Doing a fresh van build and we were all laughing when you go “if you work with idiots” then it got silent. 😅😅 great ideas here. Moral, be prepared for everything. 👏🏼
Brilliant!! Loved the C-stands 'working with idiots' bit. However i have to say that i'm disappointed that you don't have your own pod coffee machine. A terrible oversight for a 2021 Gaffer.........this needs to be rectified 😂😂😂 Great Video and many thanks Andrew
That is your small van 😱? Make mine like a hobbit compare to your, haha. Great to see what you got in your small van. I got a long way to get to where you are at.
Love me some van package tours! Great package here! Great idea about the drain covers and square frame stock storing. I always have problems digging into crates for all the pieces. I keep mine in a velco bag, but can never always tell if all the pieces are there. Big Plus on the personal, always bring a 2nd pair of clothes as you can never tell what will happen. Especially shoes!
This was one of the funniest episodes. You can’t trust Production to bring enough toilet paper in the US either. Didn’t know the gorilla carts stacked!
When in Australia … Your a def Gaffer I’d hire. You can always tell a pro by the state of his tools & workspace. Look at yours !! TOTAL PRO …ready to GO! 🎥🎥👍🏻👍🏻
I wish I could fit that much gear in my van. But Cars in Switzerland are limited to 3,5tons. So I got rougly 1000Kg of loading capacity, which is not nearly enough to carry all the gear I would like. I mostly run out of shotbags at one point on a shoot... I could get a 7,5 ton Truck, but that has sooo many downsides, I could hardly do any jobs. Thanks for the tour mate
@@gaffergear even if you hint at your preferred method with the truly appreciated Gaffer and Gear logic I'd br thankful Keep up the good work Mr Lock, from the Caribbean
Thank you so much! I haven't even watched this yet but I was planning on requesting a van tour and ideas this weekend. Fantastic. Thank you for your UA-cam work and reviews. I learn something every time.
Interesting about the rags - its true they come out all the time, a bit of neg here or there. I am a fan of floppies and ultra bounce floppies quick to deploy, I also use a few expanding photographers back ground holder bars - they are great as goal posts, and quick to deploy. Modern gaffer kit is falling into two camps, grip and heavy duty stuff - and the more modern Lighstream reflectors and lights with computers attached - almost hard and soft. Another great insight.
great video, one of the funniest as well. Love hearing the different names too. We call our "T-bars" T-bones. . Wasnt expecting to learn that you have blue balls on this episode.
I've been sparking for just over a year now and have got my eye on starting the gear acquisition process. What would you say is a good place to start, what where the first few things you bought when you were starting out? My gaffer is open to his guys buying gear and adding it to his package.
C-Stand, clamps, anything that doesn't date fast is a good start. Ask potential clients what lights they would want you to have and only buy if you can get a profit in 3 years.
This was a very nice tour! Thanks you for sharing your organization and gear. I was trying to build my filmmaking kit on carts, as I've had to roll a lot. But your method has me rethinking things, especially with the stacking Gorilla carts. Do you typically have an assistant(s) for hauling stuff around? From South Texas near San Antonio, thanks again for the peek, Mr. Andrew. Great stuff!
I'm working alone most shoots, but I'm usually parked very close, like in the driveway of the location. Most jobs I do are in a domestic house with nowhere to leave gear carts. Or I'm in a small studio parked next to the set so the van is the gear dump. So I get jobs because I have a small footprint. But having said that I don't get jobs in convention centres because I can't wheel the whole lot in. Pros and cons to both.
@@rockazar5436 Have you checked out the Rock N Roller carts? They have different sizes, and they have a few that fold up. I noticed a production company that used them, and they modified one for carrying stands: there is an optional deck that mounts across the top of the handles, and they cut a part of it out to fit on the bottom; then they stand the c-stands on that upside down where they fit between the bars.
I have a question related to the gear you take to your shoots. More often then not film sets have gear from different sources, different rentals let's say. How do you mark your gear to make sure you get all your stuff and truly YOUR stuff. Especially stands, clamps, etc. I don't run a rental, but I often rent out my c-stands with clamps and boom arms and there are mixups quite often.
I am using outdoor adhesive film labels from HERMA # 9531 where I print my company logo onto. Those labels stick to almost anything. For cables I bought velcro tapes with signal colors on the end where I could write my company's name onto with a permanent marker. A company I worked for many decades ago used a combination of three different colors painted on every tool for their fitter's toolbox.
I engrave my name, some guys use different colours to identify their gear, such as a pink cable tie. In Melbourne grips and gaffers shot bags are colour coded. Mine are yellow with black handle.
Space, weight, battery operation and cost. The 500 kits are so small, I can use the 500 on a boom arm over a window very easy because of its very lite weight, and I can power them off 2x26v v-mounts at full power. My large van has two 600Ds with F10s, and two Forza 500s. The 600D with F10 (fresnel) is awesome, but the small van has a price point and at that price the client doesn't deserve two 600Ds with F10s.
Amazing content you're producing. Any tips on keeping black floppies protected? I've got a pickup truck right now and I have to lie them flat in the bed (either over or under my stands). The only thing I can think of is kind of similar to your Aladdin light case and hand making a tarp sleeve lined with cardboard to keep things from poking through them. I would gladly buy something if I could find it!
I know some guys who got canvas bags made up to protect them, but my floppies last about 10 to 12 years with no protection so I don't know if it's worth it
This is such a neat organization skills. Are you usually use all the gear when you shoot? Packing all the stuff back must take some time if you shoot alone.
Might be a weird question Andrew. Forgive me. How are your shelves bolted in? Through the floor and bolted? Are they bolted into the walls? Would love to know.
Large rivets to the skeleton points on the walls and the roof. Make plates so you have two to four rivets to each mount. Also worth having a bar or two running across the roof line linking the two shelves so they can't tip over and rip out of the walls should you manage to get the van or truck up on two wheels.
Not sure, not including the van $70,000 AUD would be my guess. It changes all the time so it's hard to keep track of, every year the lights get cheaper. When I first set it up it had 4 HMIs in it.
Made the cookie for a short film I was helping on. I starting doing lighting in 1998. Before that I had delusions of being a DP. But I was actually working as a video tape operator.
@@gaffergear " Before that I had delusions of being a DP." That's the way I describe how I started out as well! ("DoP delusions") Now I've heard the music, and found my perfect niche as a production sound mixer.
Amazing! Do you know how many cubic metres this van is? Is it tall enough to stand inside of if you're like 180cm tall? Trying to get a size comparison to my own van.
My van is tall enough to stand in, and i use carts for my (limited ammount) of stuff. You seem to be able to pack a lot more though. The convencience of carts vs being able to pack more is always eating away at me.
Is it worth it to spend extra on square stock aluminum frames vs. round stock? What are your thoughts for someone just starting their frame and textiles collection? Thanks for sharing as always. I love your content!
Hi! I love your channel! Quick question: I just bought a Forza 500, and find it pretty green. Do you find you have to use a minus green filter on yours, or do I have a bad copy? Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Legit workman right there. If you don't keep a roll of toilet paper under your passenger seat, you're an amateur who hasn't worked in the real world yet. #truestory
Hey! This was a great video!! Thank you so much. I just purchased a high roof van for my production company. I would love to know where you got those shelves from? Did you custom make them? Thanks in advance!
Let's say you want to put up a 12ft black on a stand. A T-bar is using one stand mounted to the centre of the 12ft bar. The stand and the bar make a T shape
Hey Andrew, with the development in LED tech, do you think it still makes sense for a starting Gaffer to invest in HMIs like the M18, or wait for something like 1200W LEDs?
I wouldn't buy an M18 unless you are sure you can make a profit in the next 18 months. The Evoke is with its fresnel is just behind it. I sold all my 1200 and replaced them with LED
Weight and size of the kit. The Forza 500 is lite enough that I can use it on a boom arm if required. I have 2 Aputure 600Ds with F10s in my large van.
70, 000 Au $ on one van! I cannot begin to understand how you manage your purchasing decisions to stay abreast of what your customers want. Or do you simply disregard that and focus on what you know you need to do the job most effectively? You make every video a back to school day - and your wit is bone-dry...thanks a million.
This is the best episode of Pimp My Ride I’ve ever seen.
The camo netting idea is brilliant !
"Yes, I've got blue balls" Loved it! Thanks for the insight!
Loved the drain tiles, thanks!
This is bloody satisfying to watch. Good stuff, Andrew.
Man, everyone in this industry who is not subscribed to you is really missing out
Doing a fresh van build and we were all laughing when you go “if you work with idiots” then it got silent. 😅😅 great ideas here. Moral, be prepared for everything. 👏🏼
Great layout with lots of practical items.
Fantastic walkthrough! Love the different names for things. The flat wind-ups look interesting. Thank you for sharing all your smarts with us.
Would love to see an updated truck tour from you too Luke!
"And I keep a helmet with my name on ... so they can identify my body..."
That's exactly my type of humor :-D
Seriously, so, so good! Why can't I like this twice! It gave me so many ideas to improve my gear.
I'm defiantly watching this over and over. Writing down notes on organization.
Brilliant!! Loved the C-stands 'working with idiots' bit. However i have to say that i'm disappointed that you don't have your own pod coffee machine. A terrible oversight for a 2021 Gaffer.........this needs to be rectified 😂😂😂 Great Video and many thanks Andrew
The drain cover tip is one I'll be investing in. The last commercial I did we had issues with our combos sinking into the grass.
That is your small van 😱? Make mine like a hobbit compare to your, haha. Great to see what you got in your small van. I got a long way to get to where you are at.
Just keep at it, at the start it feels like it's impossible. Just remember to not spend all your money on gear and put money aside to enjoy life.
So many helpful details in here!
The drain cover trick is brilliant. Thanks for the video.
I do love a really well laid out Van, Awesome 👍👍👍
Amazing truck. I can't believe how much you get in there! Thanks so much for sharing and in great detail.
Love me some van package tours! Great package here! Great idea about the drain covers and square frame stock storing. I always have problems digging into crates for all the pieces. I keep mine in a velco bag, but can never always tell if all the pieces are there. Big Plus on the personal, always bring a 2nd pair of clothes as you can never tell what will happen. Especially shoes!
Waiting for the big one!
I'm very busy with work but trying for that to be the next episode.
Ahhh a film gearhead's dream. Thanks for the tour. Took me back to my old grip van.
Thanks for the tour of the van. Amazing to see how much you pack in small space.looking forward to your next episode
Hi Andrew, some good ideas. Thanks for the insights.
Holy cow, I thought I was crazy with my "mobile" studio equipment, but you take it to the next level! Impressive...and hard learned, no doubt
This was absolutely brilliant, Andrew! So many great little ideas, and your van is like the Tardis!
Blue balls, nice. Good van set up. Thanks for sharing. Jaro
This was one of the funniest episodes. You can’t trust Production to bring enough toilet paper in the US either. Didn’t know the gorilla carts stacked!
Storing the 12 x 12 frame as a rectangle - easy to account for at the end of the day. I'm stealing that idea!
When in Australia … Your a def Gaffer I’d hire. You can always tell a pro by the state of his tools & workspace. Look at yours !! TOTAL PRO …ready to GO! 🎥🎥👍🏻👍🏻
What an amazing van of kit. Thanks for the detailed tour and the inspiration.
So much experience packed into that van! Lots of good tips too. Thanks for sharing!
We love your Van
The jokes just keep coming, best van walkthrough ever.
This guy is the most professional professional I've seen. Best Gaffer award should be given at film festivals.
I need to get a bag of tennis 🎾 balls too! Thanks. It’s not always about the big expensive HMIs.
I wish I could fit that much gear in my van. But Cars in Switzerland are limited to 3,5tons. So I got rougly 1000Kg of loading capacity, which is not nearly enough to carry all the gear I would like. I mostly run out of shotbags at one point on a shoot... I could get a 7,5 ton Truck, but that has sooo many downsides, I could hardly do any jobs. Thanks for the tour mate
I use front end drive vans, because they don't have a drive shaft or a differential, you get an extra 500KG pay load.
The toilet paper is brilliant and probably a must at festivals... no wellies? …Great video and lovely kit
I love the Australian version of "autopole" :D
Yesssss!
I've been waiting for this.
Please do cable management/best practices next.
I'm not stepping into that whole "over over" or "under under" or "under over" controversy.
@@gaffergear even if you hint at your preferred method with the truly appreciated Gaffer and Gear logic I'd br thankful
Keep up the good work Mr Lock, from the Caribbean
A thing of beauty
Thank you so much! I haven't even watched this yet but I was planning on requesting a van tour and ideas this weekend. Fantastic. Thank you for your UA-cam work and reviews. I learn something every time.
incredible setup! So much value in this video
Thanks for the tour of your van and all the little tips ;-)
Interesting about the rags - its true they come out all the time, a bit of neg here or there. I am a fan of floppies and ultra bounce floppies quick to deploy, I also use a few expanding photographers back ground holder bars - they are great as goal posts, and quick to deploy. Modern gaffer kit is falling into two camps, grip and heavy duty stuff - and the more modern Lighstream reflectors and lights with computers attached - almost hard and soft. Another great insight.
great video, one of the funniest as well. Love hearing the different names too. We call our "T-bars" T-bones. . Wasnt expecting to learn that you have blue balls on this episode.
This is awesome
From now on when a producer wants me to do a lighting gear list I’ll just send them this video 🤘😊
Would be great if you take us on set to see your workflow when you setup and pack down
Would bloge to see other gaffers vans and how they differ as everyone's personal kit is different
Love a van.
Thanks for the info.
Be lucky stay safe.
I've been sparking for just over a year now and have got my eye on starting the gear acquisition process. What would you say is a good place to start, what where the first few things you bought when you were starting out? My gaffer is open to his guys buying gear and adding it to his package.
C-Stand, clamps, anything that doesn't date fast is a good start.
Ask potential clients what lights they would want you to have and only buy if you can get a profit in 3 years.
Keep it up and keep going
Hi!
Tell us about nanlux evoke 1200 led please!!!
Oh my you got it all, thanks for the video.
This was great!
This was a very nice tour! Thanks you for sharing your organization and gear.
I was trying to build my filmmaking kit on carts, as I've had to roll a lot. But your method has me rethinking things, especially with the stacking Gorilla carts.
Do you typically have an assistant(s) for hauling stuff around?
From South Texas near San Antonio, thanks again for the peek, Mr. Andrew. Great stuff!
I'm working alone most shoots, but I'm usually parked very close, like in the driveway of the location.
Most jobs I do are in a domestic house with nowhere to leave gear carts. Or I'm in a small studio parked next to the set so the van is the gear dump. So I get jobs because I have a small footprint.
But having said that I don't get jobs in convention centres because I can't wheel the whole lot in. Pros and cons to both.
@@gaffergear That sounds like a great niche. Thanks again and good luck.
@@rockazar5436 Have you checked out the Rock N Roller carts? They have different sizes, and they have a few that fold up. I noticed a production company that used them, and they modified one for carrying stands: there is an optional deck that mounts across the top of the handles, and they cut a part of it out to fit on the bottom; then they stand the c-stands on that upside down where they fit between the bars.
Awesome video again mate. Would have loved you to tell us what van it is and how you fitted it out with the shelving etc. Cheers
Its a Fiat Ducatto Maxi. I get someone else to do my shelving because I'm crap at building things
I have a question related to the gear you take to your shoots. More often then not film sets have gear from different sources, different rentals let's say. How do you mark your gear to make sure you get all your stuff and truly YOUR stuff. Especially stands, clamps, etc. I don't run a rental, but I often rent out my c-stands with clamps and boom arms and there are mixups quite often.
I am using outdoor adhesive film labels from HERMA # 9531 where I print my company logo onto. Those labels stick to almost anything. For cables I bought velcro tapes with signal colors on the end where I could write my company's name onto with a permanent marker.
A company I worked for many decades ago used a combination of three different colors painted on every tool for their fitter's toolbox.
I engrave my name, some guys use different colours to identify their gear, such as a pink cable tie.
In Melbourne grips and gaffers shot bags are colour coded. Mine are yellow with black handle.
Why the Nanlites over the Aputures if you mind me asking?
Space, weight, battery operation and cost.
The 500 kits are so small, I can use the 500 on a boom arm over a window very easy because of its very lite weight, and I can power them off 2x26v v-mounts at full power.
My large van has two 600Ds with F10s, and two Forza 500s.
The 600D with F10 (fresnel) is awesome, but the small van has a price point and at that price the client doesn't deserve two 600Ds with F10s.
@@gaffergear what's the price of one day for this van? intereting..
@@chuk76 $1500 plus tax.
I wanna see how you would load them on carts/trolleys!
The link to choice blue balls, pls! Haha
Max!! 😍
Amazing content you're producing.
Any tips on keeping black floppies protected? I've got a pickup truck right now and I have to lie them flat in the bed (either over or under my stands). The only thing I can think of is kind of similar to your Aladdin light case and hand making a tarp sleeve lined with cardboard to keep things from poking through them.
I would gladly buy something if I could find it!
I know some guys who got canvas bags made up to protect them, but my floppies last about 10 to 12 years with no protection so I don't know if it's worth it
@@gaffergear Thanks! Good insight.
thanks!
This is such a neat organization skills. Are you usually use all the gear when you shoot? Packing all the stuff back must take some time if you shoot alone.
The gear lives in the van
damn, everything but the M18 lights are now LEDs!
Hey! Would you be able to share to us the measurements of that awesome gels/grip cart.? :D Thanks!
Might be a weird question Andrew. Forgive me. How are your shelves bolted in? Through the floor and bolted? Are they bolted into the walls? Would love to know.
Large rivets to the skeleton points on the walls and the roof. Make plates so you have two to four rivets to each mount.
Also worth having a bar or two running across the roof line linking the two shelves so they can't tip over and rip out of the walls should you manage to get the van or truck up on two wheels.
Love it!
Do the aputure barn doors work on the nanlite fresnels/reflector dishes?
No, I just use it to get a single light point with the black dish supplied
How much do you think this entire setup would cost?
Not sure, not including the van $70,000 AUD would be my guess.
It changes all the time so it's hard to keep track of, every year the lights get cheaper. When I first set it up it had 4 HMIs in it.
Blue balls 😂😂😂
Love your work man. Fresh gaffers need this kind of content! How long have you been gaffing if you made that cookie at 18 lol?
Made the cookie for a short film I was helping on. I starting doing lighting in 1998. Before that I had delusions of being a DP. But I was actually working as a video tape operator.
@@gaffergear " Before that I had delusions of being a DP."
That's the way I describe how I started out as well! ("DoP delusions")
Now I've heard the music, and found my perfect niche as a production sound mixer.
Hi, really great video thank you. :) Quick question: I see, that you don‘t use any insulation in the van. Isn‘t that bad for the Equipment?
@@thomaspeintinger3430 I haven't had problems in decades of doing this.
@@gaffergear That's awesome - thanks for the info! :)
Amazing! Do you know how many cubic metres this van is? Is it tall enough to stand inside of if you're like 180cm tall? Trying to get a size comparison to my own van.
Just waiting for the big van now!
You just reminded me why my wind up stands are lying down, they don't fit standing up in that van
My van is tall enough to stand in, and i use carts for my (limited ammount) of stuff. You seem to be able to pack a lot more though. The convencience of carts vs being able to pack more is always eating away at me.
Grt. Thx.
Well thought out layout Andrew - unsurprisingly!
Is there a reason you don't keep the novas in a case of some kind?
Also, re. Your c stand storage comment - what would you do if you were working with idiots? Asking for a friend.
Could you also do the big van? Thanks!
Next episode
I almost exclusively work with LED, but for HMI and Tungsten fixtures should I be worried about synthetic camo net melting?
I use it to cover light stands, not to light through. But if I did I wouldn't use my synthetic crap
All my mates want to buy sports car or 4x4 and I'm here wanting one of these
Do you not keep the Aputure Novas in cases due to the case size?
Exactly
Where did you get the b7c 3 light kit?! I can only find the 8 light kit
I made it up from 3 seperate lights
wow, thats more than in my youtube wardrobe :)
If you working with idiots.. 😂 made my day!
Is it worth it to spend extra on square stock aluminum frames vs. round stock? What are your thoughts for someone just starting their frame and textiles collection? Thanks for sharing as always. I love your content!
Square is cheaper where I am, that's the only reason I went with it!
I don't know if it makes much difference
One day will be me
Keep the faith and get on set any chance you can.
Hi! I love your channel! Quick question: I just bought a Forza 500, and find it pretty green. Do you find you have to use a minus green filter on yours, or do I have a bad copy? Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Run it for a few hours first and see if the phosphor settles in. But that's not right. Mine are fairly natural
Legit workman right there. If you don't keep a roll of toilet paper under your passenger seat, you're an amateur who hasn't worked in the real world yet. #truestory
what kind of van is this?
Hey! This was a great video!! Thank you so much. I just purchased a high roof van for my production company. I would love to know where you got those shelves from? Did you custom make them? Thanks in advance!
One of our generator guys (Roy Prichett) used to be a Fitter and Turner and made everything up
Forgive my ignorance - but what is a T-Bar?
Let's say you want to put up a 12ft black on a stand. A T-bar is using one stand mounted to the centre of the 12ft bar. The stand and the bar make a T shape
@@gaffergear thank you for the insight 🙂
nice
Hey Andrew, with the development in LED tech, do you think it still makes sense for a starting Gaffer to invest in HMIs like the M18, or wait for something like 1200W LEDs?
I wouldn't buy an M18 unless you are sure you can make a profit in the next 18 months. The Evoke is with its fresnel is just behind it.
I sold all my 1200 and replaced them with LED
Does Max come standard with every job or do you charge extra for his help?
He's too loud to have on set unfortunately, but he travels to suppliers with me.
@@gaffergear good dog
Oh snap. This guy's got jokes.
No Aputure COBs? Why?
Weight and size of the kit. The Forza 500 is lite enough that I can use it on a boom arm if required.
I have 2 Aputure 600Ds with F10s in my large van.
Now we wait for the bigger one 🤓
what autopole is that? dont look like manfrotto
I have manfrotto and Matthew's
70, 000 Au $ on one van! I cannot begin to understand how you manage your purchasing decisions to stay abreast of what your customers want. Or do you simply disregard that and focus on what you know you need to do the job most effectively? You make every video a back to school day - and your wit is bone-dry...thanks a million.
Ok I don't wanna be a gaffer 😂 it's just too much stuff, itll take me a lifetime to collect all this
Just rent, owning isnt for everyone.