DV movie advice wanted.

[k_wor.mytree]

Hi all.
Early next year I am going to start to make my own DV movies. I've budgeted for a NLE computer (AMD Duron800, 3x27gig Hard drives in RAID, Matrox RT2000 Video Editing package)and a DV camera (Sony DCR-VX2000 or Canon XL1). I also have a willing group of volunteers to act or crew. The idea is exercise what we know about film making via practicle means, and to hopefully work our way up to a full feature at some time (Got to have a dream!)
I know that this will be tough, but I have a lot of drive and determination. What I don't have is experiance. So this is where all you lot come in. I have a few questions which you may know the answers too.
1) The Camera. Which out of these DV cameras is the best? Sony DCR-VX2000, or Canon XL1.
And why?
2) Does anyone know a cheap way to make dry ice? One of the first things I'm going to shoot is a comission from a group of Live Action Role players, which leads me to...
3)Shooting at night. Is there anyway to cheaply and effectively light a night scene?
4)I know that the ownership of a replica gun is illeagal in Britain, but is there anyway to get the effect of a gun shot from a toy gun so that I don't contavine the law?
If you can answer any of these questions for me I would be grateful.
I also plan to set up a network of Low/No budget film makers in England. The Network will be used to support our fellow film maker in practicle means or with advice. The people that Have lots of experiance giving a helping hand to those just starting out. It will opperate like Shooting People, but less business like and more fun, for those who know what it is like to have that passion...and no budget. If you are interested then e-mail me at [email protected] or get in touch via ICQ (K-wor 98951825). I plan getting my web site up and running sometime early 2001.
Thank to all in advance,
Ken Worsley,
My Tree Productions.

[Keviano]

In regards to the gun querry, you can legally own a replica gun in the UK, it's the real ones that cause all the fuss. Brandishing these guns in public is another matter (last sunday our crew was confronted by Thames Valley CID for this very reason, because our director didn't inform them of our intentions, thankfully we didn't get in trouble). We used airsoft replica guns for this film (the ones that fire those little plastic balls). To make them look like they were actually firing I took a still frame out using iMovie2, chopped a gunlash out that I found on a picture on the net, pasted it onto the movie frame and imported back into iMovie. I then enhanced the light in that frame, and added a gunshot sound effect (also found from the net). It was quite effective. I have a demo version of this effect on my iTools thingy, if anyone can figure out how to access the page (somewhere on mac.com/itools or something), sign in to the public folders with the name 'keviano' and you'll see the effect. the actual effect in the film looks much better as I spent a long time perfect the flash, but you'll get the idea.

Good luck
Keviano
ReelRaine Productions

[Chance1234]

re dry ice,

we used smoke grenades, the type used in paintball games, there about 1.75 each and giv eyou about three minutes of smoke and come in lots of different colours.

saying that Dry ice isnt really that expensive ?30 quid will get you enough of the stuff to last a weekend

Chance

Also if its blank guns your after we got a few that we hire out.

and in the new year were going to have a couple of blondes and three red heads availiable for hire quite cheaply as well


------------------
5YLAC Films
www.itkoa.co.uk
www.lookingglass.atfreeweb.com/desktop/deadlights/index.htm

download the deadlights trailer at

<http://www.lookingglass.atfreeweb.co...s/images/deadl
ights_trailer1.rm>

[This message has been edited by Chance1234 (edited December 08, 2000).]

[Nigel]

I would go with the VX2000 over the XL1. The XL1 is to front heavy and does not go very wide on shots unless your buy the ultra expensive wide-angle lens. Those are my opinions. If you can step it up to a true profesional camera like some of Sony's DVCam cameras then I would do that over MiniDV. Good Luck