2024 Truly Independent Filmmaking Shopping Guide

Just in time for the holidays, and arranged from least expensive to most expensive, I have a shopping guide for all budding truly independent filmmakers out there. Whether you’re looking for things to ask for, or for things to buy for yourself or for someone else, this guide contains everything that I think a truly independent filmmaker should ever need or want. This is all stuff that I actually own and use to make my films—and all of these links go to Amazon, which will make it very easy for you to shop! Simply click the bold title of each item to go right to Amazon.

First we’ll start with items that are $20 are less:

K&F Concept Lens Cleaner Kit

K&F Concept makes some of the highest quality lens-related products, in my opinion. Yes, you can buy a cheaper air blower, lens pen, and cleaning cloth somewhere else—but a lot of them are crappy, and yes may even damage your equipment. I trust K&F, and you should too.

Why do you need this item? The air blower is to remove dust from your lens without touching it. One side of the lens pen is to brush away pesky dust that won’t blow off, and the other side is to buff out small smudges. The microfiber cloth is for large areas of the lens that you need to take care of. You’d be amazed how many filmmakers I know who do not keep these on hand, even on set. To me, they are necessary. So, buy them!

Kill The Lion: A Manifesto and How-To Guide for the Truly Independent Filmmaking Revolution

Of course this is on here! It’s the only book specifically written for the truly independent filmmaking revolution. Since 2010, independent filmmaking his changed, becoming more truly independent than has ever existed before, by such a wide margin that we are in a new era. All previous filmmaking books, even ones geared towards low budget filmmaking, are now obsolete. DSLRs changed the game. If you don’t have this book, you quite simply do not have a book about truly independent filmmaking. I recommend everyone have a copy.

K&F ND Filter (52mm, 1-9 stops)

ND filters are vital for getting great looking images in bright sunlight. If you like the look of my film No Shark, none of those images would have been possible without an ND filter. This is the type that I use. You will need to choose the right filter size for your camera lens, so be sure to find that out. This link goes to a 52mm filter size one.

Next, items that are $50 or less:

ExpoDisc White Balancing Filter

I’ve been using an ExpoDisc for the past 7 years. Nothing makes white balancing your camera easier. It’s as simple as pointing the camera at your predominant light source with the ExpoDisc over the lens, and hitting shutter. There you go—one click, perfect white balance. So many people don’t white balance their cameras these days, opting instead to shoot ‘RAW’ and ‘figure it out in post’. This is a mistake. White balance is important, and with the ExpoDisc, it only takes a couple seconds to do. Don’t settle for any knockoff brands—ExpoDisc created this, and they have the highest standards for their product.

Next, items that are $100 or less:

Umbrella Lighting Kit

Umbrella lights are perfect for the kind of soft light I enjoy. Mostly I just want to fill things out a bit overall, such that dark portions of the image aren’t too dark as I give respect to the actual indoor lighting situation. One or two of these will really make your footage look a lot better—and there’s no reason you should ever need to use expensive ones. Just match the color temperature of the LED bulbs you buy to the room, and you’re golden.

Shure SM57 microphone

Look up workhorse microphone in the dictionary and this is it. Pair it with a proper windscreen and this is as good if not better than an SM7B at a fraction of the price. All you need for voiceover or podcast recording, in my opinion. Love this mic!

Next, items that are $200 or less:

Nikkor 28mm f2.8 AI-S MF lens

The footage I shoot with this lens, I get complimented on more than any other. It is a timeless lens, as all lenses should be. You will need to adapt it to your camera body most likely, so make sure to get an adapter for it. But this lens, I would take with me for the rest of my life. Everyone should have it. It’s the sharpest manual focus wide angle lens ever made, and there is no distortion, lines are perfectly straight. Don’t pay more than about $150-$200 for it—that’s what it goes for used. This Amazon link goes to a listing for it used on there, but that might get sold. You can find plenty of these on eBay though.

Zoom F2 Lavalier Compact Recorder

This is my preferred lavalier mic and recorder. What I love the most about it is the 32-bit float recording—this means that you never have to set gain. It’s impossible to peak these mics, and you can raise volume without introducing any more noise. Obviously, what matters most with lavalier mics is placement—how you affix them to the body or clothes will make the most difference. But as far as lavs and a recorder themselves, these are all you need. Buy one for each person speaking on screen, if you want to record by way of lavaliers. Also remember to get micro SD cards for each.

Samson C02 microphone pair

Everyone who needs and uses microphones should have these. First, when connected to a 32-bit float recording device, these are the best indoor boom microphones you can get. Much better than a shotgun microphone. Shotgun microphones are for treated indoor environments, big studios, and for outdoors. For smaller and more normal indoor environments, you want to be using these. You will pick up way less undesirable sounds, particularly if you apply a de-verb in post. But, on top of that, these are great for recording instruments. You can even record vocals with them, they do it all. I love these mics.

Next, items that are $300 or less:

Sekonic L-308X-U Light Meter

This is the newer version of the exact light meter that I use, and have used for ages. You don’t want anything more advanced than this—the stupid smart phone looking ones are overkill. You also don’t want anything less advanced than this—the dial ones are annoying. This is exactly what you need for lighting a scene. The human eye is simply not good enough to detect subtle differences in light. What may seem properly exposed to your eye may not be. I believe this to be the finest light meter you can buy, and I strongly endorse the use of light meters in general.

Zoom F3 Field Recorder

This is like the modern incarnation of the workhorse Zoom H4n portable audio recorder, except without the built-in mics no one uses, and with 32-bit float added. In other words, it’s perfect. The only downside I’d say is that the battery life leaves something to be desired—but as long as you connect this to a portable power pack, you’re more than fine.