2010 Holiday Gift Guide for
Documentary Filmmakers

This simple compact camcorder is a great choice if you're on a super low budget, if you need something quick & easy on the run and/or you want to be super discrete in your shooting. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this as "the" camera to shoot your documentary (primarily since it has no audio input), but it's a great back-up to capture those spontaneous shots.

Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera

The is one of the least expensive cameras you can get with an audio input. It's rare to find a camcorder of this size and price where you can hook up a microphone. Granted, the audio quality won't match the professional cameras, but at least you're moving in the right direction and it's better than using the camera's internal mic.

Final Cut Express

If you're a mac user and you'd like a step up from Apple's iMovie, Final Cut Express is an excellent intro into video editing and offers a lot of fine tuning you'll need to edit your documentary. You can always move up to Final Cut Pro when you're ready.

Basic Light Kit

For a documentary filmmaker, a basic 3-light kit is often an essential item for shooting interviews. This ePhoto 3000 watt lighting kit is a great starter kit.

Shut Up and Shoot

The title says it all. If you've been thinking about making a documentary and just not quite sure how to jump in, this will inspire you to get you moving.

Director's Clapboard

This gift idea is really just for fun unless the filmmaker is truly planning to shoot their documentary on film, which is almost unheard of for a documentary today. When shooting on film, the audio is recorded separately and so the clapboard is used to match the film image with the audio.

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