TIPS 

"This is probably my favorite overall tip, because it's what makes BUDGET filmmaking possible (even if your gear is lost)! I'll start by defining P-A-C, and by mentioning that the acronym P-A-C has added a Q and an E recently (kind of sounds like we're playing Wheel of Fortune, but there's a good reason for it). The reason is, Q stands for QUALITY and this had always been in my mind, and I assumed people would understand if I left it out (but some people can't read minds I guess). So, let's go over the whole acronym so you know what I'm talking about (I have a KIT page on my website with this too):

Q = QUALITY
P = PORTABLE
A = AFFORDABLE
C = COMMON
E = EASY (TO USE)

Q = QUALITY
This may be the most important end result of my gear (and it certainly is non-negotiable) so that's why I list it first. When I refer to quality, what I mean is you could produce a professional project with this gear. It may not hold up under rough use, but it's capable enough to do the job.

P = PORTABLE
The part is essential to the way I work, and it not only makes it easier for me to TRAVEL and makes setup and teardown faster, but it also helps me stay organized overall (I'm one of those messy creatives that gets distracted by visual clutter, etc.)

A = AFFORDABLE
This is a big part of why I used to call my system FAKE Filmmaking. At this point, I do think anybody's going to argue that you can make a good-enough quality motion picture with the BUDGET gear that's available today (check out my KIT PLAN for my list of super low budget recommendations).

C = COMMON
This part goes with one of the main reasons for learning and then using low budget gear; and it's about being able to FIND the gear, so you can replace it ASAP (if it gets lost or stolen). What I mean by common is that you can either find it on Amazon or on eBay, and because it's a popular item, you never really have to worry about no used ones being available.

E = EASY (TO USE)
This part of the acronym is probably the least important to some people, but to me it's really important because I like to be able to train others how to use the gear, even if they're just starting out. I have a system (that's based on my 3 KIT PLANS) that uses gear AND techniques on 3 specific learning levels: Minimal, Basic & Advanced, and each level requires increasing expertise, but they're all totally do-able."