A Filmmaker's Holiday Gift Guide

The Last-Minute Rush: Holiday shoppers in New York City.

Still out there hitting the stores? If you haven't known exactly what to ask for this holiday season, if you haven't yet managed to find the perfect gift for the independent filmmaker in your life—or if you're taking this opportunity to shop a little bit for yourself, too—here are some ideas for gifts ranging from stocking stuffers starting at $23 to big presents priced as high as $2,600.

Rip-Ties ($23 and up)

Rip-Ties make great stocking stuffers—wonderful little accessories every filmmaker can use to keep a growing number of cables neatly wrapped and under control. Accept no substitutes: genuine Rip-Ties are made with industrial grade Velcro hook-and-loop fasteners that can be used again and again (over a thousand times) for years without losing their ability to attach.

Rycote Lavalier windjammer ($25)

The Rycote Lavalier Windjammer is used on lavaliere microphones worn on the outside of clothing to protect them from wind noise. They come with foam inserts to ensure a proper fit with a wide range of lavaliere microphones, and the fur covering can be stretched to accommodate the mic and fit snugly around the cable. Available in grey, dark grey and white.

A roll for gels ($38)

Gel Packs from Lindcraft have a large main pocket that holds gels up to 23" X 28". The pack rolls up keeping the gels in order and protecting them from damage and Velcro straps. The design also allows for fast opening when you're shooting. Available in red, blue, green, or black.

Inova X5 LED flashlight (about $42)

LED flashlights have come of age and among the coolest is the Inova X5 flashlight, which has 5 LED lamps that projects light more than 100 feet and is powered by lithium batteries. The flashlight can provide up to 20 hours of light, and the knurled switch cap enables you to turn the light to a "constant on" status, "momentary on," and "constant off."

Rosco LED LitePad (about $170)

Need to light in tight places? This no longer requires expensive, specialized lighting. The LED revolution makes it possible to put soft light sources in cramped rooms at low cost. Among the new LED lights are Rosco LitePad lights, which are available in a range of sizes and prices (a 3"x 12" LitePad with Transformer sells for roughly $170). Drawing just a few watts of power, LitePad offers a simple, quick, and economical way to add accent lighting, place light behind windows and doors, and create a source on the front of a TV or computer monitor. You can even use it to make props glow.

Rycote Microphone windjammer (pistol grip and windscreen combo for about $230)

For shotgun mics, the Rycote Softie Windshield is popular among documentary filmmakers because it performs as well as a standard windshield, but is faster, more versatile, and more affordable. The mic's acoustic foam base with synthetic fur attaches to a separate shock mount, which is available in two configurations: Either camera mounted or with a pistol grip that can be attached to a boom or hand-held, available in different sizes. If you use small Camcorders and feel the standard Softie is too large, check out the Mini Windjammer. No documentary filmmaker should be without a good windshield on a windy day.

Cases and bags from Portabrace ($110 and up)

Equipment needs to be protected and Portabrace of North Bennington, Vermont, makes a wide range of protective cases that are popular among filmmakers. They feature hardwood handles, genuine suede straps, durable leather handles, and rugged Cordura fabric. A wide range of designs are available, many tailored to a specific piece of gear. Cases are also good for organizing related pieces of gear. Some examples include The DVO-1R DV Camera Organizer (est price $279) and the PB-2500F Hard Case With Foam Inside (estimated price: $110).

The Steadicam Merlin (the base unit costs $800, and a unit with an arm and vest runs $2,600)

Most DV and HD cameras used in documentary and independent film production these days weigh-in at less than five pounds. That means that camera statabilization and support has become dramatically easier and less expensive. Hand-held equipment is certainy in these days, but sometimes you need to make smoother moves than a hand-held affords. The Steadicam Merlin provides a lightweight and compact way to stabalize the camera, helping you to achieve the floating camera look that the original Steadicam made famous. (Indeed, the Merlin was designed by Garrett Brown, the inventor of the original Steadicam.) It provides an excellent way to balance cameras from half-a-pound up to five pounds. And when you don't want to "fly" camera, a quick release mount lets you swap the camera between the Merlin and any tripod.

If hand-held is what the shot calls for, the Merlin can fold-up for stable shoulder-mounted shooting. One of the limitations of the original Steadicam JR (which the Merlin replaces) was that there was no way to use it with an arm and vest like the larger Steadicams. Now the Merlin Arm and Vest makes effortless extended shooting with heavy cameras—up to seven pounds with the optional Metal Gimbal. In the hands of an experienced operator, the Merlin performs just like the big $60,000 Steadicam used by Hollywood pros, but will set you back a mere fraction of the cost. Elegant design and graceful ergonomics makes this the ultimate holiday gift for anyone who shoots with a lightweight camera, whether their work is documentary, independent features, weddings, or corporate videos.

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