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People who enjoyed reading this: Jenoki, yghartsyrt, soft, sAMsKi, Roshi, jogn, dach, monty, atum, bodo, bbwax
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I've been thinking for weeks and weeks now, pretty much all the time, about making a short film. I've got a story and a little skill with Premier, but I know nothing about anything else about making films.
I'm thinking I need
a) someone to write the script in such a way that it's actually useful to anyone else
b) a storyboard drawing person maybe?
c) a cameraman or two
d) a soundguy (easy enough!)
e) a camera (no idea what - but I'm assuming my Handycam wont work)
f) locations
g) money (arts council?)
h) two old cars
i) lights
j) generator for filming outside, maybe?
h) better laptop than I've got now
j) consumables
k) help with distribution (and an idea of where to actually distribute it to?!?)
l) actors
What am I missing? Except everything?
I've got the time and resources, to a degree - I've got an office, computers, a good list of music and PR contacts but this stuff is all new to me so I dont really even know what I need to get to get this project rolling...
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02/29/08
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sAMsKi
if you super serious about doing this flame, i know a lass in Cambridge, or with lots of contacts there who might be able to hook you up with some people. like funders and shit. i dunno.................
02/29/08
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theflame
Roshi said: "Oh, I just found it kind of funny how the director is so full of himself when he's living in his parent's basement at 27.
No offense intended.  "
None taken - but isnt that a spoof story anyway? I hope to God it is...
sAMsKi said: "if you super serious about doing this flame, i know a lass in Cambridge, or with lots of contacts there who might be able to hook you up with some people. like funders and shit. i dunno................."
Yeah, definitely wanna do it, but I gotta put in some groundwork first I think, and get a proper plan. I'm gonna approach it like I approached starting a business - find out everything I gotta know, what I'm gonna need, how much I'll need and come up with a real tight and clear vision of what I'm doing. Right now, it's all kinda there, but a bit vague. Gotta put it down on paper I think, get some shit together over the next month or so and THEN start bothering 'real' film-making-people. I'll hit you up, if that's ok, when I've got a bit more of a clue and get her details? My missus has an uncle who was some kinda famous director in the seventies (apparently) so I'm gonna meet with him soon, get some ideas.
You know what the biggest concern is right now? People thinking it's a stupid idea. Like, with my music, I don't care if anyone thinks it sucks, I'm comfortable with what I make, I've just grown to not care. With this, I kinda think I'm gonna look like a noobie when dealing with people who know what theyre doing, and that, even worse, the film will look like it's made by a noobie. I gotta kinda learn to trust in my own judgment and follow what I want even when dealing with people who know much more than me about what they're doing. it'd be easy to have, say, a cameraman say "yeah, this shot sucks, try it like this" and me to think "i liked it, but, well, he knows his shit, so ok"...I just gotta be a bit brave balancing that shit I think..
02/29/08
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hello6am
i have experience with graphics, storyboarding and 2d/3d animation - if you wanted a hand storyboarding I could help most likely, although I'm short on time there's nothing to lose in at least discussing it. can skype about it.
here's some grumble I made at uni: link
but yeah - absolutely ironing out the script and storyboarding - that is the most important thing on a budget really...basically "finishing" the film before you even hit record.
02/29/08
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hello6am
oh, also - if you're after a camera I would say you should heavily consider the Canon HV20. My bro just got one..they're incredible for the money.
02/29/08
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tantan
dach said: "why hide the goodies in a mail, there are obviously a couple people interested in following this topic"
heh, okay. Point by point.
1. Script usefulness. To make life easier for your actors and anyone else who comes on board, follow the standard format that you get with any of the millions of screenwriting software tools. Courier, act breaks, very terse scenario descriptions, centered dialog, etc. You might consult with an experienced writer or two, however, for story and character advice.
2. Cameras and operators. How big a production are you talking? For very small films one camera & operator should be enough. Will you design the shots? Or are you leaving that to your camera operator? Decide up front how much control you want over this. In my experience, on very small films, directors very typically handle the camera as well. Regarding the camera, cheap vid-cams can certainly do the track but it depends what you're looking for.
For example: recent sub-$1000 hi-def cams from Sony, Canon, and Panasonic are typically up to job, but you need to load them up with proper accessories to get a more filmic look. Their lenses are small and cheap, and don't give you depth of focus. But, even when you start paying for the mid-range "pro-sumer" cameras, you still don't necessarily buy much in the way of image / lens quality. What you get, the more you spend, is more standard professional level features on-board the camera. For example, XLR ins, interchangeable or at least expandable lens support, much better manual control over things like focus and zoom. For myself, I bought a $900 consumer high-def to which you can attach high quality SLR lenses, and into which I can run external mics -- and that can run at 30 fps (which you can then step down to 24 fps, if you intend to distribute on to DVD or film).
3. Power: You only need generators if you have any equipment that's not battery powered. The majority of professional field recording and film equipment can run on batteries, ie. mixers, phantom, cameras, etc. You can get battery powered lights as well. Personally I prefer to underlight than overlight; modern cameras can handle low-light situations pretty well. I only use very small battery powered light sources even for night shoots.
4. Money? Maybe, but there are so many people out there who are passionately interested in film-making that you may end up with everything you need volunteered by like-minded folks.
5. Computer. Well, if you're shooting high def, I'd suggest something meatier than a laptop for the editorial work. You'll need a very large external hard drive (do not try to work with the built in hard drive). Consider software as well, if you will edit it. If you shoot 30fps, you'll need something like Final Cut Pro (NOT Express) or another tool that can handle it. Here as well, however, if you can find someone with some editorial experience and interest, then you may be able to save yourself from having to invest in all of this.
6. Sound. Best thing to do is capture sounds both directly in camera, and to a separate unit like a Zoom or MD recorder. In camera, when you're using good mics, can often be usable enough to use in the final mix -- this makes life SO much easier because you don't have to hunt and peck for matching bits of dialog for every cut that you use. However, you'll want the separate unit to get redundant recordings of dialog, and to pick up any location ambient or sound effects that you might need.
For extended dialog, where the words are key, you'll want good quality wireless lavalier mics. You can rent these, or again find a hobbyist who has some. Sennheiser makes some nice ones. For more action packed stuff, load up a good shotgun mic. You can mount mics on most cameras, but you'll get much better results if the mic is separate so that you can get it as close as possible to the action.
That's enough spewing for now. :-)
02/29/08
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tantan
oh, regarding generators -- a quiet alternative is a portable car jump kit. These can last up to a few hours, and run quietly off of their own internal battery (which you must charge up before using)
02/29/08
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room
what do you want to achieve at the end of it?
1. A film
2. A film that is half decent with something new to offer
the gulf between the 2 is very wide.... I've seen a couple of people I'm close to toss away a lot of time and money on making a film that at the end of the day - served to titillate a group of 8 friends (all of whom had bit parts) and was a waste of time to everyone else
02/29/08
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seanh
tantan said: "That's enough spewing for now. :-)"
jeeze, what kind of movies are you making? the kind JDG likes?
02/29/08
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tantan
lol
no, in that case I would have written "that's enough spooging for now"
02/29/08
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monty
Hey!
I write AND act!
I came up with a script outline.
A romantic comedy called: Snapping The G-String
Its about a wacky guy whos plays the banjo and has to sleep with a 100 "hot" women for a bet.
this of course leads to some hilarious but explicit fun.
After becoming disillusioned with casual sex he finds redemption by teaching a mute orphan how to play the banjo and eventually marries the orphans social worker.
02/29/08
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sAMsKi
all good theflame. contact me whenever. I admire your approach. as someone who spends most of his working life employing techniques to avoid thinking in a rigid / formulaic way about stuff, I'd say that being a first time director is a pretty unique and exciting prospect. Sure you'll fuck things up and I guess you might meet an ego or two along the way but I can tell you will just go with what you feel is right and I feel pretty confident all will be well. I think constraints in terms of kit and experience are generally positive...
02/29/08
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atum
sounds cool, hope things pan out for you
03/01/08
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jogn
hey wait, tantan, there's a 900 consumer cam that can do SLR lens attachments? Or did you get the attachments separately?
03/01/08
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theflame
room said: "what do you want to achieve at the end of it?
1. A film
2. A film that is half decent with something new to offer
the gulf between the 2 is very wide.... I've seen a couple of people I'm close to toss away a lot of time and money on making a film that at the end of the day - served to titillate a group of 8 friends (all of whom had bit parts) and was a waste of time to everyone else"
I'd like to take option two please Bob.
Tantan, that's really helpful advice, thanks a lot man!
hello6am: I'll check them out - though I'm actually thinking of hiring rather than buying camera, depending on how it works out. Might be cheaper just to buy one in the end, granted...
03/01/08
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tantan
jogn said: "hey wait, tantan, there's a 900 consumer cam that can do SLR lens attachments? Or did you get the attachments separately?"
yep! not sure about other brands, but the Canon HVs can be fairly easily adapted to use lens systems from pretty much any SLR system. You can DIY, or pay some amateurs to build an adapter for you. To build it yourself you need to order about $100 worth of parts, but having built it you're set if you already have a bunch of SLR lenses (which I do). There are high-end fully machined adapters as well, but then you're talking $500-$2000, which sort of defeats the purpose.
It's pretty straightforward to build it. If you're interested I can dig out some URLs on the subject. For my cam I am going to pay someone $150 to build the adapter for me.
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