Anti-Theft
Protecting your equipment and crew doesn't start and stop on set, it's a full time objective that deserves the utmost attention. Safely and securely storing your equipment, transportation to and from set, and diligence on location, safety and security are a top priority. There are a few main areas to focus on when it comes to protecting your equipment and personal property from theft.
First, how secure is your equipment at your home/office/studio? Do you have a gear cage, are the cases locked, how inconspicuous is your setup? Cages are not cheap, for sure, but there are some steps you can take to protect your items if that setup won't work for you. Padlocks and zip ties on gear won't necessarily stop the item from being taken, but it may deter a potential thief from knowing what you have. From our experience (unfortunately), not every thief knows the value of that Sennheiser MKH416 shotgun microphone, or that that Sigma Cinema lens is more expensive than the Sony a7S. Instead, they'll go for headphones, laptops, things they recognize. This can be a good thing if they make off with something relatively inexpensive and easy to replace, but being robbed is always a horrible experience. Being inconspicuous has real value, what can you do to make it as difficult as possible to see/recognize your equipment? What can you do to conceal your items going in and our of their storage place? Work harder than the thief would. Think like a thief. Have people you trust look at your setup and make sure you're not missing something.
Gear in your car. Here's a difficult one. You've got to get it to location somehow, and sometimes you need to leave your equipment in your vehicle while you grab food, get gas, etc. One thing you should never, ever do, is leave gear in your car overnight. At very least, take cameras, lenses, microphones, computers, all the really good stuff that thieves will recognize, and bring them with you. A couple extra cases lugged into your hotel or even into Chipotle is worth not getting broken into and robbed. Thieves work quick! You may think you're just having a 20 minute meal, but it only takes a couple minutes for someone to walk by your vehicle, notice that laptop bag on your passenger seat, and smash and grab.
Lastly for now, gear on set. Just because you've made it on set, does't mean you're safe. Do you know everyone on set? Are there additional staff, people around who may have an opportunity to grab something? It's one thing for someone to walk by your vehicle and know what they're looking it, it's a whole different story once all your amazing equipment is out in the open. If you're in a room at the L.V. Convention Center, the Sands Expo, or a suite at Mandalay Bay, make sure that you know your gear is watched over before you run off to grab a coffee or leave for the evening.
In conclusion. You don't want to live paranoid, but you also don't want to have your expensive and wonderful equipment stolen. Be diligent, invest in insurance, and be smart. A lot of this is simply premeditated steps you can do to ensure that you're operating using good habits. Best of luck, and see you on set!
Stay Calm and Keep Filming!
We hope that everyone stays safe and healthy in the coming weeks. We also know that times are tough, especially for businesses. While we can't generate business for you, we can definitely help make it a little more viable. We're offering a guaranteed 19% off all rentals moving forward. (Laughter is medicine.) If you have a production that's on the fence because of budget, let us know and we'll be happy to try and help! Visit F11 Rentals for all your Las Vegas video production needs!
Best Gear for Small Spaces
Filming in hotel rooms and on the trade show floor have one thing in common: small spaces. Hotel rooms are not designed with filmmaking in mind - of course. Also, the Realestate at say, CES, is very expensive! When you're not in a studio or wide open spaces, the right gear is crucial for success. Here are some of our favorite "small spaces" items:
Cinevate Duzi 4 slider. This amazing item gives you a 24 fantastic inches of sliding glory. It's light weight, and unassuming.
Edelkrone Slider Plus. Another awesome solution for motion, this item is great with DSLR cameras. The addition of the Steady Module was a game changer; adding much needed tension for smooth slides.
DJI Ronin-S. One of our favorite items, the Ronin-S immediately increases production value. DSLRs are easy to balance, and the Ronin is so simple to operate.
Sound Devices 633. While great in the studio, the 633 is really compact for how much versatility it gives you, and how many channels of audio you can capture. (Make sure to have a harness so you don't wreck your back!)
Litepanels Gemini 1x1 LED. You can do Man-on-the-Street interviews and b-roll all day with just one of these lights. They output a tremendous amount of light for their size and weight. Four batteries should get you through the day.
Canon 5D Mark IV or Sony a7S II. Both of these cameras are easy to use, capture great images, and can be used with all the above listed gear. The only caveat is audio capturing; however, if you have the 633, you can just record audio to your mixer. Less cables, more smiles.
Anytime you're here in Fabulous Las Vegas, make sure to hit us up and get the video production rental gear you need to succeed.
Most Popular Cameras from Summer 2019
The Sony FS7 Mark II enjoyed quite a bit of work during the flurry of spring conventions. The FS7 after all, is very popular for run-and-gun, ENG style shoots that usually accompany trade shows. As late spring turned into summer, and the trade shows took their normal breaks, so too did the FS7s. This summer saw the resurgence of popularity amongst the always impressive Canon C300 Mark II. Both commercials and high-end corporate projects dominated the summer months, and the C300 Mark II is perfect for such scenarios. The excellent range of picture profiles, 4K capability, and advanced image processing make this a go-to camera; especially with our cinema lenses. The FS7 did enjoy a hand full of "reality TV" days, as it's again, great for run-and-gun style shooting. Finally, the end of summer saw our Arri Alexa Mini go out for both a short film in Utah, and a few of Las Vegas' exciting music festivals. The truly cinematic capabilities of the Alexa Mini made it a no-brainer for the short film, as well as the very high-end demands of IHeartMusic and Life Is Beautiful. We are definitely looking forward to seeing what autumn brings!
PMW-300 Battery Update
It looks like Sony's has limited the use of third party batteries in their new PMW-300 camera. The DC input has been limited to 12v which means if you are trying to power the camera using the switronics series 7 or the ikan'sIBS-U65, you will get a high voltage error in the camera.
Hope fully Sony comes out with a firmware upgrade to address this issue. The camera can handle 11-17vso there is no reason the DC input is limited to 12v.