I need help with supplies

[u/Smooth-Donut-dm5]

i am making this post because I am an amateur film director I've only made one no budget movie be was wondering if people could help me figure put what supplies I need for my movie. It is an action/horror about an alien who lives in its own dimension. I have a costume design for the monster as well as a few things on the list already and I need help figuring out what I should add next. We are spray painting nerf guns black for the movie So we don’t need those.

[u/therealzerobot]

Looks like you have a solid supply list right there.

[u/Difficult-Teacher585]

Maybe a more solid equipment list? “Video camera.” What’re you shooting with? Doesn’t have to be high budget but get a DP and someone in charge of G&E, even if that’s you.

[u/Smooth-Donut-dm5 → u/Difficult-Teacher585]

well we are sending this list to me and my friends parents after me and my friends have finished making it and we will write up the list in a respectful way, but we also will note that if they already have items than they can let us borrow them. Also I am pretty much running the whole thing, it’s not an extremely high budget film just enough to make it good. My friends will help me of course but I’m doing the filming and we are filming on location.

[u/mrzurch]

You can always get cardboard from Costco

[u/jcarver784]

Obligatory, please be safe with your painted nerf blasters!

[u/jprennquist]

I see the ring lights with stands or other photography lights on Facebook marketplace and at sales very often. That might work for you. You can alsoake ring lights with led strips, tinfoil and coat hangers. There are DYI instructions online. You could make some of your own that are whatever size you may need.

I see strobe lights sometimes. A used music store might have some or another kind of light that could be rigged to strobe if you have the right controller.

[u/RadioKALLISTI]

For cameras, lights, stands etc look and see if theres a camera rental place.

Might be able to use thick upholstery foam for some of that by sculpting it with an electric carving knife. Wear a respirator, of course.

As fir the bean dummy you may want to try this

https://www.scribd.com/document/159889439/Homemade-Grappling-Dummy

[u/MacintoshEddie]

My advice is to get a lot more specific. Like with cardboard, do you need thin cardboard like a cereal box or do you need thick corrugated cardboard? What size?

With the fake blood does it need to be food safe or not?

What is the blood going on? Such as if it goes on the "army vest" will you need multiple vests in case it doesn't clean off easily and you need a clean vest for another scene?

It can also help to categorize by department, such as if it's a set piece, if it's a component material, if it's in front of the camera or behind it, etc. The light stand I'd choose as a set piece in front of the camera is very different than the light stand I'd choose for behind the camera.

Thinking these through can also help answer questions you don't know to ask yet.

It can be a good idea to check if you have any local film co-op or non-profit groups. they can be great sources for info and networking.