IMG 8448 scaledBest Film Gear During Coronavirus!

Best Film Gear During Coronavirus!

As the production industry attempts to increase business and productions, it's important to be safe. There are always risks on set, but there are solutions for safety.

Similar to taping down cables, using shot bags on stands, and keeping clear pathways, COVID safety is key! Wearing a mask it a no brainer. It will help keep you and the crew safe... and it masks bad breath! Nevada law requires masks in most businesses and situations; sets and studios are no exceptions. Your on-screen talent is generally exempt from wearing a mask when on camera.

Audio:

Lavaliere microphones should be used a little as possible. If a lavaliere is required, the talent should put it on themselves. A much better option is a shotgun microphone and boom pole. Both the Sennheiser MKH 416 and Schoeps CMIT 5 (my favorite) are great options! Another fun trick, if you're doing ENG interviews, is to use a handheld microphone on a boom pole. You can take the excellent Sennheiser MD 46 cardioid mic, put it on a boom pole, and keep your distance!

Makeup, Wardrobe, Hair:

Talent should come to set with their hair, makeup, and wardrobe done. If however you need touchups or small fixes, crew should wear masks, visors, and gloves. All of these items are readily available for purchase, and don't cost much. The typical problem of a little shine on talent is easily remedied with "shine killer". NYX makes a great "shine killer" that talent can easily apply to their own skin.

Lenses and 4K:

Lastly, while the CDC and other medical experts have said that masks are the key to stopping the spread, socially distancing is needed too. You can only stay so distant on set, so here are a couple items to help you along. Use a longer lens like a Canon 70-200mm L-Series; or heck, a 100-400mm lens, and shoot from really far away! Also, consider investing in UHD/4K. Having the ability to crop in will make it possible to stay further apart, and have less people on set. (The idea is you don't need as many cameras...)

So, there are some ideas and suggestions to keep us safe, healthy, and working. Best of luck!


Sennheiser MD 46Sennheiser MD 46

Best Microphones in the Wind.

Unless you're making a movie about tornadoes or the sea, wind is not good. Heck, even when you're making a movie about tornadoes or the sea, wind is not good. You don't actually want wind, especially the audio department. What audio wants, is to put the sound of the wind in during post production. However, sometimes, it just can't be helped; so, here are a couple of mics that are great in the wind:

Sennheiser MD 46. This hand-held microphone is phenomenal in loud situations. Whether you're talking wind, loud music, traffic, whatever, this microphone will sound clean and crisp. The microphone was specifically designed for interviews in loud environments, and maximizes it's cardioid audio receiving design.

Schoeps CMIT 5. This shotgun microphone is industry standard for a reason! Light weight, dependable, and squeaky clean audio capture make it a must have! Coupled with our zeppelin and faux-fur wind cover, you'll have no problem battling the elements.

If you have a production coming up that needs guaranteed, clean audio, reach out and we'll get you set up with a great microphone and audio mixer.


lvccBest Gear for Filming the Convention Floor: 2019

Best Gear for Filming the Convention Floor: 2019

Conventions and trade shows are big business these days, and that's especially true here in Las Vegas. With well over 10 million square feet of convention and meeting space, Vegas constantly ranks among the top host cities in the world. Gear requirements of course depend on the project, but some of the best gear on convention floor are as follows... The Sony FS7 Mark II is great for ENG-style shooting, has a 17-110mm servo lens, and can shoot up to 4K. Couple the FS7 with the Sony a7S II and the DJI Ronin-S; b-roll shot over-cranked will really up your production value. Either the Astra 6X or Gemini 1x1 LED kits provide more than enough light, run on batteries, and have a small footprint. If you have an audio technician with you, the Sound Devices 633 is perfect. If you're a one-man-band, an on-board shotgun mic and lavalier is usually more than enough. Finally, the Cinevate Duzi is a great, compact slider to really take your video over the top. F11 Rentals is happy to provide all your Las Vegas video production rental gear for your next convention gig!


Utah 1F11 Rentals Goes Hollywood

F11 Rentals Goes Hollywood

Have your people call our people, and we'll do lunch! We feel pretty "Hollywood" ever since we supplied nearly all the gear for a recent short film. Except for the Audio Department, which we only helped with one of our amazing Schoeps CMIT 5 shotgun mics, we supplied all the gear needed for production and post! We sent out the amazing Arri Alexa Mini and Schneider Xenar Cinema Primes along with a bouquet of G&E. Skypanels, Gemini LEDs, and Industry-standard Arri Tungsten fresnels worked in conjunction with bounces, diffusion, and haze machines. We could go on and on, but we hear the film is just about ready for it's premier, so we'll let the final product do the talking. If you have a film to shoot, let us know, and we'll outfit you with the production gear needed to create your masterpiece!