Film gear is often built out of heavy duty materials since you want them to stand the test of time. Film sets, on the other hand, are not delicate places where equipment is handled with white linen gloves. Stands are made out of steel, dolly tracks are made out of… steel. Lights, such as HMIs, are made to withstand heat and can require multiple people to get them onto a stand. There are many people trying to keep their backs from breaking under the weight of all the equipment that has to be carried around. That’s why I’m going to showcase some lightweight gear for filmmaking that can save you some weight. Some of the equipment is a lighter replacement, while others are alternative tools.
Aladdin Bi-Flex 2 Bi-Color LED Panel Kit
LED lights are the newest kid to be introduced to the very old world of lighting. LEDs are the most power-efficient, compact, and easily adjustable way to light a film set. The Aladdin Bi-Flex shown below is an excellent tool for many circumstances. The power block weighs hardly anything when compared to other light sources, coming in at only 1 lb. (0.45kg). It is a flexible mat that is extremely versatile. It has a solid output when you consider its size. This is great for being hidden in tight spots where other types of light sources couldn’t hope to go. This is also ideal for a travel interview setup for people who need to do everything themselves. It isn’t a substitute for a huge powerful light. Although, with the softbox or a lantern, it can definitely compete with an 800W Tungsten lamp.
MSE RoadRags II
While I rent an Easyrig and an Aladdin when I need them, I purchased the Matthews RoadRags II set. They do the same job as a 24” X 36” flag or scrim, but are compact and fold down to a nice travel sized kit. They use a similar setup that you would see on camping tent poles for the frame. You can see it in use in the image below blocking some of the window light. The only downside is they may struggle in slightly high winds — but indoors, they rock!
Leatherman
If you work in a department that uses tools all the time, a Leatherman will be your best friend on set. It saves you from having to carry different tools. Instead, you just have one multi-tool on your belt. Does it replace every tool you might need? No, it can’t be everything for everyone. Although, it does save you from having to go into your toolbox so often. When you are up on a ladder and realize you need to cut, tighten, or otherwise work on something and you have the tool you need on your belt, you will be happy you have your Leatherman.
Cinefoil (aka Blackwrap)
There are several expendables that save your bacon on a set and for the lighting department, cinefoil or blackwrap is one of them. It is a black aluminum sheet that can easily mold around lights, extend barn doors to keep light from hitting walls, or be used as a makeshift sunshade for a camera. The uses are many. Since it is made out of a flexible aluminum, it is safe for use with very hot lights. The way this little crinkly metal sheet saves you weight is by often cutting light without having to put up a stand and a flag.
GafferTape
Another expendable that can help you repair, hide, hang, and tape things is the essential Gaffer Tape. It can really solve so many issues, it should be paid a wage. I had to include it here because it is so useful, any list of equipment should have it featured. Also, if you want to tape things to walls, consider using paper tape as it is less likely to destroy the paint of the walls. I always have black and white of both on set with me.
SmallRig RC 220B COB Bi-Color LED Video Light
Lighting keeps getting more powerful, lighter, and even cheaper as time passes. This is due to the ever competitive LED market. SmallRig is a company known for its robust camera accessory catalog, which allows you to customize your camera rigging and mounting. They do this while keeping gear high quality and at a fair price point. The company has now brought this philosophy to the new bi-color, 220-watt LED light — the RC220B. This light produces very accurate color renditions at both 3,200 and 5,600 kelvin, while drawing only 220 watts of power. Having a dimmable, lightweight light to give you more control over where to draw your viewer’s eye is a great tool for any small — or even medium-sized — production. Plus, this light is also easily mounted on even smaller stands due to its unibody design.
Litepanels Gemini 1×1 Soft RGBWW LED Panel
If you need the ultimate in portable flexibility for your lighting setups, Litepanels has you covered with the Gemini 1X1 Soft RGBWW LED Panel. The Gemini Soft has an industry standard 1X1 surface area with a frosted diffuser to make the light soft straight out of the box. On top of that, this is an RGBWW light which means it can accurately create any color you like. It can match any gel you need and has a large CCT range of 2,700-10,000K. It also has a large array of effects and can be powered by either a V-Mount or Gold-Mount battery. This light is very common on run-and-gun setups and in the field to light up broadcasters. It is also a great multipurpose light that I personally use in various filming situations.
Creamsource Vortex 8
When you need more punch, and a light that will stand up to the rigors of a professional film set, the Vortex 8 from Creamsource is the way to go. The Vortex 8 has an IP rating of 65. This means you get extreme dust protection — great for shooting on fine sand beaches that can get into fans and electronics of lower IP-rated lights. It is also protected from water sprays from any direction in case of intensely rainy conditions.
Not only is it tough, it is also powerful. It can output a massive 650 watts of RGBW light using a lens system for its LEDs. This means the light starts out hard and needs to be diffused to get the normal look of a soft panel light. I suggest getting both the Creamsource Flat Diffuser along with the dome diffuser included in the package. Use them together to get this light fully diffused so you don’t see the individual lenses and it acts as one single light source without multiple shadows.
Prograde Digital 128GB SDXC UHS-II U3 Class 10 V90
There are a two main items that need to be in your camera bag and in a large-enough supply to feel secure throughout your entire shooting day. These are batteries and media. If you don’t have more than enough of both, you will find yourself sweating. They also need to be reliable and work with the camera you are using. This SD-XC card is what I use with my Sony a7S III. I have more than enough for any potential shooting day I could face. The speed of this card allows you to utilize nearly the full capacity of the a7S III in terms of frame rates. This card from ProGrade is a UHS-II U3 Class 10 V90, which will record data at up to 250MB/s.
Pelican 1510 Watertight Carry On Hard Case
The Pelican 1510 hard case is the perfect way to keep your gear safe while maintaining portability and staying within the size for a carry-on. The Pelican 1510, like all of their travel cases, are waterproof, dustproof, and come with a lifetime guarantee. It also has valves that stop it from being suctioned closed. I also recommend going with the divider sets. While the pick-and-pluck can be made to fit any shape, I did find the pieces on the edges would start to come up as I removed and replaced my camera into its cut out. The Pelican 1510 is a no-brainer if you often travel with gear and want to added peace of mind.
Manfrotto Befree Live 4-Section Aluminum Compact Video Tripod
This tripod is designed for travelers, bloggers, and anyone else who needs a portable video tripod. It only weighs 3.9 lbs. (1.9 kg) which is about half as heavy as my normal tripod setup. It folds down to a very compact 17” (43 cm) while still having a maximum height of 59.5″ (151 cm). It also comes with its own carry bag that will easily pack into most carry-ons. On top of these impressive features, the fact that it also has an adjustable ball head gave me the incentive to run out and get one before my next trip. Just make sure not to overload it as its capacity is 8.8 lbs (4 kg).
Rode Wireless GO II Compact Microphone System
Wireless microphone systems have become so small in the past few years. The Rode Wireless Go II continues this trend. This package comes with two transmitters, which also work as portable recorders with built-in microphones. It has a 3.5mm jack to be used with your choice of microphone when you don’t want to have it close to your mouth. The sound quality from the unit is great, as well as the range of transmission. The best thing about the recording feature of the transmitter — at least for me, is that when you are transmitting to the receiver atop your camera. If the signal happens to drop or get interrupted, you can always use the recording straight from the unit to get clean audio.
Sennheiser MKE Essential Omni-Directional Clip-On Microphone
The Sennheiser MKE lavalier microphone hits that sweet spot of being a fair price (currently $249) and a step up in quality and form factor for many people. I own the older, EW-100 G2 version of the Sennheiser EW-100 and have had it for many years. It is robust and works exceptionally well. The only thing that can make it better is to replace the included ME 2 lavalier — which has decent sound but is not particularly small — to make the mics easier to hide. The MKE Essential has better sound while also using a smaller capsule. This means it will be much easier to hide and slightly less susceptible to noise from clothing rustle, due to its smaller-sized omni-directional capsule. This is definitely an upgrade I am looking forward to.
