Two years ago I shot a feature film called Above the Knee (it’s about a guy who wants to amputate his leg), and it was as low-budget as it gets. We were only three people behind camera, and I limited the entire production to one lens and one light: a Samyang Xeen 35mm T1.5 and an Aputure 600x. In this video I break down why we made those choices, how the tiny crew setup actually worked day-to-day, and how the limitations shaped the look and the process. Because we had to shoot fast (around 120 scenes over 20 days, across multiple locations), my priority was being nimble and fitting everything in one car. I operated camera, shot handheld with an EasyRig, and I didn’t even use an external monitor—just the EVF. Sticking to one 35mm meant no time wasted on lens decisions, more consistent lens character, and a more dynamic style because if I wanted a close-up, I had to physically move in. For lighting, I exposed to ambient (windows/practicals) and then used the 600x to lift the scene without making it feel “lit.” I shot nearly everything around T2—wide enough to feel cinematic, but not so soft that it falls apart. The big takeaway is that leaning into low budget (instead of trying to emulate a larger set) often makes the shoot smoother, and the film can still look surprisingly expensive.