Demands of Camera Assisting 1. 2. 3.

Cinematographer Roger Deakins Shares 25 Pieces of Juicy Filmmaking Knowledge Is it really worth my time to give Roger Deakins an introduction? Surely you already know him as the talented cinematographer behind films like The Shawshank Redemption, A Beautiful Mind, and almost every Coen Brothers film since Fargo. And by now, as a fan of filmmaking and a filmmaker, you’ve discovered that when Deakins talks, what comes out is a treasure trove of wisdom — only overshadowed by answers so candid and honest that his responses are more engaging than many movies themselves. No — Roger Deakins needs very little introduction as a master of cinematography. Instead, it’s best we just get to the point: 25 pieces of filmmaking advice from Roger Deakins himself, pulled from his website RogerDeakins.com where he interacts with fans and filmmakers on all topics from careers to cinematography basics. Roger Deakins on the Art of Cinematography Cinematography is a strange blend of creative art and practical resourcefulness. Deakins behind the camera on set 1. Source 2. Source 3. Source 4.

Cheap, DSLR, Gear, Affordable, Equipment, $20 Don’t have a large gear budget? No worries, there is a lot of important equipment that can be had without breaking the bank. It is also getting close to Christmas… And a lot of these purchases would make for great stocking stuffers for that special filmmaker/photographer in your life. 1. Macro Tubes Attach to the rear of your lens for fantastic macro shots on almost any lens. 2. Don’t have $100+ to spend on a high-end fader filter? 3. From mounting accessories to building rigs, these monitor arms always come in handy. 4. These are cheap enough to have one for every Nikon lens you own. 5. To many accessories and not enough cold shoes? 6. The clean, simple and discreet way to rig your camera. 7. You’d be surprised how handy these are to have around 8. Cheap accessory for your follow focus. 9. These little guys are fantastic for monitors, EVFs, audio recorders and so much more. 10.Lens Brush Got to keep that glass clean! 11. 15mm Rod Mount 12. Cheap way to keep rays away from your sensor. 14. 15.