We need to talk.

I will have to rethink the schedule I posted on Wednesday. Honestly, it's just too impractical. The people I would ask to help me to film will either be A) filming their own film openings or B) competing with me at STN in a couple of weeks.

Competition season is really irritating. I'm gone from the 12th-18th, and right after that is Spring Break (most of which I will be spending in another state). I might have to film during the break, as I'll have a few days where I'll be in Florida. If I go this route, though, I might not be able to secure equipment for filming.

This isn't the biggest issue; I think the main thing I would want to take from either the school's TV checkout or BECON is lighting equipment. I've texted BECON to ask if we can check equipment out during the break, which I highly doubt is allowed, so I'm gonna try and figure out some way to get a cheap lighting setup for shooting outdoors. I have about $190 left over from my final paycheck, about $40 of which is going towards upgrading my tripod.

I already have a phone mount for the tripod, so worst-case scenario I can function with just an iPhone and however much lighting gear $150 can get me. Maybe some tube lights?? Who knows. But regarding the iPhone, I was watching a video earlier about Claudio Miranda's latest shoot, done solely on an iPhone. It got me more invested in the idea, but also this shoot is being done with brand-new iPhone 15 Pro Maxes. I have the 14 Pro, which allegedly has a top-of-the-line camera (some bullshit), but has very choppy framerate at times and can come out kind of grainy. However, there was one thing mentioned in this video that was actually really helpful: Blackmagic.

It lets you customize the hell out of your camera settings, and best of all, it's free. But again, I'm running into the issue of choppy footage. Apple doesn't really make the best products, so I wouldn't be surprised if this is just how my camera's gonna be now, but I'm gonna look into finding a work-around.

They also mentioned in the video how the Tilta wireless focus thingy works with the app to let you customize shit remotely, but after looking at their website it's like $300. 

Hell no.

I'm sure I could find one for much cheaper on eBay, which is where I get most of my gear, but it's not at all necessary and I'd rather get lighting equipment. Actually, I just found an older model for $54 on MPB. Loveeeeee MPB. But again, not really necessary. They do have some lighting equipment but it's still really expensive, I might just have to get creative.

I think extending my pre-production period is fine, so long as I make use of this time. I would like to schedule my shoot before I leave for my first trip, which I think I have enough time for, but I also want to see if I can get a permit to film at a train station (I have an avid fear of the "ask for forgiveness not permission" mentality). I should have a new schedule by my next post, however I don't think I'll make it so deadline-strict this time. I have a lot of things on my plate, so as long as I feel ready by the time I go to film, I'll be happy. I view this project more as an opportunity to enjoy film again more than I view it as an assignment.