Complete newbie indie Buying Guide, given no equipment and $X?

Your kit list looks very similar to what I started out with. I would recommend you look into used gear though; most of this stuff won't take you very far professionally anyway so think of it as "practice" equipment (and later, back-up equipment).

The problem with doing a /r/buildapc for filmmaking is, everyone's goals are way, WAY more varied. As far as I can tell, goals for a pc break down into three main categories: artistic/creative, work/business, or gaming. Maybe an extra category for general leisure, but I don't think many people are building their own computers for general leisure.

So the question we have here is-- what are your goals? Are you looking to do a bunch of comedy sketches? Make films to go to festivals? Increase your portfolio material is a specific area? Just learn how gear works? Start working professionally in a certain area? etc. and your gear list will be different for all of them.

Don't forget accessories for everything. Cards for your camera? Batteries? Bulbs (globes) and stands for the lights? Extension cords (stingers)? XLR cables of various lengths? This is where buying used is super helpful, because when people sell something, they generally sell everything you need along with it. And even stuff like lens cleaner, gaff tape, c47's, gels etc. should be bought ahead of time and thrown in your bag.

By the way, you do have a bag right? Cases for everything? A card wallet to hold those memory cards? A little holster thingy to strap your zoom recorder to your belt? (trust me, you'll need it)

I know a lot of that stuff seems like unnecessary luxuries... but they're not. They protect your stuff and make getting it a lot easier, which means quicker, which means less time spent on set (which means less money spent). And if you ever want to get paid for working... let me tell you, your clients are gonna look at you sideways when you pull a bare camera and lights out of your backpack. And then they've already decided you're amateur and are gonna hound you the entire shoot, micromanaging and wrecking your work.

My client experience changed IMMENSELY when I got professional-looking stuff. All of a sudden I was the guy, I obviously knew what I was doing better than them, I was a professional.

Not to mention, when you have the aura of being completely put-together and ready for anything, you get hired back. A lot. I just got a job with a title bump and huge pay increase because on the last shoot, I was the guy that had the extra cf cards when the second shooter was out of space.

Anyway. Something to think about. Best of luck.

/r/Filmmakers Thread