Lenses hold their value, especially if you purchase them used. The same is true for some gear and not for other gear. Why is everyone so worried about whether or not I turn a profit or my purchases depreciate over time? Jesus Christ I don't need a second father people.

"I bet there are great DPs in your area you can hire to train you" Can you hear yourself? You have no idea where I live and even if you knew it doesn't mean there are DPs in the area willing to "train" me. Or DPs I would be willing to trust to "train" me well.

Don't envy me, I was in a lawsuit for a reason. I won for a reason. I was wronged and compensated.

I do not care about bragging rights, it's retarded.

I don't care about impressing people with gear. I care about having what I need to tell the stories I want to tell.

I made it clear in the post that I won a lawsuit and had personal things going on, why is this even being brought up? The post is about advice on gear to purchase, it's not soliciting advice on whether to gear up or not.

My end goal is not to make money, it's to make a movie. AGAIN this is not the reason I started this post. If you read the post I started, it has nothing to do with asking about how to make money, or for life advice, or whether I am "ready" or if I have enough "experience."

Again this is simply unsolicited advice, how you are not understanding this is beyond me.

"You simply do not have the experience yet." Your not adding to the discussion.

Have you read any of my replies? I never said making a feature is as simple as buying a bunch of gear.

This post isn't about how to make a movie, what it takes to make a movie, scripts, actors, crew etc.... The point of the post is evident in the post, it was asking about, gear. This is plain and simple.

"rather than getting obsessed with gear"

You're assuming I am obsessed with gear. If I was obsessed with gear why would I need help figuring out what would be the best gear for me to purchase?

"the best gear in the world isn't going to make your film any better"

Why do people even bother using good gear then? This makes no sense. Of course production value adds SOMETHING to a film.

I hear you Stephen from your POV I have no business making a film, but, that isn't the point of the post. I'm not asking for your POV on whether or not I should make a film.

I totally agree focus on storytelling and maturing different skills etc... Is what matters the most, but, you're not adding to the post by going off on tangents and shitting all over the idea of purchasing the right tool for the right job when the post is about what to buy not whether I should buy anything, if I'll learn to use it, if I deserve to own it or whatever other opinion anyone else has about myself.

Comment on my work is fine, but, I have right to defend it if I feel it's not being judged in it's proper context.

I don't want advice on how to spend my money wisely, I want advice on which gear would be wise to purchase, read the original post.

The least I can do is show gratitude for what I see to be a horrible answer? The least I can do is be true to myself, I am not here to make everyone happy.

"You will spend too much to have a chance of sneaking your costs back on the sly"

You're assuming I even expect to make back any costs. I don't, I'm a realist. You do the best you can and let the chips fall where they may.

"and you will have spent too little to get noticed (ie you have no recognisable star)."

This may be and is probably true, but, the reality is you don't know whether I will get "noticed" or not. With that attitude though your setting up a self fulfilling prophecy.

" you may never see any of your money again. " WRONG. If I purchase gear, especially used gear, then I can recoup at least SOMETHING by selling the gear after the production.

I don't have some dream of being a millionaire or being the latest Cinderella story you read about, I'm just out to make movies I would want to watch, if it turns out it's shit then so be it, but, at least I tried instead of sitting on my ass and waiting for something to happen.