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Author
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Topic: Camera Dolly question: DYI vs Rental
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Mr. Sable
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posted 02-10-2001 01:30 PM
I'm planning a single dolly shot in a 15 minute 16mm film and wondering if it'd be better to build a camera dolly out of lumber and PVC pipe or to rent a pro model for a day. Any thoughts?------------------
Indie Film North
Primitive Pictures |
Movieman21
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posted 02-10-2001 01:49 PM
If you are looking to build your own, I have created a dolly you can build for only $150 US. It is wood, with roller skate wheels, and PVC track. If you want to check out the plans, they can be found on my website. http://hometown.aol.com/pyroman451/dolly.html
If you want, I can send you a printer friendly version. The advantage of building your own, is that you will have it for future movies, and you can modify it anyway you want. If you would like to know a few of the modifacations that I have come up with, I will be glad to let you know.------------------
"May the Force be with you." Be sure to check out JRMorgen Productions Online, at
http://hometown.aol.com/jrmorgenfilms While you're there, be sure to sign our guestbook. We love hearing from you. Be sure to look for JRMorgen Productions 2001: COMING SOON. |
sketchman
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posted 02-10-2001 02:11 PM
definitely DIY. even if it's just a tripod mounted on a couple of skateboards or a shopping cart, you're better off financially. i've yet to see a dolly rental cheaper than $300 a day. you've also got the size factor; most rentable dollies are the big budget professional kind, huge, heavy and bulky. if you make you're own, you can make it as big or as small as you want.------------------
Monkey Sea Entertainment - renovated as of January 2001
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Moviemakers Portal (moviemaking-only search engine) |
dstepson
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posted 02-10-2001 03:19 PM
If this shoot is important to you, I would suggest renting for 2 reasons; 1. Its easy to get steady moves with a Chapman or Fischer. 2. You will be able to do some nice boom shots. You can rent a Chapman Pee Wee for about $160 a day. Building your own is not a bad idea, but you will be limited in what you can do with it. On most of the better films I have worked on, the camera was on the dolly at least 90% of the time. |
crazy lou
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posted 02-10-2001 05:27 PM
rent this time, copy all dimensions and build your own in the future based on the rental and some of the DIY plans, there are lots of them.later
Tom ------------------
What everyone seems to forget is that once we look past race, religion, gender, and all that, everyone on this planet is first and foremost... ...a PERSON LINKS(added to 01/16/01) |
Erik S
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posted 02-10-2001 05:35 PM
I agree with destepson. If the quality of the movie is important, you should use quality equipment. A professional dolly will provide you with rock solid images and open the possibilites for a wide variety of camera movements. If your budget can handle a dolly rental go for it. Most rental houses will give discounts to independant guys like us, it shouldn't be too much for a one day shoot. Plus, it will be a good opportunity to use a professional dolly if you've never had the experience of working with a Fischer or Chapman before. I have seen some nice homemade dollies and jibs before, but not many. Most are too light and flimsy to give you what you need. If you got the time though I'm sure you could make a dolly that would be sufficent. Don't forget, you don't have to rent an expensive Fischer either...Most rental houses have doorway dollies too and that may be all you need. |
Movieman21
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posted 02-10-2001 06:09 PM
I have nothing against renting a dolly. Especially if you can get a good one for cheap enough. But that is just the problem. You cant always get them for cheap. And you say you will need it for only one day, but if for some reason, you cant shoot that day, like weather, or injury, you will need it for another day, and that is when it ads ups. As far as a rock solid picture, let me assure you that my dolly is VERY stable, sturdy, and quiet. You can also add a crane or boom to the dolly, it can hold over 500 pounds of weight, and yet is also light enough to transport and easily disasemlbed for storage. There are alos many other modifactions that can be made to it, such as a different truck system so that it can handle CURVED tracks, tripod mounts, and more. ------------------
"May the Force be with you." Be sure to check out JRMorgen Productions Online, at
http://hometown.aol.com/jrmorgenfilms While you're there, be sure to sign our guestbook. We love hearing from you. Be sure to look for JRMorgen Productions 2001: COMING SOON. |
Erik S
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posted 02-10-2001 07:30 PM
I'm sure it works great for you Movieman...But I still think Mr. Sable should rent one. If you have the money, the pro's outweigh the con's. |
Movieman21
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posted 02-10-2001 07:59 PM
I deffinately agree with you on that one. I am just standing by the idea that many of us do not HAVE the money to rent. And like I said, you realy cant realisticly rent a dolly for only one day. Like I said, alot could happen that could inhibit your shooting. Then you end up needing more days, and that costs. If you CAN afford to rent, then that is great. If not, then building your own is a very good alternative. Ultimately, when you make it big, and start having budgets of not merely $2000, but instead a budget of say $200,000 , then I suggest you BUY a profesional dolly, or better yet, have one custom built. But if you dont have that kind of budget, then you need to consider how much you plan on using the dolly. If you are planning to do more than one film, or you have very elaborate shots, that could needs several takes, or even several days, then I suggest building your own (until you can afford to buy one). If you are POSSITIVE you will only be shooting ONE movie with it, over the period of a day or two, then go ahead and rent. It also all depends on WHAT you want to use the dolly for, and how much of a budget you have.------------------
"May the Force be with you." Be sure to check out JRMorgen Productions Online, at
http://hometown.aol.com/jrmorgenfilms While you're there, be sure to sign our guestbook. We love hearing from you. Be sure to look for JRMorgen Productions 2001: COMING SOON. |
Mr. Sable
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posted 02-10-2001 09:19 PM
It's an important shot, but only a single shot. And I'm using a skeleton crew. I think I'll do it DYI. Thank you all for your input.------------------
Indie Film North
Primitive Pictures |
Sarge
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posted 02-14-2001 10:25 AM
One last comment - the equipment isn't the secret. Having someone who knows how to use it is just as important, maybe more. Why spend $XXX a day to rent a dolly, tracks, shims, apple boxes of all sizes, levels, clamps, etc., if nobody has the faintest idea (check that - the most dangerous people on set are the ones that have ideas but no experience) about setting track up, moving the dolly, making sure things are level... listen, I know directors who have spent an entire shooting day setting up ONE SHOT! One dolly move! It is a complicated and expensive thing for a low-bud guy to try and do with professional gear. If you are going with a rented dolly, hire a grip that has used one before. Otherwise, make your own, and PRACTICE with it. Even going hand-held in a shopping cart takes practice.Sarge |
dstepson
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posted 02-15-2001 08:22 PM
Sarge you make a good point. The fact that the question was even asked suggests that he has no experience with a pro dolly. However renting a dolly for a day isnt a bad idea even if you arent sure exactly how to use it. Of course if he cant afford it then thats another story. I will say this though, I did shoot a feature film with a homemade dolly and the moves where smooth, but the lack of being able to boom was a glaring weekness in the shot construction. After that experience I always write dolly rental into my budget. |
Erik S
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posted 02-15-2001 09:21 PM
Right, that's exactly what I said in my post. If you have the money, rent for the experience and possibilites a professional dolly has to offer. Don't worry if you aren't familar with the dolly - the rental house will fill you in on all the basic principles you need to know for your shot. You might not move that quickly on set, but you'll be learning. Also, like I said before, you can rent a doorway dolly for next to nothing. They dont have a post, but it's probably cheaper than building one. Oh, and for those of you who now think that it's a good idea to buy a professional dolly if your making movies for $200,000 think again. No filmmaker in his right mind would buy a professional dolly. They are very, very expensive! Leave that to the rental house. When you get into the relm of bigger budget movies all crew postions are specialized, why would a director want to own a dolly? or a producer? or a DP? Budgets for equipment, like dollies, on larger budget pictures is the least of your worries and at the bottem of your list. [This message has been edited by Erik S (edited 02-15-2001).] | |
