Initial Scarlet package on a moderate budget

[William Graydon]

SCARLET-X W/ AL Canon Mount/Side SSD - $9750
Side Handle - $950
Touch 5.0" LCD - $1600
Scarlet Media Pack - $1200
SSD 64GB - $950
Power Pack x2 - $1030
Scarlet Base Production Pack - $1350
Manfrotto 536 Carbon fiber Tripod w/ 509HD Head - $1600
Oconnor O-Box WM Set (15mm LWS) - $1,100
Redrock 18" 15mm carbon fiber rods - $100
RedRock MicroFollowFocus | Blue - $795
Red Armor - $1500
Lenses:
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8($720),
Zeiss ZE 35 ($1,843),50 ($725),85 ($1,283) f/1.4
Total in Lenses: $4,571
x A-Box - #250
Pelican IM2720 Storm Trak Case - $200

Total: $26,946

If I do this I'm going big or going home as I am a young indie filmmaker fresh out of school and have been contemplating this for a while. The time is now.
I'll be taking out a secured loan to purchase this.
So, please advise without discretion.

I am a writer/director constantly developing my craft. I love the camera and do DP many of my projects. My passion is narrative story telling.

At the moment I support my passion by working for a film festival and freelancing any chance I get.

Thanks everyone.

[Kyle Gentz]

Add in Insurance!, The ZE Primes are very nice. May want to consider the Canon L's but either way they are both very nice. One 64GB Card wont go far. May need more power also. You will have a good focal set to start with.

[AJ Aguirre]

Also, dont forget to add in external storage. Looks like were going to need a lot of it

[PatrickW]

1 SSD and 2 Red Volts, likely wont cut it for your workflow.

As previously mentioned don't forget to budget storage. You have to dump that SSD onto something, and preferably doing so in a data secure redundant manner.

[Michael Chase Gordon]

Hey William, congrats on joining the real world now as you find your way after finishing film school. Just some small words of advice from someone who started from the ground up and has worked and lived in NYC and now LA. I have worked with many A-List talents in films, sports and music and I can tell you its not always the gear that makes you successful. Its mostly about your dedication to your craft and a lot about the relationships you make on your professional journey. As soon as you said "fresh out of film school" coupled with the grand total $26,946 is a little scary to here from a young person in today's economy.
I have to askif you have college loans your paying back? Also do you have a project that will pay for at least 1/2 of your purchase, plus pay your bills? Do you live in a market that can support the level of equipment you will be purchasing?

I ask all these ?s because the last thing anyone would want is for you to purchase all this equipment and strap you down with a lot of debt to pay back with an occasional freelance project. Now if you are a trust fund baby and your parents are giving this to you as a graduation gift then by all means go for it! LOL
If thats not the case you should really think long and hard about renting before you buy and see if you can build up a client base that would ease the burden of this very large purchase. Trust me you have a lot to learn about the feature film world and every young person that starts always thinks that film school will get them jobs and great gigs but a lot of the times they end up being disgruntled PA's learning until they get a chance or make their own chances happen. Either way there will be years of learning the biz and progressing your knowledge of real world feature film productions. Any film maker will tell you its not the technology that gives you the upper hand, its knowing how to best use what you have along with most importantly developing your script or project to the best it can be.

Just to give you an example I have met and talked with the DP of "Like Crazy" which was shot on a modified Canon 7D with an assortment prime lenses. The budget for the film was $250,000 and it sold after doing great at Sundance for $4 million dollars. NO ONE had a problem with it being shot on a DSLR. If you live in LA you probably have come across Shane Hurlbut who was the DP of the new movie "Act of Valor" and it looks visually awesome, which was also shot on a DSLR and prime lenses.
The Panasonic GH2 hacked to 176mbs with prime lenses is a killer set up and making amazing images as well.

The main thing to stress is if you have had your heart set on Scarlet and can afford it without going into massive debt, then by all means get it, because its an amazing camera from an amazing company. I'm just hoping that you arnt thinking just because you have that camera will get you jobs immediately and life will be great. The reality is you will have an extreemly expensive package that you might be having to pay off for years to come. Be smart and choose wisely and confide in friends and family that arnt camera geeks like us on here! :)
Dont mean to be a downer but sometimes it needs to be said for people such as yourself that are straight out of film school.
Whatever decision you make i wish you the best and hope you succeed.

[Bryan Keith]

Very wise advice from Michael. OP, I don't know your situation, but really think about what he said. On that same note....I keep wondering how all these new Scarlet owners are gonna pay for their cool new tools/toys. I wish them all success. Meanwhile, I'll most likely be waiting around for a few months when all the used Scarlet packages start flooding the market.

[Brad Webb]

For 1/2 the money you can buy a 7D, some really great lenses, a bunch of lights, c-stands, and other gear. That's what I did 2 years ago.

[Gunleik Groven]

For 1/2 the money you can buy a 7D, some really great lenses, a bunch of lights, c-stands, and other gear. That's what I did 2 years ago.

LOL
Your point being?

[Brad Webb]

LOL
Your point being?

Now I can afford a Scarlet, and the only thing I can't use with it is the 7D.

[Gunleik Groven]

Now I can afford a Scarlet, and the only thing I can't use with it is the 7D.

Ah...

GOOD point! :)