Panavision Price

[Juvencio Parise]

Butyou should talk to Panavision -- they make deals all the time. And the cost will depend a lot on the lenses you need, and whether you get the cheapest Panaflex Gold, or a Platinum or Millenium for example.

But to be honest, I'm completely new to all of this. I KNOW I want to shoot my short on a 35mm Panavision, however I have NO clue about all the accessories you mentioned. Like film lenses for example. I want my short to look beautiful. Would the lenses play a part in that?

A 35mm Panaflex package is not really simple enough for someone to use who doesn't understand the basic accessories needed, or what lenses to order... I suggest you hire a cinematographer (and he should hire a camera assistant.) This package comes in several cases after all and takes skill to assemble.

But do you need a zoom lens or just primes? If so, what size zoom? What filters besides the basics (ND's, pola, for example)? How many stocks will you be carrying? Do you need to shoot a lot of handheld or Steadicam? Do you want a video tap monitor? A lot of handheld may mean ordering more 400' rolls (5 minutes of film) rather than 1000' rolls (10-minutes of film). And that brings up format -- 3-perf? 4-perf? 1.85 or 2.35? Is this for digital finish? Or straight contact printing and projection?

"Beautiful" is a broad term -- that could mean older, softer lenses or the sharpest most modern lenses. Could mean diffusion filters. But do you need anything beyond a normal range of focal lengths, let's say, between 18mm and 85mm? Do you need the zoom?

Well, if you could, could you explain the difference between the two? (Primes, and Zooms) My knowledge between the two is very limited. Also, I'll be using a stedicam. And yes, I'm shooting in film, and will print.

What is your rational behind shooting specifically on Panavision? Yes, lens has a prominent roll in "making your film look beautiful' which is a extremely vague statement in itself. Although I am still a humble film student it seems extremely irrational to begin a full fledged 35mm production when zoom/prime lens basics and the functions of a cinematographer are not understood. I feel that film production is more complex than simply renting out a camera and shooting haphazardly. I would suggest you take time- takes years- to seriously study the art before you embark on such an ambitious endeavor. That would certainly help get the results you like and make your "film look beautiful".

I'll take your advice on one condition, how do I go about learning this kind of information? I refuse to go to a school, so what you would you recommend me do? I'm extremely interested in learning more about these things, and would love to hear ways I can.

I understand your refusal to go to film school. Some people do not like to learn under those conditions. I have friends who have gotten internships or assistant jobs. Even in film school I feel that you learn most from being on set, even if your job is directing traffic. I suggest that you find shoots around your area and even volunteer to help on as many productions as you can. Good luck and I assure you that you will have fun along the way!

You hire a cinematographer, discuss what you need -- he can give you a list of equipment to be bid out based on your input. I suggest he makes both a Panavision list and an ARRI list so you can get competing bids from at least two rental houses (probably the Panavision bid will come in the lowest - they have a lot of gear so can cut deals more easily).

This is one reason why, if you really want to learn all this yourself, you start small and work your way up. For example, maybe do a weekend-long shoot in Super-16 first and take it through all the steps before you tackle a 3-week 35mm project. Then it's easier to figure out how to scale up everything.

Okay. Thank you to you both! As well as finding PA jobs, is there any research I can do at home? Like books, internet sites, ect? Can either of you recommend me some that deals with my situation? Thanks!

Also check out the "Music, Stage & Screen" of the books on Amazon (or other book sites), many of them have comments, which give an impression of their usefulness. Books tend to go into more depth than web sites, which are useful for keeping yourself up to date

Since you have little to no experience in the art of 35mm filmmaking, let alone 35mm photography; you should really consider holding off on your ambitious project. The study of filmmaking takes a least a year to cover the basics and at least 4 years to really get a grasp of the art.

Don't get me wrong I am a dedicated film only filmmaker, and I love hearing people who want to shoot on film. However if you do not know the basics of proper FILM EXPOSURE forget lenses, and camera prices. You will waste lots of money on renting the equipment, time and frustration after getting an underexposed (or overexposed), out of focus, and barely viewable negative. If you do not know how to use film then don't even trouble yourself at the moment. Learn.

I know it may be hard to go to film school, because of money or maybe even politics. There are other alternatives. If you want to know how to shoot 35mm or film in general then take a 35mm black and white photography class, this is an important class to go to. You can find these classes in your local community college (tuition is cheap), do a search online for a private instructor; sometimes adult school have it in their classes. In photography class you will learn proper exposure, depth of field, f-stops, shutter speed, lenses, and proper lighting. Also you will even get to learn how to process your own negatives (pretty cool), and make prints in the dark room (really fun).

Unless you have lots of money and you don't want to learn cinematography don't get a cinematographer. If you want to understand the concepts, the theory, and how to use it in real life then learn now. I recommend that you first learn about proper exposure and lighting, take a photography class that uses and processes 35mm black and white film, this is the cheapest way to learn without spending lots of money. Read books there are a lot of reliable filmmaking books that you can find at book stores; I recommend The Filmmaker's Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for the Digital Age (this is a must for all students) it talks about the whole process of (film) filmmaking and Digital filmmaking; amazon has very cheap.

Sorry if this did not answer original question, but after reading the other replies it is best as a fellow filmmaker to steer you in the best direction. If you have question let me know. If you are in my area I could teach you all that I know about filmmaking.

Why so keen on Panavision? Their camera will not make your film look any better than Arri. Not saying one is better than the other, but why so dead set on Panavision? You'll find better deals if you're willing to look at ALL options and not just one.

And really, as others have said, a film camera like a Panavision is not something you get in a box in the mail one day - pull it out and load film in it. The accessories list is huge to make it really usable, and you need to know how to set such a camera up. It's also almost impossible for one person to operate a large studio camera like many Panavisions are - you'll need a camera assistant at least; and probably someone who can at least show you the ins and out's of how to operate the thing.

In February of this year I 1st AD'ed for a friend of mine going to Indiana University Bloomington in their media program. He was shooting a short film over a weekend, and demanded it be shot on film. So he rented a 35mm film camera package (a 416). Of course, he had never shot film in his life, and I had never even seen a film camera in person. They spent much of the first day on set with the rental company on the phone trying to figure out how to make it work. His 1st and 2nd AC were both media school grads who had never worked with film either.

IF you must shoot film, either shoot a smaller format that is friendly to first timers (like 16 or maybe even 8), or hire yourself a crew of at least someone who has worked with 35mm film cameras before. Your First AD is not going to like it when you spend an entire production day learning how to put it together and operate it.

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