3 Game-Changing Tools for the low-budget Cinematographer!

As a low-budget indie cinematographer, my biggest pain point is not having the money to afford the tools I need and the time to utilize those tools. I would love to do it like the pros and book a whole crew to go to a location, test for lighting and lenses, block, etc. But that requires me to have the time and money to pay for all the equipment I want to test. So what's a broke DP to do? The answer is technology! Here are the tools I have found vital in my preparation for any production!

1. Storyboarder

Every cinematographer needs to be able to get their vision out of their head and on paper. But not every cinematographer can sketch or draw. The other issue I ran into with this was being able to afford a high-quality professional storyboarder which can run you anywhere between $50/hr to $200/hour. And sure, you can find an acceptable option from things like Fiverr for $100, but there's no guarantee that it'll come out the way you need it to. So things like Storyboarder are the perfect alternative! With Storyboarder by Wonder Unit. Storyboarder is free and open-source, making it one of your best options if you work with smaller budgets. The program has all the necessary tools at your disposal. If you can't draw, they have pre-sketched figures ready to go, so you can quickly throw in your characters and immediately start to set your scene with a simple drag and drop. You can also write dialogue and enter timing information and shot type. Storyboarder works collaboratively with Photoshop, which means you can edit your board in Photoshop for more precision, and it will automatically update in Storyboarder. This software lets you export to Premiere, Final Cut, Avid, PDF, or Animated GIF. It's truly a game changer!

2. Cadrage

So another roadblock I run into is being able to rent the camera and lenses that I want to test the look and feel of everything before I shoot. For example, renting an Arri Alexa Mini camera package can cost me up to $700-$1400/day. And Cooke lenses or Atlas Orion lens sets can run from $200-$400 a day. That's just for the test shoot day, not counting paying all other crew members to be on location with their equipment to test. But with things like Cadrage, you can at least get the idea for only $20! This app is available in the apple app store and can be used with your iPhone or tablet. This is a very advanced director's viewfinder app with many features, such as accurate previews for several cameras and lenses (from different manufacturers). Scrolling through the menu, I didn't see a camera or lens that wasn't on there! You can also save photos and record videos using a specific camera/lens look. You can add custom frame lines in any aspect ratio. It has a built-in gallery and project manager. You can create PDF shot lists and directly upload them to Dropbox or send them via email. You have the option to manually control exposure, focus & white balance. And my favorite part, you have a 3-way color correction to pre-visualize the final look. LUTs can be created or uploaded if you want an example of what the grade can be! Check out the video below to see an example of all that it can do!

3. Set A Light 3D

The most essential tool for a cinematographer is lightning! But again, we don't always have the luxury of booking a location and renting out a light kit along with the grip and gaffer tools. So the next best thing is a software called, Set.A.Light 3D by elixxier. This is a revolutionary lighting simulator for photographers and filmmakers. Set a light 3D changes how modern filmmakers plan their setups. It allows you to bring your ideas to life in a highly detailed way. No more guessing and making assumptions. You can get clear visuals of what you are looking for within seconds. It's available on mac and windows and has free access to basic features. But for the full versions, they are running a special for the Basic Full version at $79 and the Studio Full Version at $154! Not only can you utilize this as a pre-visualizing tool, but you can also export a detailed lighting diagram that can be handed off to your team.

All 3 of these tools are absolutely essential to prepare for any shoot! I've used these for my last few shoots, and they have helped me prep in ways I never thought id be able to. Since using these, I have seen a vast difference in my end result! I highly recommend these for the low-budget indie filmmaker and hope this makes your next project as smooth as it's made mine!