Essential Gear for RUN & GUN Documentary Filmmaking

🤝 Need personalized help? Book a 1:1 call: https://bit.ly/amfconsultations 📁 Download the FREE folder template to organize your projects: https://bit.ly/amf-project-folder-template If you are a documentary filmmaker or cinematographer who often shoots alone, in small teams, or in a run & gun style, you need to develop a light and flexible kit that allows you to adapt to stories on the fly. Over the past decade I’ve been dialing in my minimalist setup while filming on projects for National Geographic, The Washington Post, Insider, and more. So in this video I am going to walk you through what information I seek out ahead of time to determine the kit I put together, I’ll go through each piece of gear in my minimalist setup, and at the end, I’ll share the gear swap I’ve made that has unlocked a new level of speed and comfort. 🎥 GEAR FEATURED IN THIS VIDEO: Sony FX6: https://amzn.to/3TbCx15 Sachtler Tripod: https://amzn.to/3GpAUp3 Sirui Monopod (VH-10X Head is important for video work!): https://amzn.to/3WDbko6 Sony 24-105 lens: https://amzn.to/46L2BF5 Sony 70-200 lens (1st generation is still great): https://amzn.to/3SIGXLO Cinesaddle: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1792337-REG/cinesaddle_4692_marsupial_minisaddle_series_2.html Sennheiser MKH 8060 Mic: https://amzn.to/3X2hnEf Sony Wireless Lav Packs: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1484182-REG/sony_utx_b40_14_utx_b40_wireless_bodypack_transmitter.html Sony Wireless Lav Dual Channel Receiver: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1699866-REG/sony_urxp41d_14_urxp41d_dual_channel_wireless_receiver.html HawkWoods Batteries: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1467194-REG/hawk_woods_bp_75ux_2x_d_tap_14_4v_75wh_li_ion_battery.html ThinkTank BackLight Backpack: https://www.thinktankphoto.com/products/firstlight-35l/?rfsn=2771443.05625a ThinkTank PressPass 20: https://www.thinktankphoto.com/products/presspass-20/?rfsn=2771443.05625a 🍿 WATCH NEXT: The Single Most Important Storytelling Advice: https://youtu.be/tJNUpYjDwPI?si=JWwc44_ZmJ9uj8_Y Cinesaddle Review: https://youtu.be/xsr85FkDGd8?si=hFi5DjSRzI7V8t-Y MY OTHER SOCIALS: 🌍 My website - https://www.austinmeyerfilms.com 📚 My newsletter - https://bit.ly/austinmeyernewsletter 🎙 My podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-austin-meyer-podcast/id1436939910 📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/austinmeyerfilms 👨‍💻 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/austinmeyerfilms/ 📱 TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@austinmeyerfilms 🎥 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/austinmeyerfilms/ 🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/ameyerfilms WHO AM I? If we haven’t met yet before - Hey 👋 I'm Austin Meyer and I am a documentary filmmaker based in Berkeley, California. I'm a National Geographic Explorer and my work has been featured by HBO, Hulu, Apple TV, The New York Times, National Geographic, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and PBS among others. Through my videos here on this channel, and my podcast called The Austin Meyer Podcast, I share skills, mindsets, and lessons to help you become a better documentary filmmaker and build the life full of creativity that you aspire towards. 🎥 🔥 📷 GEAR I USE MY ACAM: https://amzn.to/3TbCx15 MY YOUTUBE CAM: https://amzn.to/47YOg7m MY DOC TRIPOD: https://amzn.to/3GpAUp3 MY FAVORITE CAMERA BACKPACK: https://www.thinktankphoto.com/products/firstlight-35l/?rfsn=2771443.05625a YOUTUBE LENS: https://amzn.to/3GNsjwF PRIME LENSES: https://amzn.to/46RsAcw CURRENT DRONE: https://amzn.to/47J0DEI KEY LIGHT: https://amzn.to/3RuhRQO SHOTGUN MIC: https://amzn.to/416wOf0 COMPUTER: https://amzn.to/3NeaxpF * Some of the above are affiliate links, but all are personally vetted and recommended * ⌚️Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 0:42 - Questions That Inform My Kit 0:48 - What's The Visual Aesthetic? 4:20 - What Kind Of Interviews Are We Filming? 6:04 - Proximity To The Action? 7:53 - How Much Ground Are We Covering? 8:20 - Team Size? 8:55 - My Minimalist Kit! 12:45 - The Key Gear Swap 21:30 - The Full Minimalist Kit 21:54 - Final Thoughts #documentaryfilmmaking #documentary #filmmaking