Do you have a filmmaker on your gift list this year? Here are a few gift ideas that cost less than a new DSLR. Your filmmaker will thank you! (If you are the filmmaker, share this post with your loved one when they ask what you want this year.)
iTunes Gift Card
Filmmakers can use iTunes gift cards for watching movies and TV shows for inspiration or buying apps. This gift can go a long way. And you can choose how much you spend. Buy an iTunes gift card here.
Geek Gear
Help your indie filmmaker find inspiration with useful geek gear. Observe the things your filmmaker loves and uses often, then find something similar with a film theme. Check out film-themed coffee mugs, t-shirts, and office supplies.
Camera lens mug from ThinkGeek ($24.99).
Hobbit letter openers from ThinkGeek ($29.99)
“Vitruviron Man” t-shirt design by Joseph Martin Wright from Threadless ($24.50).
Bonus: find stuff that also encourages your filmmaker to pursue those big goals. Does he dream of getting into Sundance? Wrap up some branded merch from Sundance store. Or visit their favorite film festival sites to find branded goodies.
iPad Case made from a 2013 Sundance Banner, available in the Sundance store ($30).
Useful Gear & Gadgets
These gifts may not seem like the most thrilling in the world but they’ll definitely be put to good use — and your filmmaker will feel loved and supported because you took the time to find out what he needed. Gather intel on what is needed, then find the best gear.
Your filmmaker may need a new camera case, set of headphones, or digital storage. You can also find affordable things like a slate (for less than $40), which will make post-production so much easier. Bonus: learn how to use the slate properly and volunteer to be in charge of the slate on set!
Pearstone Acrylic Dry Erase Clapboard with Color Sticks (9×11 inches) on Amazon (~$35)
Books, Memberships, & More
Help your filmmaker become a better artist by giving him access to industry information, books, magazines, film organizations, workshops, and more. There are a LOT of great options.
Support your local camera shop and ask for some guidance from the pros. The folks at Southeastern Camera in Raleigh have always been good to me. Or peruse Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and B&H to find ideas online.
Here are another few great places to start:
- Variety
- The Hollywood Reporter (THR)
- Filmmaker Magazine
- Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP)
- Vimeo Pro
- Stillmotion
- Center for Documentary Studies (CDS)
Give the gift of helpful industry information, like a subscription to THR ($99 and up).
Stillmotion has great workshops and educational materials available.
Give the gift of a Vimeo Pro account ($199).
More Resources / Ideas
I’m not the first one to put together a gift list for filmmakers. Here are a few similar posts from other folks. Just be prepared that some may contain outdated links or prices.
- 10 Gifts for Photographers and Filmmakers (Popular Mechanics)
- 20 Last Minute Gifts for Filmmakers Under $20 (The Black and Blue, 2011)
- Dozes of Great Holiday Gifts for Filmmakers (No Film School, 2010)
- 7 Cool Gifts for Filmmakers Under $20 (FilmmakerIQ, 2011)
- 5 Great Gifts for Filmmakers on the Festival Circuit (Film Festival Secrets, 2011)
Share Your Ideas
Obviously, this list is just a start. I left out LOTS of high-priced items like new DSLRs and sweet lenses. But feel free to share your ideas in the comments. I’d love to hear them!
Note: Ladies, don’t feel slighted. I use the word “he” throughout this post to refer to all filmmakers, mk?