8 CHEAP Everyday Items that Pro Filmmakers Love

8 everyday items that cost less than $20 that every filmmaker should add to their kit. Because this job is as much about creative problem solving as anything, and the stuff on this list will make your life on set a lot easier.
#filmmaking #gear #cheap
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🔗 LINKS FROM THIS VIDEO
Black tac: stanmart.com/sales/adhesives-...
Adhesive Putty: amzn.to/4ajrpEt
Velcro Tape: amzn.to/3xX0znQ
Paracord: amzn.to/4bogQAT
Shower Curtain: amzn.to/4a84vQ2
Carabiners: amzn.to/44saOge
CHAPTERS
0:00 - Intro
0:42 - Using everyday items to solve filmmaking problems
2:05 - First Item, find multiple uses for it
4:02 - Second Item, to hang heavy loads
5:04 - Third Item, very handy to put extra things in your rig
6:16 - Fourth Item, perfect for laving characters
8:07 - Fifth Item, amazing to protect from the rain
9:22 - Sixth Item, to hang/place things in rough surfaces
11:22 - Seventh Item, perfect to diffuse light
12:37 - Eight Item, to cut light on set
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MY ACAM: amzn.to/3CsrOoy
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COMPUTER: amzn.to/3HXNwlE
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[@CalebCarterFilm]

Luc is quickly becoming my favorite cinematography channel.

[@CreativeIsolation]

Agreed. I’m looking for helpful, practical information. Not overly flashy content. Not sure if he knows Simon Dentremont, but the proof is in the pudding. That Canadian’s channel is exploding for photography because he’s got the goods and he’s sharing them plainly. Luc seems to be doing similar stuff and I like it!

[@CalebCarterFilm]

@@CreativeIsolation I love Simon too!! I totally agree with you. It's Luc's (and Simons!) Simplicity and Level-headed reviews and Mature video making. It reminds me of how MKBHD has Set himself apart from all the other hyperactive tech reviewers. Its the sound advice that keeps me coming back to Luc for more.

[@estienne1948]

Of course he is !

[@ozlemguler8687]

Here here!

[@Passion_Video_and_Photo]

I agree. I don't like when the mics are showing. Even worse when they hold the mics in their hands lol. I can't take them seriously when I see that!

[@oriaviram7239]

I’ll take everything you said, but my number one is a piece of microfiber cleaning cloth. Rain drops, snow, mud, moisture, etc. on your lens can be a big pain in the a** when shooting in challenging conditions. I want to say that I carry a piece of cloth everywhere, but the reality is I usually forget it and then regret it for the rest of the day. So that’s on the top 3 for me.

[@MotionBlurPL]

Wow, love this video. Finally someone is not talking about the newest gear we "need" right now. Great tips, off to the DIY store tomorrow.

[@rustybrownproductions]

Thanks again, Luc! The medical tape one is a lifesaver, as well as the shower curtain. Those are the priority new additions to my kit. You never know when something small and unrelated to filmmaking will have massive utility on the go. I shot a doc on the art of cask making this past spring in southern Spain and we found ourselves with an interview setup in front of a barrel with a clear plexiglass top/bottom, with a tungsten source shining light through the wine from behind. The only lights we had were these really tiny bicolor led panels and the key we had wasn’t warm enough, and looked unnatural. So, I asked one of our translators for the orange scarf around her neck and bam! Warmed up the key and it looked amazing.

[@BryceDearden]

I was a Boy Scout before I was a filmmaker so I’ve had a lot of time with paracord. What’s actually replaced it for me at this point is PMI 3mm utility cord. I can’t recommend this stuff highly enough: it’s a slightly smaller diameter than paracord, still rated for 400 pounds, ends don’t immediately fray everywhere when cut, and it comes in 50’ packs at REI for ~$5. They seem to always have black, high vis orange, and blue-green color. Definitely worth picking some up to try imo. Also on knots, I agree with the two you mentioned being the biggest ones to know, but I also think one for joining the ends of two ropes together is important. Square knot is the most common and good for that 90% of the time. Fisherman’s/double fisherman’s knot is good if you want a stronger (and pretty permanent) connection

[@papsny]

For me it's toolboxes from home depot as portable drawer cases and tool carts from hardware stores instead of proaim carts.. gun straps for quick release straps

[@ozlemguler8687]

Thankyou for these incredibly informative, helpful videos! I'm about start my first project (although I'm barely getting a grip on social media reels), however, you're encouragement and advice makes me feel like I can just start somewhere and learn on the go. Much appreciation from AU :)

[@gavenevans]

Saw you’re closing in on 100K Luc!!! Congrats man, you’ve definitely earned it! 💪💪💪

[@LucForsyth]

We're so close, thank you!

[@sam_tropez]

thx so much for this video. just great❤

[@nunoandradebluesdrive]

awesome work! thanks

[@johnclay7644]

informative topic informative content Thanks Luc.

[@Passion_Video_and_Photo]

Great video!

[@sergiypudich]

Cool set!

[@Nacho-lw2yu]

Cheap white balance card: some tech gear comes in white translucid bags, put that in front of the lens pointing at the subject and use it to set the custom white balance feature of the camera it works great If you want to take it a step further, make a frame out of cardboard or wire and make a filter out of the bag, you can bring it anywhere and use it anytime

[@DominikMBlock]

I used backing paper (white endless roll) several times to make lamps more soft. You can cut it to the length you need and simply squeeze it into Lamps. Since it's heat resistant you don't have to worry about it being in there for hours. In germany you pay around 3€ per roll making it a pretty handy tool if you don't have extra ediffuion for existing lamps. Shoot a stop motion film over 5 days with this stuff inside 4 IKEA lamps and the endresult was damn good!

[@elaitamani1105]

Thank you sir, I love this video ,so helpful✨️🫶✨️💐💐💐

[@soulhustler1200]

Love this one.

[@AndreSjoberg]

Great video and useful tips :D Learning to tie knots is a perfect «waiting for something»-activity, always carry a piece of rope :) Myself I build all my studio gear out of cardboard as far as possible now, trying to make something useful out of nothing for my «studio»/workshop, in general, having a piece of cardboard stuck in your bag can also be used to solve many problems :)

[@MarcDriessenMedia]

Thanks for all the great content, Luc!

[@LucForsyth]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@andrewcapon4235]

Love this, I love your emphasis on the result rather than having the most expensive gear, its a really good paradigm shift. Thanks for the vid :)

[@Eyeofkamau]

The most useful video on this topic I’ve seen.

[@estienne1948]

This channel is by far the most interesting and motivating I've seen so far. Thanks for all your wise advices (even if I'm still wandering how you use condom to protect your gear, especially with the lubricant that come with it !)

[@assassinsjoker]

With the Paracord, you can tie sensitive items that you dont want falling or going missing from you bags or carts. We called this a dummy cord in the army so certain items wouldn't go missing in the field or at night.

[@Marcus092788]

Very useful video, Luc!

[@LucForsyth]

Glad you think so!

[@pierrezapata90]

Great video. Just did a set of interviews and a person who was helping me was ok with having the interviewees holding the mic. I'm glad I said...no no no. Give me two more mins and I'll get it off camera. I'm glad I did

[@sembalo1776]

garbage bags seem like a great idea! idk why havent thought of that

[@pedzsan]

Perhaps the most useful video for me that you have made.

[@LucForsyth]

Glad to hear that!

[@briano6115]

There is also a cheap device which has several uses --- a monopod. A telescoping plastic or iight aluminum rod to affix cameras or other gear to be hand carried (very cheap DIY steady cam) etc. Packs easy fully compressed and extends to almost boom level. Cheers and good stuff :)

[@mahutaproductions8498]

Fantastic stuff, I thought I was getting there with grip but there were a lot of things I'm not using yet in this video. Definitely going to be adding some of this to the kit.

[@LucForsyth]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Enflict]

I use velcro all the time but the plastic on the back is so hard to take off on some brands. I often need needle-nose-pliers just to remove it for use. Maybe it could just be an old roll? It hasn't been a problem since I stopped building custom impact protection rigs and switched to matte boxes with custom size plexiglass, but when I was constructing 4 or 5 expendable shields before a trip where 3 wouldn't make it back, the velcro was by far the hardest part to deal with.

[@madehumanstudios]

Thank you!

[@LucForsyth]

You're welcome!

[@Edwin--]

Thanks for the nice video. Another item on the list, I really like my PB Swiss 1387 Stubby screwdriver which is perfect for mounting camera plates. Great in the hand and great quality. It got tons of use while hardly showing any signs of wear and is always in my camera bag.

[@sputnickers]

I wouldn't mind a visual of that lav solution.

[@llpreiss]

Absolutely the most important video for me! Luc, you're amazing. As a one-man-band kinda shooter, and with very little budget, it's now time to get my kit fleshed out with really practical stuff from the local "cheap" store. Again, thanks a bunch!

[@LucForsyth]

you're so welcome!

[@chipcurry]

Very good tips except medical tape on the women in my shoot for the Lavalier microphone, I'd be concerned. And the Velcro adhesive, I am always worried about getting any adhesive tape around my camera gear - that stuff just always seems To get spread around. But I'm open to your thoughts…

[@justoneperson]

Great ideas abs and right in my price range. PS the Elon zinger was gold.

[@Sgyozo]

I keep a roll of 0.5mm black PVC sheet, the one they use to builds garden ponds, it's thick enough so it won't be blown away by some light breeze. And next to carabiners, a Kong too, mostly for the Easyrig. BTW my most favourite thing is buying expensive stuff cheap. :D Just got 2 Arri 1200W HMI's from ebay for 50 EUR, one was broken though, had to fix the igniter.

[@vladislav.smigelski]

Guilty of dji mic placement, agree on that point

[@joshwhitee]

Great tips! If you can find them, non-lubricated condoms so you don't get too slippy slidey on the mic pack haha! Hi Scotty !

[@EVM133]

Would’ve never thought of some of these.. especially the condom, but it makes so much sense lol. Thank you for the info, I have to order these before prices spike

[@DominikMBlock]

a good list! won't forget my face when an audio technician pulled out condoms to make our mics waterproof. We did a football broadcast in austria and it was pooring so much rain that the audio crew didn't had much faith that the mics will survive it. The condoms worked pretty well! (I have no idea tho if somebody bought them or hand then in their suitcse, haha)

[@dzpv]

Great vid. I find dual lock is also great (and often stronger) second option to velcro, it's strong enough to even secure Teradek TXs to camera. Re the condoms though, do you not find that they leave residue on your kit afterwards from the ahem...spermicide?

[@riverstreem]

Loved the tips. I intend to start a new channel. Do you script your videos?

[@LucForsyth]

Sure do! I don’t necessarily read them word for word, but I personally like writing and it stops me from rambling. If I didn’t write I think I’d find it hard to get a message across the way I want to

[@Eyeofkamau]

Does the velcro tape leave residue?

[@justiceg]

this ruled

[@louie8488]

Luc! What do you think of the new s35 compact cine zooms from laowa? they look perfect for doco run n gun

[@LucForsyth]

They look super cool for sure, especially that 17-50 could be the perfect all purpose lens - assuming you have a s35 sensor that is. Since I already have the Fuji’s I won’t be getting any myself, but if I didn’t own those I think these would be extremely interesting!

[@wlb-racingteam543]

“Finding Luc channel is like finding anoder parent” chance my mind 8:41

[@LucForsyth]

😂😂😂

[@AnandaGarden]

Lots of fun and tickled my skinflint and lightness bones.

[@nathandouglasbush]

Slight correction at 0:12. Those rubber lav mic holders are $75 for a pack of ten, so $7.50 each. Still overpriced IMO but not $75 egregious.

[@joenicklo]

Velcro saves the day all the time.

[@iregreteverything]

Dual lock is way better than velcro

[@andreawallenberger2668]

Cue: Scene in Apollo 13 where the engineers dump a box of random filters hoses duct tape and space capsule paraphernalia on the table... "make the round hose fit into the square opening using only this crap or they all die. Go."

[@simonhead666]

Small sized surgical gloves work as good as condoms and it’s way cheaper ;)

[@mikaelholz]

And don't get everything sticky!

[@juanjgf]

Carabiners and paracord saved my life in more than one way while shooting on Santa Fe, Galápagos islands, my actual work there was biology related... but man... 10 -12 hours of trekking under ecuatorial sun with no shade, anything that lets you suspend a piece of fabric to rest in shade is, now i know, crucial.

[@shaynegryn]

What, no C-47 clamps? 😅

[@CaelanTierney]

Is there a condoms affiliate link? Just kidding (no srs), great video!

[@Edwin--]

Lucky Luc's, for your cinematographic pleasure 🙄

[@LucForsyth]

😂😂😂

[@fluff1991]

📌 Make sure it’s UNLUBRICATED condoms to avoid the stickiness and smell 😂

[@Huttersvuur]

Lol, the bat story didn't age well.