Listing Video or Movie Trailer?

Question

This looks more like a trailer for a movie or music video or something of the sort rather than a listing video for a home.  
I wonder how much it costs though to put together.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAH6Ai3MrEI&feature=player_embedded#!

Sam M. · Answer

I would check out more video stuff exept I don't have 20 minutes to blow (15 to load and 5 to watch) each time I want to watch a high qual clip :)

Sam M. · Answer

The Nocturne video took a while to load! Good stuff

Sam M. · Answer

This isn't just a point and shoot job though. You can see a shadow from one of the cranes @ 1:16

I have no idea what you might spend for the camera handling equipment but I'm willing to bet it's not cheap.

Sam M. · Answer

I must have caught him too late cause now he say's closer to 8K. :)

Sam M. · Answer

This was his response:
          
          "That's nice work.  almost all crane and dolly shots.  I have both as well as comparable hd camera equipment.  There is a fair amount of staging and some time-lapse as well.  I'm guessing that this guy probably has 3 or more hours per editing work for each minute of finished video and 2+ days into staging the people and filming the property.  
           
          start at $1200.00"

Not sure if the price is because I was asking. He knows his stuff though.
          
           This is what I asked him:
          
          Ran into some guys that were wondering how much it would cost to do an ad like this for a high end property. No need for a quote just a ball park
          guess assuming you wouldn't have to hire a super model that needed her
          already beautiful figure digitally enhanced frame by frame :)

Sam M. · Answer

Ok, so I couldn't resist the urge and emailed my friend to see what he would say :)

Sam M. · Answer

There is a lot of wiggle room in "five figures" statement but I would venture a guess in the low "five figures"

Ok, maybe more if you had to have a super model digitally enhanced frame by frame.

Sam M. · Answer

You really want to know? I can find out but I don't want to bother the guy unless someone really was thinking of doing this. (I know a couple of guys in high end video work)

Jon Holdman · Answer

There are probably a few shots in that video that required equipment.  That's all rent-able.  Many of those shots are from a fixed location.  Some are pans, some are moving.  Most of those moving shots are from ground level (well, I only watched the first half, so maybe it gets more complex.)  Laforet's videos use a steadicam operator for those type of shots.  He said the biggest problem he had was the steadicam operators putting on too much weight, since they were used to much heavier rigs.  Look at that cabbie video.  The first part is very shaky.  He pointed that out as the operator getting the feel for this small camera.

I did see lots of booms last week, but not my area, so I didn't ask for any pricing.  I did see a motorized tripod boom that would get about 12' up with full remote controls from the ground for about $10K.

I'm not expert on this stuff, but to me the technology seems pretty amazing.  Laforet pointed out a movie quality camera was a $200K item five years ago.  Then Red One came out at $20K and now the 1D Mark IV for $5K.  And you can't tell the difference even on a 50' screen.  Sure, there's lots more to spend.  But we're getting to the point where the equipment is not that big an expense.  That allows people with creativity, like whoever designed and shot that video, much freer reign.  I strongly suspect we'll see more and more of that sort of thing.

Jon Holdman · Answer

The note mentions it was shot with a Canon 5D Mark II.  This is a digital SLR, not a movie camera or camcorder.  It, and its siblings the 1D Mark IV and 7D are creating a stir.  I just came back from NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) conference and people are doing some truly amazing work with these.

For an amazing short, check out Vincent Laforet's Nocturne.  This was shot with the 1D Mark IV in an industrial part of LA.  At night.  With nothing but available light.

Parts of CSI LA are shot with these 1D cameras.  Any shot of someone driving a car with the camera on the dash is a 1D.

For $10-15K you could be set up with one of these cameras, lenses, a mac and Final Cut Pro and produce videos like the one Robert found.  If you can really get $8K for a production like this, two gigs would pay for your setup.