Hello from Melbourne Australia

[Phil Brown]

I have just joined the group so this is my introduction.

I first started in video in about 1982 taping comedy shows in Melbourne (my sister is a pretty well known comedienne in Aust named Wendy Harmer).

I used video in sales campaigns during my 15 year career in IT. I was a sales director for Oracle & PeopleSoft for Asia Pacific and shot video of customer interviews and promo material for sales campaigns. Absolutely loved doing the video work.

I decided to toss the corporate job in January this year to go full-time videography - eek! Have been making corporate video, adverts and sales training material - seems to be going well so far.

Last week I took a call from a US production company and ended up doing a documentary piece of a US comedien Eddie Ifft. Shot his appearance on a local TV show Rove Live, an interview with the host Rove McManus and the makeup/greenroom backstage stuff.

I'm using the Panasonic DVX100AE Pal camera which I just love, Britek lighting kit (fantastic), Audio Technica AT897 microphone, and an IDX LED dimmable on-board camera light.

Have kit will travel....

I've set up a web site that might interest some of you. It was built on-line with a flash toolkit - totally free. I upgraded it to their "Pro" version for $35 which gave me more template options and removed the crappy porno banner ads, and then paid another $7/month to have it hosted in the US with 25GB of storage space - it doesn't get much cheaper than that. They did the transfer for me - very impressed.
Check out http://www.flashbuilder.net/login.html
My site is http://www.philbrown.com.au

Anyway, nice to join the group, and look forward to hearing from you.

One more thing, I have an idea that I am market testing and may need help from additional videographers if it takes off. Will post into the group for help if it works out - would like to hear from Melb freelancers in the group.

Bye for now

Phil

[Rob Lohman]

Hi Phil and welcome aboard (H)DVInfo.net! Good to have you with us!

Sounds like you've had an interesting career already. I'm also in IT (as a
programmer building mid-size websites for corporations) and dabble with
video in my spare time.

If you want fill in your location field (Controls link in the bar above) so people
know where you are from (since you mention it here as well).

All the best!

[Phil Brown]

Thanks for the welcome and help. Have updated the profile as suggested and added equipment I use.

Cheers,

Phil

[Tim White AU]

G'day Phil,

I'm another Melbourne bloke.

Studying at Melbourne University and trying to make a little money on the side doing various video productions. Sounds like you're doing pretty well for yourself, and your website is fantastic.

You wouldn't be able to tell me where you buy your equipment from? I've been interested in checking out the Audio Technica mics, but Lemac doesn't stock them, and I haven't seen them anywhere else. Where do you do your shopping?

Cheers mate,
Tim

[Stu Holmes]

I've been travelling in Oz last few months and spent quite a bit of time in Melbourne as i have a mate there and was there for the Grand Prix etc.

Of the photo/video stores in Melbourne CBD i've been to i think that Michaels (a few minutes walk from Flinders St. Stn) is one of the the best.
The video staff there are generally very cluued-up and they've got a good range of equipment and competitive prices.

In Sydney, Sound Devices on Sussex St. in the CBD are REALLY great for their selection of mic's. AT, Rode, Beyerdynamic, AKG, they've got almost any mic for any application and, again, those guys (especially Lewis) know their stuff. I got my Rode Videomic from there.

rgds

[Phil Brown]

Hi Tim & Stu, and thanks for the comment on the website.

I have been collecting my equipment piece by piece. Bought the camera at TasmanAV in Abbotsford - had to really haggle for a discount but save about a grand.

The Microphone is only available on-line at one place I know of in Brisbane - Brisbane Sound Group - Audio Lighting Studio - Sales but a lot of music stores stock other Audio Technica units and will buy it in for you at around $500. I also carry a Rode NT3 studio mike with a 10M balanced cable. Great all-rounder, nice rich tone for interviews, and I can get well back with the camera and zoom in full for a nicely softened background.

I actually have a friend who travels to the US quite a bit so I get her to pick up my stuff. She collected the mike (US$245)and the Britek Lighting Kit. Great equipment - for araound US$450 3 x 650W focusable with barndoors and air cushioned stands. Can't get them here but if you know anyone going to the US ask them I would have bought on-line but the shipping cost was nearly $300!!!

Purchased an IDX dimmable LED on-camera light from John Barry in South Melb - expensive but I needed it urgently. Generally you can get around 10% discount there.

Just packing up for a series of 17 interviews at an IT company on Tues/Wed in Sydney - doesn't get much more mind numbing than that - but its what we do...

Hope all is going well for you guys.

Cheers,

Phil

[Josh Woodroffe]

G'day fellas..

Just thought I'd introduce myself, my names Josh and I live in Melbourne, Australia..

I'm 21 years old and currently working as a Camera Operator with the company that does all the horse racing in Melbourne, Sydney and regional Victoria.. I also work casual with Channel 9 as a Camera Assistant (and have also worked a little with 7 in the past)

Just wanted to know how many other frequenters from Melbourne there are here, who are currently working in the industry, or any other Aussies that are lurking about..

Nice to meet you all :)

-Josh

[K. Forman]

Hi Josh, I'm from Melbourne too! Welcome to the boards!

[Ron Kofler]

This is the first time I have added anything to a forum. I am from Melbourne Australia and have been getting heaps of invaluable information from this site for some weeks now. I am probably a little behind most, as I only picked up my first major piece of filming hardware last week - my first Canon XL2, and wow. What can I say? I am very impressed and have started working out what all the buttons do. I thought the learning curve would be enormous, but with all the info I have taken from this forum and from the internet in general, it's no where near as daunting as I had thought. I will be using the XL2 very soon to film a pilot TV show concept that I have been toying with for a couple of years now, but now I have less of an excuse to film the pilot. I have a full proposal, synopsis and even have a draft first episode, but it is not 'pull finger out time'. I have filmed some small muck around stuff and full length plays before on my little Sony handycam, but predominantly my experience in film has been in front of the camera as an actor, my last being a full feature independent that unfortunately didn't do as well as the creator had intended and last I heard it is playing in Poland (yes Poland) but nowhere else.

Hope to learn everything, well at least a very lot from this site.

[Kyle Ringin]

G'day Ron,
I know I've learned a heap from reading these forums.

Great to hear you've got such a great sounding project to use the xl2 on. I wish you good luck on the pilot and any other projects.
If you need a hand on a shoot let me know (I'm in SE suburbs).

Cheers,
Kyle

[Ron Kofler]

Hey Kyle,
Good to hear from someone in Melbourne. What camera do you have? I'm going away this weekend and I will take my new baby with me and work on some test footage. I live over Chadstone way so probably not far from you. When I get filming for real, I will definitely pool all available resources together, with all my friends including my lovely lady we have an abundance or talent to utilise, from actors, to sound experts, lighting gurus, editors. I will look at making a dolly soon also. Think that will be a great piece of equipement to have.

Regards

Ron

[Kyle Ringin]

Ron,
I'm just near M'bin airport - not far at all. I have a Panasonic NV-MX500 and other bits and pieces I've accumulated - couple of VHF wireless mic, entry level shotgun, etc. I only use it for personal stuff mainly, although I've used it to make a couple of shorts. I have plans to do some more movies and maybe even a few paid jobs. I'd really like an FX1 but only if I'd use it more, which at this point I don't think I would.
Stay in touch re your projects - I'm keen to help.

Cheers.

[Ben Gurvich]

Even though im working in Albury NSW, Im still from Melbourne,and am going home this weekend!

See you round fellas.

Cheers,
Ben Gurvich

[Kyle Ringin]

Hey Ben,
Back for the rain this weekend eh?
I see in your profile you have an agus35, do you use it much? on what camera?
I'm building a micro35 at the moment.

Cheers

[Ben Gurvich]

Originally Posted by Kyle Ringin

Back for the rain this weekend eh?
I see in your profile you have an agus35, do you use it much? on what camera?
Cheers

Kyle,

Yes I am coming back for the rain, should be good though,
Ive had my agus for about a year and used it with a pdx10 for this short
http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2669574?htv=12

I had a engineering friend (legend) build it based from plans on the mediachance website. You might find this with a search on here.

The Whole film is shot with a 50mm nikkor 1.8 cause thats all had at the time. I recently got a 28-85 but its too slow at 2.8. I plan on getting some decent primes soon at 1.4 -1.8 when i get the $$$

My box has a lot of flutter, but i love it, and think it sells the whole film look.
I cant understand anyone who likes the static gg look.(well i can but i dont like it)

I got my Ground Glass from a friend on here who will remain nameless so he doesnt get snowed under with requests. He does some awesome chemical machiining on cdr's.

My box rocks but it looks boxy, i wouldnt mind outlaying for micro35. Mostly because it looks more professional with clients.


Currently i am shooting 50mbit progressive/interlaced xdcam(mpegimx) at work , its real nice and id love to get a box on it but i wouldnt want to scratch the 18k lens, and cant work out how to mount my box to a b mount or whatever.

Anyway good luck with your AGUS.

Cheers
Ben Gurvich