Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings

If a person wants to share their own perspective on life, shooting a short film is the best way to reveal their vision. The short film resembles a crystal reflecting the self-contained world contained within it. The plot may be about the Arab Spring or human happiness, but it should attract attention and tell something about the world. Contrary to popular misconception, making a short film takes as much time and effort as a full-length film, and you'll have just as much fun in the process.

Steps

1. 1 Write a plot that expresses the main idea of ​​your story. Shooting is impossible without a script, and this is not a simple formality, but the basis of the basics. As you draft your script, you must constantly strive to ensure that it contains something attractive ' for the audience. For example, if you are preparing a plot for drama lovers, there must be a lot of dramatic moments in it, a lot of humor for comedy lovers, etc.
2. 2 Watch some documentaries. Having decided on the type of your film, it is worth analyzing several successful short films in order to capture the generally accepted norms. There has to be some kind of narrative, and most amateur filmmakers make the mistake of forgetting that.
3. 3 Write a rough draft of the screenplay.
   • Summary of the plot.
   • Purpose / purpose of the film.
   • General outline of the film.In general terms, you need to describe each act of your film to make sure it includes all the components you need to make a quality short film. The draft of a good short film is usually less than 300 words.
4. 4 The main scenes of the film. Review the big shot and highlight key scenes.
5. 5 Develop character motivation. Each character must be a personality driven by certain motives, otherwise he will look unnatural.
6. 6 Include a dramatic scene in the story. The film should have one common scene that affects all the characters.
7. 7 Create a sequential list of movie frames.
8. 8 Storyboard each scene by sketching graphic sketches to visually plan scenes before shooting.
9. 9 Show your finished script to friends, family, teachers, etc.etc.
10. 10 Get everything you need ready. A little brainstorming session will help predict possible complications that may be encountered during filming in order to prepare means and ways to counter. Do not limit yourself to just technical questions, and try to anticipate complications in the course of expressing the plot.
11. 11 Prepare for filming. Select equipment for video recording. There are many different offers on the market, and the process of choosing a technique can take months or even years, but you must purposefully continue your search. Make sure the video recording equipment is compatible with your camera and video processing equipment.
12. 12 Get familiar with the basic functions and test the equipment in operation. Learn how to turn on / off recording, fast forward / rewind and play a recording, as well as use other functions that may be useful to you. It is best to postpone the use of special effects for the second or third film.
13. 13 Choose a topic - what you are going to make a film about. Remember that your project needs a holistic story. Think about who, what and where you will be filming. Briefly summarize the main idea of ​​the story. If you find it difficult to come up with a plot, read short stories to awaken inspiration.
14. 14 Type your script. Make sure you develop different personalities for your characters. A film in which everyone speaks and acts the same way is unlikely to be interesting to anyone.
15. 15 Draw the plot in the form of a long series of frames that you intend to use. Don't worry too much about creating the final version. Now it's more important to make a general sketch and write down your thoughts and ideas, and during filming you can deviate from this plan. Thanks to these drawings, you will also be able to determine if you are able to convey your idea. visually, and not due to the dialogues of the characters. Remember that the viewer watches the movie first and then listens.
16. 16 Find unemployed people willing to work hard on the set. Provide food for the entire team, and grateful people will be ready to work longer if necessary.
17. 17 Create a schedule. A clear timeline will allow you to concentrate on the implementation of the project.
    • Buy a diary.
    • Find out what days your troupe members are free.
    • Set days for main scenes filming.
    • Shoot the interview scenes right away.
18. 18 Shoot your video. If you want to talk about your pet, film it eating, sleeping and playing. You can shoot with soundtrack. If deadlines are tight, consider shooting with two cameras at the same time - the efficiency will also double.
19. 19 Filming interviews.
    • Prepare questions. The easiest way is to write down and use as a core the main words for interrogative sentences: who, what, why, when, where, how and when?
    • When the camera is on, the person should behave naturally, while maintaining openness and honesty.
    • Talk to the person you are interviewing before shooting so that he gets used to you and feels more at ease in your presence.
20. 20 Keep a diary. Write in your diary how the shooting is progressing, what mistakes were made, and how they can be prevented in subsequent shots.
21. 21 Review all of the recorded footage, making notes for each shot. Write down how it worked, what technical problems were found. Such recordings will not take much time, but they will save a lot of effort during the editing stage.
22. 22 Edit the movie. Many camcorders have limited editing functions and no special effects. Learn to cut out fragments of footage, join them together and add a sound track (voice of the announcer or musical accompaniment). To finalize your movie, read the instructions for your camcorder or software (such as iMovie). You can then use a camcorder or DVD-Rom with recording function to make copies of the movie for friends and other viewers. If you've shot a digital film, the final cut can be sent by email. The digital movie can also be uploaded to YouTube or another video sharing site. To do this, you need to know in advance what digital formats the corresponding site works with, otherwise you will not be able to upload your video.

Tips

• Let your imagination run wild!
• Learn to edit. This knowledge will come in handy not only at the editing stage. During the filming, you will know that the shot is good or needs reshooting.
• Ask your viewers for honest critical opinions. Try to hear what they are eager to talk about in order to make the appropriate changes that will make your film stronger. Don't be afraid to refine, even if it requires additional filming and editing.
• Make several copies of your footage.
• Use a storyboard for each scene to determine which angle to position the camera in each dialogue or action. Don't be afraid to embody creative ideas. Check out H.C. Potter's directories to see how you can masterfully create a mood by changing your camera angle from a non-standard angle.
• Get insured.

Warnings

• Obtain permits for all equipment.
• Find someone who can be consulted on the operation of the equipment.