How to Begin Materializing Your First Film
July 25th, 2010 Filed under: Movies — Movie Critic
If you want to be the next James Cameron or Stephen Spielberg, you may find it’s an uphill battle. But as long as you have a good idea and the desire to bring it to the big screen, you don’t need a multi-million dollar budget in order to become a filmmaker. There are ways to make your movie on the cheap.
To begin, focus on your story. This is where you have the most control over your film. This is also where you are most likely to engage your audience regardless of the quality of the end product. As always, a good story well-told is the essence of a successful film.
Think big, but not too big. You have limitations to what you can achieve on the video or silver screen. Keep in mind what you will actually be capable of achieving on your budget level.
Use free or cheap things as often as you can. If you will have to spend money, do it carefully. There are lots of free software programs out there for editing video, audio and even special effects. Use free lighting wherever possible. And rent equipment rather than buy. All of this will allow you to focus on your story.
You have a limited number of resources out there. Once your script is finished, break it down into scenes and then break those scenes down into individual shots. Each shot should be planned as comprehensively as possible ahead of time.
Keep your movie safe by shooting as many alternate angles of scenes as you can. Once you’ve whittled down your scene, figure out what angles you plan to shoot from, what crew and talent you will need to employ and try to keep the amount of resources needed per scene down as much as possible.
If you fail to plan, you will plan to fail. The old adage holds true especially in the realm of filmmaking, where time literally does equal money and everyone is swimming in stress and anxiety trying to bring your one true vision to fruition on the big screen and in front of an audience.
You don’t have to wrestle with the big dogs. You can succeed as a filmmaker without all the fancy school education that they have to go through (along with the student loans that come along with it). Don’t go that route, when you can easily learn just from doing it. Live the dream.
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