Being the gatekeeper of the Hurlbut inventory, I see all types of gear come and go every week. Sometimes for a day or two and sometimes for upwards of a month. It took no time at all for these cameras to travel to more countries than I have visited. In the same week, we had two separate kits return – one covered in sand and the other still defrosting from -20* weather. We have even had a camera get hit by a speeding Lincoln Continental skidding across ice…thrice! Needless to say, the camera and lens looked like they went 12 rounds with Tyson (pre-bite, not post-bite) but the shot looked terrific! That’s what I find to be most advantageous with these cameras and their rigging options. You can hang it from just about anywhere and make it look good, as long as you’re dialing in the right settings.
Being a kid from the desert, Malibu is one of my all time favorite locations to shoot.
My favorite aspect about this format is the constant need for progression. There is so much to be discovered. I feel we have handcrafted a system that embraces the pros and devises ways to counter the cons – all while in mid – sprint. Shane, and many others, have fabricated their own formats to better serve as templates for success. Every time I see a final cut of a project from a prior rental, I am utterly amazed by the potential of this camera. People continue to make the argument that this is a prosumer camera. I am not going to disagree with that, but my response is that there are Dodge Neons that can outrace Camaros these days. It’s not so much what’s under the hood, but who’s driving. If there’s no story or creative vision, you’re off to a rough start.
Earlier this month, I was privileged enough to have the opportunity to attend N.A.B. There was literally gear coming out of the soda fountains, tucked beneath my doughy slice of Sbarro’s pizza, and I even sneezed out a CF card. Seriously, gear was everywhere. It was nice to see how far this platform has come, but at the same time, the next draft class is getting ready to tally some stats. It’s beginning to look like a prime example of Darwin’s “survival of the fittest.” People love to comment on some of the drawbacks (converting HDMI to SDI, HDMI splitting, and general in-camera issues) but seeing so many creative minds looking for cost effective solutions made me feel that, if done right, this platform can secure a crucial role in digital filmmaking on a tight budget. I learned a lot in Vegas – what to expect from the industry’s upcoming big releases, the forward momentum this industry is gaining, and that blackjack just simply isn’t my game.
We have had several DPs with credible titles under their belts come through our doors expecting to see a “trend.” I can usually tell when I show them the first slice of our system. They mostly seem apprehensive at first glance of the gear. Piece by piece, they see it come together and flourish into a professional system. The light switch upstairs flips. The mentality changes. Another DP convinced. There are things I cannot disclose at the moment, but we have some serious plans for the future that will help solidify this medium as something to be reckoned with. “Chaos in harmony” is my favorite way to think of this camera composition. There is an abundance of chaos within the DSLR’s development and everyone seems to be reaching for that infamous cookie jar on top of a monstrous fridge. My best advice is to do your own trial and error research to develop something that works for you.
Below is what we typically include in a Standard Kit. We almost never rent this exact kit out as renters love customizing their kits and including add-ons, but will give you an idea of what we get started with in renting gear for jobs like “X-MEN: First Class,” BMW commercial work, and more.
Hurlbut Visuals Moviemaker Standard Kit
CAMERAS
Canon 5D camera w/ insurance (1)
Canon 7D camera w/insurance (1)
CAMERA SUPPORT
Sachtler 20 w/ 100mm Fluid Head (1)
BATTERIES
Canon LP-E6 Batteries (12)
Canon LC-E6 Battery Charger (3)
LEICA Primes
19mm Leica 2.8 (1)
21mm Leica 2.8 (1)
28mm Leica 2.8 (1)
35mm Leica 2.8 (1)
60mm Leica 2.8 (1)
90mm Leica 2.8 (1)
180mm Leica 2.8 (1)
LEICA Zooms
21-35mm Leica 3.5-4.0 (1)
80-200mm Leica 2.8 (1)
CAMERA AKS
Anti-Fog Z–Finder Zacuto w/Lanierd (1)
Arri Manual Follow Focus (1)
Z-Finder Belt Pouches (1)
Birns & Sawyer 4X5 Clamp-on Mattebox w/ 77 to 105mm rings (1)
Birns & Sawyer Eyebrow (1)
5D/7D Non-Powered View Factor Cage (1)
Ultralight Control Systems Monitor Arm and Bracket (2)
HV Alum. Base Plate (2)
5D Really Right Stuff Bracket (1)
7D Really Right Stuff Bracket (1)
RIGS
Red Rock Micro Bundle (1)
Set of 9″ Rods (1)
Red Rock Rail Bridge w/4” Rod (1)
Red Rock Rail Bridge w/ 8”Rods & 4” Rod (1)
Red Rock Micro Grip (1)
Red Rock Shoulder Studio handheld set-up Bundle (1)
Sets of 24” Rods (1)
9” Rod (1)
Red Rock 90 Degree w/ 2 weights w/AB Back (1)
Red Rock On-Board Monitor bracket (1)
Red Rock Monitor Post w/ 1/4-20 screw (1)
Red Rock Micro Handle (1)
MEMORY CARDS
Extreme UDMA 16GB Flash Cards (6)
FireWire High Speed Flash Card Reader (1)
Pelican 914 Cases (2)
MONITOR
Cineroid Electronic Viewfinder (1)
SmallHD 6” on-board monitor with HDMI/HDSDI/COMP. (1)
HP 2480 ZX Dream Color 24″ Monitor (1)
CASES
1560 Pelican Case w/ Lid organizer and dividers (2)
Back Pack (1)
FILTERS
Set of 77mm WW Straight ND 3,6,9,1.2,1.5,1.8,2.1 (1)
77mm WW Tiffen Pola (1)
Tiffen 77mm 4 hole Filter Pouch (1)
Set of 4 x 5 Tiffen WW Straight NDs 3,6,9,1.2,1.5,1.8,2.1 (1)
4 x 5 WW Tiffen Ultra Pola (Linear) (1)
Tiffen 6 Hole Filter Pouch 4 x 5 (1)
CABLES
1/8” mini 5D AV out to RCA connector (1)
7D composite out to RCA connector (1)
3′ HDMI to mini HDMI monitor cable (1)
6′ HDMI to mini HDMI monitor cable (1)
HDMI Barrel Connector (2)
25′ HDMI (2)
HDMI Splitter 1- x2 w/power cable (1)
Splitter Power Cable DC plug to P-tap (1)
To learn more about this gear or to contact me at the rental division, please see the information and links below.
Kevin Anderson
4111 West Alameda Ave.
#505
Burbank, CA 91505
Office: 818-972-9811
Fax: 818-972-2779
