Essential Gear for RUN & GUN Documentary Filmmaking

[@jamesandcamera]

It's a very TV style kit. It's the layout of kit I did most of my career with. Camera, sling bag of audio, tripod. It's a good way to work 😊🤙

[@austinmeyerfilms]

It sounds like we would be friends 😊

[@JayWalsh]

Just an FYI, instead of a $400 CineSaddle, I use a $20 Ruggard bag with a flat top to carry my extras and to rest my rig on. It's a shoulder bag that I adjust the strap for a comfortable height on my chest.

[@visionairmedia]

Amazing video. Great way of thinking. Thank you 😊

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@visionairmedia thank you for watching!

[@_suryo_]

you forget to mention that the cinesaddle can be a pillow during a nap in the jungle... well at least that what I always do. I love my cinesaddle!

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@_suryo_ hahah so true!

[@johannesabeling6460]

Thanks for the sling bag tip! I am curious with what headphones you come up with. Let us know!

[@jaxHeitChurchOfChristSer-me5el]

I want to thank you for this and all of your videos. I find them informative and practical. I'm A late starter in becoming a documentarian. ( I recently purchased a bmcc4k so while I have a lotto learn. ) I'm learning a lot from you. I'm 60+ yrs old and I'm jumping into this area because well I love talking to people and getting their stories. I have most of what I need to start. But my lenses set is based on vintage and 7 Artisan lenses. Just to get started. Any guidance from you will be well received.

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@jaxHeitChurchOfChristSer-me5el love this! It’s never too late to learn and create amazing stories 🙌

[@JaySea]

Which sticky do you use for the lavaliers to keep them hidden?

[@austinmeyerfilms]

This is the one I use most often: www.filmtools.com/vapon-topstick-1-x-3.html

[@aracnoloco]

Cool. I noticed how important it is to be able to get quick access to equipment. If stored in a rucksack, it last too long to get the stuff out. So mainly I have a shoulder bag that contains the most needed gear and I often use the bag to support my camera during filming (like you use the cinesaddle). Best wishes.

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@aracnoloco love that strategy. Thanks for sharing and for watching!

[@hopeforthefuturesg]

Amazing! Really loving your content from the few videos I’ve seen. Glad I subscribed!

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@hopeforthefuturesg thanks for being here 🙏 I really appreciate it!

[@BenPhanStudios]

Great video, super helpful! I use Sennheiser IEM's and love them. Are you pulling focus manually using the stock monitor? If so, your eyes are better than mine! Just subscribed 😊

[@austinmeyerfilms]

Thanks, Ben! haha, yes I have been pulling focus using the stock monitor for years. I was actually gifted vision that is better than 20/20, so maybe that's why! BUT, I will say... i am looking into a smallHD monitor right now. Can't figure out which size to get. 5 inch of 7 inch. Wish I could get some experience with them before buying, but sometimes that is hard in our industry to try before you buy without spending a bunch on rentals. What do you use?

[@BenPhanStudios]

Wow, I'm jealous of your vision! I use a 5" Atomos Shinobi, I'm sure it's not as good as the Small HDs but it works fine for me. I use a sunshade which helps a lot when shooting outside. Loving your channel brother! It's inspiring me to leave some gear at home 😂

[@Prof.waleedkhalid]

Thanks for sharing this video. I highly appreciate it. Following you from Baghad.

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@Prof.waleedkhalid thanks for watching! Appreciating you from California, USA🙏

[@LouisLuzuka]

I need this in my life 😮

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@LouisLuzuka which?!

[@LouisLuzuka]

@@austinmeyerfilms the simplicity mindset

[@truthseeker6804]

exactly the channel I've been looking for. great content keep up the good work.

[@austinmeyerfilms]

You're exactly the viewer I've been looking for! :) thanks for the encouragement

[@williamgladstone5772]

Thanks Austin, really useful tips, as are all your videos on your channel! How did you conceal the lav mic you were using to record audio - great quality!

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@williamgladstone5772 thank you! I have the lav mic that I am wearing taped under my shirt

[@steveroberti1971]

Great information Austin. Glad I found your channel, what you do is what I'm trying to achieve so I appreciate you sharing all of your info. I'm as minimal run and gun as possible, Going to have to check out this belt system sling. Will be watching more later, for now, I've gotta kick some doors down to get some projects going. Unless of course, you're hiring.

[@austinmeyerfilms]

Thanks for watching! Cool to meet other filmmakers who enjoy filming the same types of stories in the same types of styles that I do. Keep knocking on those doors, but make sure to also allocate time to keep creating your own videos and share them with the world. Let me know what you're creating!

[@pats_seidl]

Amazing video. Very detailed and honest. You know what you are doing. Keep it up!

[@austinmeyerfilms]

Thanks for the encouragement!

[@Supercon57]

For headphones I personally use Shure SE215 in-ear monitors, bought them 7 years ago and they still work great They sound great and act as ear plugs for when working in loud environments like concerts or car shows I love how they wrap around the ear so I can easily just have them around my ear but not in my ear if I need them out but can quickly just push them in when needed I had a pair of Sony MDR-7506 and Sennheiser HD 280 and I cut off the built in wire, soldered in a 3.5mm jack so I just have a much shorter straight wire but I've always hated over ear headphones for having to fumble them with two hands to get them back on Cranky cameraman said someone recommended the 'Moondrop CHU II' and those are much cheaper but he says they sound great

[@Aidan_Davis]

Thanks for the headphone recommendation

[@austinmeyerfilms]

Thanks for the recommendation! I just checked out the Shure SE215 headphones on B&H and they look pretty sweet. I'll keep you posted on what I end up going with, because honestly, I'm getting kind of sick of these over ear headphones while in run&gun setups!

[@LouisLuzuka]

This was so helpful 😮

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@LouisLuzuka thanks for watching!

[@timdanyo898]

I like the minimal set up and advice. Curious how you live without a proper video monitor other than the stock Sony monitor? A larger, brighter, more capable monitor (especially with false color) is invaluable.

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@timdanyo898 thanks for watching! Great question. A couple answers: 1.) I’ve never used or had one, so this is all I know. 2.) It’s probably a purchase I’ll make at some point, but as I’ve invested in more equipment over time, other items got priority 3.) I’m very careful about adding anything to the body that will expand my footprint, especially if I haven’t had the opportunity to test out the equipment in the field 4.) I have better than 20/20 vision, so the small monitor hasn’t been an issue for me 😂 But like I said, I’m sure it’s a purchase I’ll get to at some point. Have any recommendations?

[@timdanyo898]

@@austinmeyerfilmsthe new SmallHD 5” is great. Light weight and doesn’t drink batteries. My FX3 is my small and nimble rig. My FX6 goes in beast mode maybe a little too much. I do see the value in less is more. I love your suggestion for the ThinkTank 20 sling. I subbed to your channel. Keep up the great videos!

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@timdanyo898 I appreciate the recommendation! That’s been the one I’ve been eyeing 👀 5 inch seems like the way to go for my preferences, rather than the 7 inch. Thanks for following the channel!

[@Wasmm_]

Very useful information!! I'm about to film my second documentary and one of the things that are true is that you want to bring a lot of gear "just in case" and you never end up using. Im definitely implementing the belt system

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@Wasmm_ let me know how it works for you!

[@Wasmm_]

@@austinmeyerfilms I'm back from my documentary film trip. It worked, not only i felt lighter but i didn't have to make a lot of decisions when choosing the gear!

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@Wasmm_ yesss! Love to hear that. Thanks for reporting back 💪

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

I use the Portabrace waist pack which is similar and comes in three sizes but have you tried using your waist pack as a camera support instead of the Cinesaddle?

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker yes I have! It definitely can be used that way in a pinch. How you been liking the portabrace?

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

@@austinmeyerfilms They are good. I have all three sizes an use whichever I need for the gear I am taking filming. I am a great fan of Portabrace and over the years have had many of their bags espoecially the ones I used that fitted around my original video cameras when we used U-Matic High Band and Beta.

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker will have to give the portabrace a try at some point! Thanks for the rec

[@bobkrist1]

Why wouldn't you use the waist pack swung around instead of the Cinesaddle? I work with a sling bag and it does the same thing. It seems like a lot of hassle to carry a second bag around your shoulders which is a single use, bulky item like the Cinesaddle when you already have a sling that can provide the same kind of stable platform.. Of course, my camera setup is smaller so maybe that's the reason? Does your camera package not rest comfortably on the sling?

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@bobkrist1 great question! I don’t always carry the cinesaddle, but I find that it does provide a different function that resting on the waist pack. With the cinesaddle I have flexibility in terms of the height I keep it at, and the directions I can turn it. With the waist pack I don’t. Also, the surface of the waist pack doesn’t cradle the camera because it’s uneven. Like if I have the 70-200 in there, it’s like I am resting the FX6 on the lens cap, which isn’t very stable. Appreciate the question!

[@bobkrist1]

@@austinmeyerfilms That makes sense, thanks for elaborating!

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@bobkrist1 of course! thanks for watching 🙌

[@joseluisrosales9226]

Great video!!! I really appreciate those tips. Thank you very much... you just saved my back. 😃🙏

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@joseluisrosales9226 thanks for watching! Take care of that back 💪

[@WillJBailey]

Great video, thanks. Do you ever use a gimbal?

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@WillJBailey thank you! I very seldom use a gimbal on run & gun documentary shoots. I use it more for a specialty shot here and there, rather than as a go to piece of essential equipment. What about you?

[@WillJBailey]

Thanks for the reply! I’m planning on doing more documentary-style content for my channel. Been weighing up the pros and cons of investing in a gimbal, but think I’ll build a rig for my XH2 first.

[@Supercon57]

In terms of the 24-105 not being enough, don't forget to try out clear image zoom

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@Supercon57 another great option 💪

[@andohbytheway4609]

good one. i do the same with a smaller cinesaddle (which i got from an online company called FocusRat). Looking into the belt bag addition too. that's the missing link

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@andohbytheway4609 nice! Hope you like the focusrat. Will be curious to hear how a belt system works for you. I think it’s a great option for these light and fast shoots. Actually messaging you back from a parking garage right before I strap on my belt system for a day of shooting!

[@robgroove]

Excellent info.

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@robgroove thank you!

[@Realist-m9c]

I use a very similar FX6 setup, same lens, same Sony lavs but instead of a Cine Saddle I have added a handle to the left side of the camera and a Zacuto EVF. This means I can hold the camera against my chest and use both hands, and with the EVF gives 4 points of contact for very smooth pictures.

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@Realist-m9c love this setup. How you liking the Zacuto EVF?

[@Realist-m9c]

@@austinmeyerfilms the Zacuto EVF is really old about 12 years, I originally bought it for the FS100. Being old, it is very basic but essentiall for outdoor shoots. I’d love a new Zacuto but they are expensive in Australia. Using the EVF and holding the camera to my chest I use my right hand for all the main functions and use the joystick to control the area of auto focus.

[@ephemere82]

is there a valid diy alternative to the cinesaddle? i mean it's basically a soft bag filled with micro polistirene balls. i can buy a soft gym bag and a huge amount of microballs for 20$...but i see noone doing it. why?😅

[@austinmeyerfilms]

Folks in the comments here seem to be mentioning a brand called FocusRat? This is the only one of its kind that I have tried, so unfortunately I can't personally speak to any other models. But keep me posted if you find one so that I can share with people!

[@888berg]

would a 32 bit audio shotgun - remove the need for headphones and monitoring?

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@888berg you would definitely still want to monitor because listening to your mic’d up characters is how you track story when filming on docs. The headphones are just as much, if not more, about following story rather than monitoring levels

[@888berg]

@@austinmeyerfilms ah brilliant, hadn’t considered that…. I guess that’s why you are a pro :)

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@888berg haha I appreciate the great question!

[@jrsisson1978]

@@austinmeyerfilmsI’d like to add to this with that it’s also useful to hear if the talent is catching the mic on their clothes for example and float won’t help there. Or if background noise is interfering. I was filming on Monday and had occasional large trucks pass by close enough to be picked up on the talents lav mic. I was able to make a decision on whether to go back on a question based on monitoring and my experience in what distractions I’m able to remove in post. Again, float wouldn’t help here. Great video btw @austinmeyerfilms

[@FollowTheJohn]

LOL. $4000.00 for that tripod.

[@dave_kwizera]

I am grateful for your insights @austinmeyerfilms, thank you. Let me know when you're back in Rwanda so we can catch up. 🤍

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@dave_kwizera thanks for watching!