The Man Behind the Camera
I graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2018 with a BS in Chemistry with a Biochemistry focus and minors in Biology and Film. I grew up in Huntsville, AL where I started my experience in film with Minecraft Let's Play YouTube videos and production of Raider Nation News at my high school. My senior year, I started the vlog channel prior to moving to Birmingham, AL for college. After starting college, I got involved producing videos for my honors program, partnering with Nicholas Bolin and Kristin Deneen to found This Month In Science. After winning the 2015 UAB IT's National Cyber Security Awareness Month Video Contest, I was hired by the UAB HR department to produce official video content for the University. I have also worked for the UAB Chemistry Department editing a variety of supplemental lecture videos for General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, as well as producing a new Organic Chemistry Lab Protocol Video Series. After completing my first semester of my film minor, I started Scruffy Chandelier Productions, an official production name to tie together all of my scattered video work and projects. The name comes from a GroupMe Nicholas came up with for our friend group, and it felt only fitting that my productions name stand for some of the people that supported me the most in my pursuit of video production.
The Equipment Behind the Productions
The most common inquiries I get from other aspiring filmmakers I speak with have something to do with the brands and models of equipment I utilize. In fact, as a filmmaker myself, I often find the equipment used by filmmakers and YouTubers I admire a focal point of my own curiosity. So if you have any questions on that, here's the equipment I personally use to make my videos. Please note, I am not sponsored by any companies that supply this equipment. This is simply the equipment I use to produce my videos. (Click on the photos to get more information.)
Cameras
GoPro HERO5 Black
iPhone 5S
Sony HXR-NX70U NXCAM
Panasonic HC-VX870K
4K Ultra HD Camcorder
Unfortunately, I don't own my own Sony NXCAM, but this is the camera available for checkout by film students at UAB.
I use this camera primarily for work, my film class projects, and official Scruffy Chandelier Productions content, including documentaries.
While an iPhone 5S by no means produces peak film quality, I do use the camera on this device for a lot of my vlog channel footage.
The GoPro HERO5 is the newest addition to my camera collection. This camera is very durable and produces stunning 4K film.
I use this camera primarily for vlog channel action footage and some time lapse footage.
I've used this camera for several of my early work projects and SciTech projects, including This Month In Science. While footage quality is decent, the sensor overheats very quickly, adding a weird yellow tint.
Tripods
Honestly, most of the tripods I use are acquired second hand from thrift stores and yard sales. While I am a firm believer in the use of quality tripods, I have found that quality tripods can still be found used, and for a much cheaper price. In addition, I've found that collecting various tripod parts to assemble customizable tripods can also be very useful. Tripods I utilize most often include the SLIK SM300 tripod for casual projects and a hybrid tripod composed primarily of Visitor parts for projects requiring extra stability. Other tripods I have at my disposal include the Targus TG-5060TR, the Camera Fluid Head, and a Star D tripod, as well as a variety of small, off-brand tripods for the GoPro HERO5.
Microphones
Blue Snowball
USB Microphone
Blue Yeti USB Microphone
This USB microphone is fantastic! I've used this microphone for a wide variety of projects, including This Month In Science and Morbid Memories, This is my microphone of choice for all voiceover work for work, SciTech, and independent video projects.
While I do not own this particular USB microphone, I've used it for a few projects early on in my film career, including early episodes of This Month In Science. This is also Nicholas's microphone of choice for Morbid Memories recordings.
Other Equipment
LaCie Rugged 500GB Portable Hard Drive
Seagate Expansion 5TB External Hard Drive
Cavalry CACE Series 1TB External Hard Drive
I use this hard drive primarily as my travel hard drive. With USB 3.0 and Firewire 800 connections and 7200 rpm disc speeds, this hard drive allows for fast file transfers and data storage. While I use this hard drive for travel, it does need to be stored in a case, as the metal center is malleable and has the potential to cave in.
I use this hard drive primarily for backups. It's an older model hard drive, but it works well with my Mac laptop and desktops, though larger backups can sometimes take an hour or longer. Though a bit slow with only USB 2.0 and Firewire 800 connections, this hard drive is very durable and useful.
I use this hard drive primarily for my video file backups for all of my video projects. This is one of the cheapest external hard drives on the market, offering high storage capacity and fast transfer speeds with USB 3.0 connection. The data recovery plan offered provides a good safety net as well.
Fancierstudio Two
Umbrella Lighting Kit
Neewer Wired Softbox Flash Light Diffuser
Happyjoy Adjustable Backdrop Support and Green Screen
For the price, this lighting kit is phenomenal! It's very portable, and provides adequate supplemental light for many scenarios. I've used this kit for several Scruffy Chandelier Production pieces, including the SAACS Demo Video Series.
This green screen and stand are a new addition to my equipment collection. Overall, the stand is fairly flimsy, but very portable and will support the weight of the green screen. Green screen projects I've done in the past have been done with green painted walls or green screens tacked to walls, but this setup seems adequate for amateur work.
This soft box is a new addition to my equipment collection, but it's proven to be a valuable addition to the Fancierstudio Lighting Kit. The soft box light is very portable, and setup is easy. The switch on the cord is easy to access. Bulb not included.
Editing Software
Final Cut Pro
Adobe Premiere Pro
iMovie
Audacity 1.2.5
While I do use Adobe Audition for some projects, I primarily use Audacity for recording and editing audio for most of my independent projects and YouTube channels.
I prefer this version of Audacity for the editing features.
While I only seldom use iMovie now, this was my primary editing software when I started making videos in high school for RNN and my vlog channel.
I use Adobe Premiere Pro primarily for work projects with the UAB Chemistry Department and the UAB Human Resources Department. For Adobe projects,
I also use Adobe Audition and Adobe After Effects.
Final Cut Pro is my primary editing software for most projects, including the vlog, Morbid Memories, and Scruffy Chandelier Productions content. This is my preferred editing software.
FAQ Page
Q: When did you first become interested in film?
A: I mean, like most people, I've always enjoyed films, but I guess I really became interested in film back in the early stages of the beta release of Minecraft, when a few friends and I wanted to start a Minecraft podcast on YouTube. I had a really slow Windows laptop at the time that could barely even run the game on the lowest specs, and all we had at our disposal to film and edit with were the free version of Bandicam and Windows Movie Maker. Even with low grade software, I found I really enjoyed the process of using visual media to shape, develop, and deliver a story, and things just moved forward from there.
Q: Why the name Scruffy Chandelier Productions?
A: As mentioned in my bio, the name comes from an old GroupMe name that Nicholas Bolin came up with randomly. When picking an official production name, I had two things in mind I wanted the name to represent. For one, I wanted to ensure brand recognition, and "scruffy chandelier" is certainly unique. Second, I wanted a name that meant something to me, not just a random mashup of words. My friends in this GroupMe have been so supportive of my film endeavors over the years, and even were the driving force behind me taking the leap to change my major/minor tract and pursue an independent minor in film. In the end, no other brand name felt as right as Scruffy Chandelier Productions.
Q: How many YouTube channels do you have?
A: This gets to be a little bit of a tricky question depending on how you define if a YouTube channel is "mine". Excluding channels I post on but do not own, such as the UAB SAACS and UABSTHonors YouTube channels, I have a total of six YouTube channels, four of which are active and highlighted on this website. Inactive channels include my old Minecraft channel and the InstructionalVideos123 channel.
Q: Why so many channels? Why not just consolidate all content on one Youtube channel?
A: The simple answer is that each channel fits a different vision and is meant to appeal to different audiences. Combining all content on one channel just doesn't feel right. I know I personally would be less likely to subscribe to one channel with so many diverging focuses.
Q: Why should I watch your content?
A: Check it out, and if you like what you see, watch more! If you don't like what you see, no need to watch more. Hopefully you'll like what I do, but not all content is for everyone!
Q: How much money do you get from YouTube?
A: None. Money I generate for my work with film comes from my jobs at UAB, not from my work on YouTube. I make all of my YouTube videos for the joy of creating content and trying out new things. I think the ability to encapsulate pieces of my life or stories I want to share in visual media is an incredible thing, and I'm always excited whenever my work with film captures the interest of others.
Q: I've got an idea for a video I think it'd be cool if you could do; how do I communicate that?
A: Feel free to contact me through the email portal at the bottom of the Home page or email me directly at rjmurph197@gmail.com. I'm always open to new ideas and suggestions for content, just realize I don't always have the time to see all ideas through. If you're interested in hiring me for a specific job or project, we can discuss details for that as well.
Q: Isn't this a little long for an FAQ page?
A: Yep, that's definitely fair, I can be a bit wordy...
