The Ultimate Gear Checklist for Indie Shoots (and How to Track It Like a Pro)

Every indie shoot starts with ambition—and usually ends with someone asking, “Where’s the tripod?” Whether you’re filming a short, a branded piece, or a guerrilla-style doc, gear chaos is the silent killer of momentum.

This guide gives you a practical checklist of essential equipment for indie productions, plus a smarter way to track it all without losing your mind (or your gear).

What You Actually Need on Set

Here’s a breakdown of the core gear categories every indie filmmaker should consider. You don’t need everything—but you do need a plan.

🎥 Camera Department

Camera body (DSLR, mirrorless, cinema)
Lenses (wide, standard, telephoto, specialty)
Batteries and chargers
Media cards and storage
Matte box and filters
Tripod or monopod
Gimbal or stabilizer

🎤 Sound Department

Shotgun mic
Lavalier mics
Boom pole
Field recorder
Headphones
Windscreens
XLR cables

💡 Lighting & Grip

LED panels or softboxes
Light stands
C-stands
Extension cords and power strips
Gels and diffusers
Sandbags
Clamps and rigging gear

🎬 Production Essentials

Slate or clapperboard
Monitor or viewfinder
Director’s chair (optional, but morale-boosting)
Walkie-talkies or comms
First aid kit
Toolkit (multi-tool, gaffer tape, zip ties)

🧳 Transport & Logistics

Cases and bags
Cable ties and organizers
Inventory checklist
Vehicle or transport plan

The Problem: Gear Chaos Is Real

Most indie filmmakers track gear with a mix of memory, spreadsheets, and last-minute texts. That leads to:

Forgotten items
Double-booked gear
Missing accessories
No record of who used what
No system for maintenance or damage notes

Even small shoots suffer when gear isn’t tracked properly. And if you’re renting out your kit or managing a shared inventory, the risk multiplies.

Manual Tracking: The Usual Workarounds

Before we built Moviebaker, we tried everything:

Google Sheets with color-coded availability
Printed checklists taped to gear cases
WhatsApp threads to confirm who took what
Handwritten notes for damage reports
Separate folders for contracts and transport docs

These methods work—until they don’t. They’re fragile, time-consuming, and hard to scale.

How to Track Gear Like a Pro (Without Losing Your Weekend)

Whether you’re managing your own kit or running a small rental operation, here’s what a professional tracking system should include:

1. Centralized Inventory

A searchable database of all gear, with specs, photos, and categories.

2. Availability Calendar

A visual system that shows what’s booked, what’s available, and what’s in maintenance.

3. Rental History

Every item should have a log of who used it, when, and under what conditions.

4. Client Profiles

Track who’s renting, their contact info, and their rental behavior.

5. Quote Builder

Generate clean, customizable quotes with gear, crew, and additional costs.

6. Document Automation

Create rental contracts and transportation documents without copy-pasting.

Why We Built Moviebaker

We built the Moviebaker Rental Module because we were tired of losing time to gear chaos. It’s designed for indie filmmakers and rental owners who want to:

Track gear without spreadsheets
Quote projects without formatting headaches
Know who used what—and when
Add crew and extra costs to quotes
Generate contracts and transport docs instantly
Manage clients with full rental history

It’s not just a tool—it’s a workflow upgrade.

Ready to Shoot Smarter?

Whether you’re prepping for your next indie shoot or scaling your rental business, gear tracking shouldn’t be the thing that slows you down.

Try the Moviebaker Rental Module and see how much smoother your production can run.

Let your creativity lead. We’ll handle the logistics.