Going Mobile – Portable Filmmaking

With this in mind, I’ve brainstormed a package for producing high quality travel videos while still traveling light.

The package:
1. Small 3CCD 16:9 SD or HD camcorder.
2. 1 Small laptop (10″ or less)
3. Mini tripod or monopod.
4. Small on-camera light kit if needed
5. Shoe mount microphone
*I didn’t buy a rain cover for my camera, instead I bought one for my backpack which while in Ireland protected my gear from the rain when it was in and out of my backpack. The rain cover was about $9.

The purpose of the laptop is simply to have something with a high capacity hard drive to transfer video to at the end of each day. But it’s also good if you are bored to death on the airplane or in your hotel when you realize TV sucks in whatever country you are in. *Smile*

The next thing I’ve thought about is how to stick to my usual 2 bag limit (1 luggage, 1 carry-on). I believe this will be much easier if I restrict myself to a small rolling luggage packed with personal necessities only (no gear). In addition, I should carry enough clothing for 4-5 days with the intentions of using laundry services while away.

My second carry-on bag has to have the following qualities:

1. Not look like a camera, laptop bag, or purse.
2. Be relatively small.
3. Hold all of my filmmaking Gear.
4. Allow for inconspicuous filming.

This calls for a fun DIY project I believe. I will design a filmmaker’s “covert operations” bag. With this bag, I want to be able to carry my camera and gear around and also film covertly when I want to without removing my camera from the bag. If there will be room for my small laptop, then great but if not, I’m hoping the smaller laptop will allow me to put it in the hotel safe and not have to carry it around all day.

This “covert operations” bag should help with my last issue of not wanting to draw attention to myself. However, the switch to the smaller camcorder may also be a plus.

Well that should do it! My trip isn’t until later this year, I’ll be sure to let you know how well this plan worked.

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This post was written by:

Tressa Sanders - who has written 78 posts on Three West.

Tressa Sanders, founder of Three West Creative Development, Asabi Publishing, and Ijaba Films, provides active learning, workshops for business Image, publishing, creative writing, graphics design, and filmmaking. In addition, she has authored the curriculum for the Big Bad Business Image, Concise Publishing, and Creative Writing workshops as well as several literary titles. Tressa also holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Psychology and authored the introduction for a book titled “A Peek Inside the Goo: Depression & The Borderline Personality”. Prior to becoming a filmmaker, Tressa was a well established Information Technology professional working with the largest IT, communication, utilities and financial companies in the country. Some of the companies Tressa has worked for include, the New York Independent System Operator, GE Capital Business Asset Funding, IBM Global Services, AT & T Wireless, Hewlett Packard, MCI/Worldcom, GTE, and Sprint. Her areas of expertise include: Publishing Startup & Planning, Business Image Planning, Creative Writing Development, Effective Graphics Design, Cost Conservative Filmmaking.

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