In indie filmmaking, success isn’t guaranteed just by using movie-grade equipment. Instead, it’s about being creative with the options you have. Award-winning short film director Piyush Srivastava once said in an interview that regardless of what your film is being shot on, “we’re all here to tell stories.” The medium you use is simply a tool to showcase carefully-crafted scripts and stellar performances.
It makes sense not to limit yourself to ordinary filmmaking must-haves. Expand your range to tools that make your story shine and showcase it how you want. To start, try out these portable devices to elevate the indie filmmaking experience.
Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses
Do you ever want your audience to see what you do? With these glasses, you’ll get the chance to shoot in first person. The Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses have a dual 5MP camera capable of automatic light adjustment, stereoscopic photo depth, and media upload via voice command. These have internal WiFi- and Bluetooth-enabled storage, meaning footage can easily be stored and transferred elsewhere. Plus, they’ll look super stylish on shoots with Ray-Ban’s classic designs like the Wayfarer. Let audiences experience stories through your eyes with these state-of-the-art specs.
DJI Mini SE drone
Speaking of unique perspectives, how about granting your audience a bird’s eye view? With 30 minutes of flight time, the price-friendly DJI Mini SE drone can provide crisp aerial shots that elevate your film. The possibilities are endless. You can use the GPS precise hover feature to coast over close-up shots of heartfelt moments and capture action-packed takes through 4km HD video transmission. You can even edit the drone’s footage on your phone through a dedicated app. Try this mini drone to capture sweeping shots from the sky.
Insta360 Flow smartphone gimbal
This tool is for you if you’ve ever been interested in shooting a movie from your phone. Well-beloved by influencers and YouTubers, the Insta360 Flow smartphone gimbal has ultra-strong motors with a payload of 300g and in-built software that can track faces and objects—which is extremely useful if you don’t have the budget to put a camera crew together. The gimbal also has a 2,900 mAh battery that can get the device to last for 11 hours or serve as extra phone power. Whether you want to bend film genre conventions and have your leading actor monologue with it selfie-style or need something to help your smartphone’s camera focus while you prepare your actors, this versatile gimbal will be a go-to gadget.
AnkerWork M650 wireless microphone
Your footage can be well-shot and aesthetically pleasing, but you’ll likely lose your audience if you don’t ensure great audio. The AnkerWork M650 wireless microphone neatly solves this problem. This ultra-mini microphone kit is easy to use: simply clip the mics onto your actor’s collar, and you’ll get high-quality audio ready to be downloaded via lightning receivers. Plus, that audio will already be primed by noise-cancellation technology. Utilize these subtle microphones to deliver first-rate audio for your film.
Rotolight Neo3 LED lights
While vital in indie filmmaking, lighting can be hard to control, whether you’re hustling your actors to make the most of filming during golden hour or trying to make artificial light look more authentic. Gain that control with the Rotolight Neo3 LED lights. Their circular lighting technology can be tweaked by the official Rotolight app, which enables you to adjust brightness, color temperature, and more remotely. You can control up to 20 lights, modifying their system as a group or individually to grant you a vast range of lighting combinations. Use this tool for brilliant on-set lighting on the go.
When shooting a film independently, using tools that help you tell your stories the best is vital. Try these portable devices to see how they can help you on set.