The Complete Online Filmmaking Reference - Film Distribution ...

ECM-44B ($255list) is a good compromise of sounding good with voice but less bothered by wind and can
be farther from the sound source.
For mixing with popular boom mikes:
Sennheiser MKE-2 ($240)
A/T MT830
Sony ECM-77B
Other highly recommended lavaliers include:
Sony ECM-77B ($465 list)
AT MT830R ($155)
Sennheiser K2 lav
Shure WL50 lav
Radio, or wireless, transmitter/receivers are used, usually in combinations with lavaliers, when it is not
possible to run a wire from the actors to the sound recording device. This can happen when the actors are
walking and talking at the same time and a boom can't be used.
Radio transmitters are very sensitive to electrical interference and dropouts and are the last choice for picking up
sound.
Lectrosonic wireless systems are generally considered to be among the best but most of the top microphone
manufacturers make high quality wireless transmitters/receivers. Often a matching lavalier microphone is bundled
with the wireless transmitter to make a complete solution.
Audio Mixers
Audio mixers balance and control the signal strength of the microphones as the sound is passed on to the
recording device. Some recording devices have some ability to control the sound volume built in but it is always
better to have a separate mixer that a dedicated sound technician can use.
Good mixers include:
Samson Mixpad 4, about $200, battery operated
Mackie 1202VLZ PRO 12 Channel Mixer with 4 Mic Inputs, about $300, requires A/C
Shure FP-33 Stereo Mixer, about $1,300, battery operated
Filmmaking Lights
Companies manufacturing lighting equipment of interest to filmmakers include:
Arri
Lowel
Mole-Richardson
Smith-Victor
Also see the Production page on Lighting for the various techniques involved in film lighting.
Movie expendables and general supplies you might want to have on set
Use this list as a starting point for your list of expendables to have available at all times.
Absorbents, paper towels
Adhesive sprays
Barricade ribbon "caution"
Batteries
Contact cleaner
Dust masks
First Aid
Fluorescent light bulbs
French chalk (talcum powder)
Gloves
Grip bags
Hand tools, hammer, screwdrivers, etc.
Heaters, electrical or gas/propane