Sunday, April 13th, 2008...10:17 pm
Production Values vs. Simplicity: The Gearhead Conundrum
These two priorities are on different, but intersecting paths. We need to find the intersection.
Simplicity: By this I mean the tools: The gear. The setups. The shots. The language. The editing.
We feel drawn to simple storytelling. Plainspoken pictures. Simple editing. We want (and need, $$wise) to develop and use a simple kit of gear. Compact, versatile, quick to set up, and not so complex that we devote unneeded energy to working out how to actually use the stuff.
Production values: Okay, for argument’s sake, let’s make the assumption that we’re going to make something really good. If this is true then it’s in our interest to make sure it’s also refined enough that lots of people will be willing to look at it.
In other words, whatever we make needs to be well enough produced to communicate to folks who aren’t, you know, like hungry for documentary at any cost. Seems to me like lots of people will run away from soso looking/sounding stuff.
Our goal, then, is to sort the minimum configuration production equipment kit/workflow that will net us great looking stuff. Then learn to use it towards it potential.
That’s the intersection. We have a lot of gear right now, the result of an ongoing quest to build just the right field kit, and I’m inclined to think we’d be well served to simplify.
It’s not all ours, and also, it’s not all going with us. But an alarming amount of it is. Sigh.

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