Hang around the production industry long enough and you will begin to have an appreciation for the phrase “what’s old is new again”. Essentials for success still start with a good script, talented crew, and a first rate camera package. It’s the ancillary pieces of gear that you keep in your bag that can really add that extra touch to your production.

15 years ago we discovered lipstick cameras and a whole new world of shots opened up. These were originally developed for the medical devices world but quickly became the darling of production houses everywhere. We put them everywhere: on my motorcycle, end of a pool cue, robotic lab equipment, barrel of a shot gun, surgeon’s headpiece, even in a pool – you name it, we rigged it. Only problem is that they had to have a wire snaking to a big, cumbersome, field recorder, took awhile to rig, and were a little slow exposure wise.

GoPro HD Hero2 on the Steel Mill Shoot

Today, cameras are as plentiful as blades of grass. Every crew member has some sort of HD capable camera with them on set. From an iPhone to a 5D, it’s crazy. My favorite though is the GoPro HD Hero2. This little phenom is absolutely packed with potential.

We recently used 2 of these beauties on a shoot in a steel mill. We had limited time and had to maximize our footage. With the plethora of rigging accessories available this camera really can go anywhere. We placed it on overhead cranes, numerous vehicles, and a few danger-laden shots that you would never risk your Director of Photography… let alone a high-end camera. While my DP concentrated on beauty shots, my Go Pros were picking up time lapse and action shots that really came in handy during editing.

I felt the same sense of giddiness that I had when I rigged my first lipstick cam – only now, the footage is so much better. Definitely check one out if you have a chance. Or, you can rent a GoPro HD Hero2 from us for just $50 per day and see for yourself.

Contact Dave Lanzalone

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Sean Purdy

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Brian Shaud

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Brittany Strizelka

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact JD Spivey

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Lokesh Gopal

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Joe Rodriguez

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Henry Park

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Leonardo Galindo

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Shirley Gay

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Ling Song

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Ariel Lynn

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Alyson Leonard

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Luke O'Brien

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Clement Baa-Adomako

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Andrew Mikida

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact John Cervino

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Calvin Woodruff

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Adrienne Belt

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Frank Speeder

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Steve Carey

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Ben Vuocolo

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Micah Shaffer

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact John Kolleh

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Dan Mendenhall

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Bridget Clerkin

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Tom MaCoy

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Dan Fried

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Vanessa Balzano

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Gene Castellano

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Tom Mikowski

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Pete Bretz

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Bill Haley

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.