ur-grue Shoot Equipment List
What This Skill Does
Generates a complete, shoot-specific packing and equipment checklist organized by category, crew role, and travel constraints.
When To Use This Skill
- You are preparing for a field shoot and need a comprehensive equipment list to brief your crew or rental house
- You are a solo journalist or small crew with limited kit and need to prioritize what to bring
- You are hiring a local crew in an unfamiliar location and need to specify exactly what equipment to source
- You are submitting a production budget and need an itemized list to cost against
What You Need To Provide
Required:
- Type of shoot (documentary interview, news package, branded video, event coverage, etc.)
- Shooting environment (indoor studio, outdoor urban, remote wilderness, conflict zone, etc.)
- Crew size and roles (e.g., solo journalist, director + camera operator + sound, full broadcast crew)
- Approximate duration of shoot (half-day, multi-day, week-long)
Optional:
- Specific deliverable format (broadcast HD, cinema 4K, social vertical, etc.)
- Known technical requirements (live feed, underwater housing, low-light, aerial, etc.)
- Travel method and luggage restrictions (domestic flight, international flight, road vehicle, boat)
- Any equipment already confirmed available on location
How the Assistant Approaches This
- Identifies the core technical requirements based on shoot type, environment, and deliverable format — what the job actually demands before any preferences are added
- Builds the list by crew role, so each person can check their own responsibilities independently; flags items that are shared between roles
- Applies travel constraints last — flags oversize, overweight, or restricted items and suggests alternatives where packaging or rental is preferable to shipping
Output Format
A structured checklist organized into clearly labeled sections: Camera & Lenses, Audio, Lighting, Power & Batteries, Support (tripods, rigs, cases), Data & Storage, Connectivity, Expendables, and Personal / Safety. Each item includes a quantity. Items requiring customs documentation, airline approval, or specialist handling are flagged with a note. Total estimated case count and approximate checked-luggage weight are included at the end. Plain language throughout — no model numbers unless specifically requested.
Quality Criteria
- Every item is specific (not "camera" but "main camera body + backup body")
- Quantities are realistic for crew size and shoot duration
- Travel restrictions are addressed if travel method was provided
- At least one "easy to forget" category is included (expendables, gaffer tape, adapters, etc.)
- List is immediately usable as a pre-shoot checklist without further research
Example
Input
Shoot type: Documentary interview and b-roll in a working factory — two interview setups and observational filming on the factory floor. Environment: Indoor, mixed artificial light, loud ambient noise. Crew: Director, camera operator, sound recordist. Duration: Two full days. Deliverable: Broadcast HD (1920x1080). Travel: Driving — no airline restrictions. Equipment available on location: None.
Output
Equipment List — Factory Documentary (2 Days)
Crew: Director / Camera Operator / Sound Recordist Format: Broadcast HD · Indoor industrial environment
Camera & Lenses
- Main camera body × 1
- Backup camera body × 1 (for b-roll or emergency)
- Wide-angle lens (14–24mm equivalent) × 1
- Standard zoom lens (24–70mm equivalent) × 1
- Short telephoto lens (85–135mm equivalent) × 1 — for interview close-ups
- Lens cleaning kit (cloths, blower, fluid) × 1
Audio
- Boom microphone (supercardioid, suited to loud environments) × 1
- Lavalier microphone kit (transmitter + receiver) × 2 — for both interview subjects
- Backup lavalier kit × 1
- Audio mixer / field recorder (minimum 4-channel) × 1
- Headphones, closed-back (for monitoring in loud space) × 2
- XLR cables, 5m × 4
- Blimp / windshield for boom × 1
- Spare AA and AAA batteries × 40 — wireless systems consume heavily in industrial RF environments
Lighting
- LED panel, bi-colour, large (interview key light) × 2
- LED panel, bi-colour, small (interview fill / hair light) × 1
- Portable LED panel for b-roll / tight spaces × 2
- Light stands × 4
- Diffusion frames and frames × 2
- Extension cables, 10m × 3
- Multi-socket power board × 2
- Gels: CTO, CTB, neutral density (assorted pack) × 1
Power & Batteries
- Camera batteries × 8 (4 per body minimum for full shooting days)
- Camera battery charger × 2
- V-lock batteries for LED panels × 4
- V-lock charger × 1
- Portable power station (backup, for locations with limited outlets) × 1
Support
- Fluid-head tripod, heavy-duty × 1
- Lightweight tripod or travel tripod (b-roll) × 1
- Shoulder rig or cage for handheld b-roll × 1
- Monopod × 1 — useful in restricted floor space
- Sandbags × 4
Data & Storage
- Primary recording media (cards or drives for main camera) × 6
- Backup recording media × 4
- Laptop with editing software for dailies review × 1
- Portable SSD drives, 4TB × 2 — primary and backup copy
- Card reader (multi-format) × 1
- USB hub × 1
Expendables & Small Accessories
- Gaffer tape × 3 rolls
- Black wrap (aluminum foil tape for flagging lights) × 1 roll
- Camera rain cover × 2 — industrial environments often have moisture and dust
- Lens filters: ND kit × 1
- Magic arm and super clamp set × 1 (for rigging lights in tight spaces)
- Velcro cable ties × 1 pack
- Marker pens and labels for media × 1 pack
- Earplugs for crew (mandatory in loud factory) × 1 pack
Safety & Personal
- Hard hats × 3 — likely required on factory floor
- High-visibility vests × 3 — confirm requirements with location contact
- Safety footwear (steel-toe) — each crew member responsible for own
- First aid kit × 1
- Crew contact sheet and site emergency numbers, printed × 1
Estimated case / bag count: 8–10 cases and bags Driving load: Fits comfortably in a large estate car or small van
Notes:
- Confirm power outlet types and amperage limits with location manager before arrival — industrial sites sometimes run 3-phase power requiring adaptors
- Industrial environments are high-risk for dust ingress on lenses and sensors; bring extra blowers and cloths
- Wireless audio may be unreliable near heavy machinery — have wired fallback ready
Known Limitations
- The assistant cannot verify exact equipment specifications or confirm compatibility between specific camera bodies and accessories — always have your camera operator review the list before rental
- Power requirements are estimated; actual outlet availability and amperage on location must be confirmed with the location manager
- Safety equipment requirements vary by country and industry — the list above is a general prompt, not a compliance checklist; always check local health and safety regulations