Now, depending on what kind of camera you used to shoot your movie, you may have to import your footage a few different ways. If you are using a camera that records to Mini DV tape, you'll need to connect your camera to a computer via firewire cable. Once your computer has detected the device, you're ready to import. Simply rewind your tape to the beginning and begin the capture process in your preferred editing suite. As the tape plays back, the footage will be captured and converted to a digital format that you will be able to edit.
If you are working with a digital camera such as a Flip pocket cam or DSLR camera, importing will be a little simpler and faster than working with Mini DV tape. Most pocket cams come equipped with a USB port that you can plug into your computer. Once the camera is detected, the camera essentially works like a removable hard drive. Select the clips you've recorded and save them wherever you like. From there, you can import those files into your preferred editing suite. DSLR cameras are similar to Flip cams, but instead of using a built-in USB port, DSLR cameras capture footage onto SD cards. Simply insert your SD card into a card reader and save the files wherever you like.
Once you've imported your footage into your editing suite, you can add music, cut, trim, and arrange, the clips anyway you like. Once you have the footage just the way you want, it's time to export. Most editing suites allow you to export your project as .mov, .mp4, .wmv, and .avi files, among other formats. From there, you can export your project to DVD, upload it to YouTube or any other video sharing site, and voila- you've made your first movie! The past few blogs may not have sounded like much, but learning through experience is so much more powerful than learning in a classroom. Try it and you'll see- now go out and make a movie!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Student Filmmaker: Part 2- Produciton
Now that you've got everything in place, it's time to start filming! This is where all your hard work and planning is going to pay off. It's been said that an entire movie is created with the first step: preproduction. This is completely true! All that is left is to film and follow the step-by-step directions you've left yourself via the script, storyboard, and location scoutings.
One of the main things to keep in mind while on the set is equipment. It's always a good idea to keep a checklist with you at all times so you can keep up with everything! Keeping a checklist is a great way to make sure you're not caught without something essential to filming the scene like a camera or fresh batteries!
Before shooting your scene, talk with your actors and find out their personal styles. Some actors are fresh right out of the gate and can deliver strong performances on the first few takes. Other actors take a few minutes to get warmed up and may begin to deliver later on in the shoot. As a director, it's insightful knowledge to know how your actors work under various conditions in order to get the best performance from them.
If you are a perfectionist, you'll probably want to shoot the same scene many times. Multiple takes is one of the beautiful things about filmmaking. If someone messes up, you can just start again with the push of a button. However, as a director, you need to keep an eye on the moral of your cast and crew. If everyone is beginning to show signs of tiredness, it may be a good idea to stop filming for a few minutes and take a break.
Another thing to keep an eye on (or have a script supervisor keep an eye on) is continuity. If your film is standard narrative-style movie, continuity is what makes everything make sense. Observe things like the 180 degree rule and the locations of props and costumes. If something changes between takes, the camera will notice.
Once you have all your footage, it's time to take it into the editing room!
One of the main things to keep in mind while on the set is equipment. It's always a good idea to keep a checklist with you at all times so you can keep up with everything! Keeping a checklist is a great way to make sure you're not caught without something essential to filming the scene like a camera or fresh batteries!
Before shooting your scene, talk with your actors and find out their personal styles. Some actors are fresh right out of the gate and can deliver strong performances on the first few takes. Other actors take a few minutes to get warmed up and may begin to deliver later on in the shoot. As a director, it's insightful knowledge to know how your actors work under various conditions in order to get the best performance from them.
If you are a perfectionist, you'll probably want to shoot the same scene many times. Multiple takes is one of the beautiful things about filmmaking. If someone messes up, you can just start again with the push of a button. However, as a director, you need to keep an eye on the moral of your cast and crew. If everyone is beginning to show signs of tiredness, it may be a good idea to stop filming for a few minutes and take a break.
Another thing to keep an eye on (or have a script supervisor keep an eye on) is continuity. If your film is standard narrative-style movie, continuity is what makes everything make sense. Observe things like the 180 degree rule and the locations of props and costumes. If something changes between takes, the camera will notice.
Once you have all your footage, it's time to take it into the editing room!
Student Filmmaker: Part 1- Preproduction
So you want to make a movie, eh? This blog is aimed specifically at college kids who don't go to a film school, but want to start making movies. Film history classes can be boring, although they can teach you what's already been done so you can find ways to be more original. If you've yet to take a production class, this will be a great start!
First thing's first: you're going to need a script. You can't make a movie without a script, however, you don't need a 190 page feature length script to get started. Most college filmmakers start out with 5-10 minute short films to get their feet wet. As a general rule, most scripts play out to approximately 60 seconds of film per page. Because film scripts are formatted differently than any other document, it's not as much writing as you may think. For more information on writing and formatting scripts, I suggest you check out http://celtx.com/#/desktop/nav-overview There you can download the best free preproduction software money can buy! When using Celtx, you can write your script without formatting worries because everything is formatted automatically.
Once you have the script, it's time to begin preproduction. This includes storyboarding, lining the script, casting actors, securing equipment, and location scouting. Storyboarding is the process in which you map out every single shot in your movie. There is some storyboarding software on the market that allows you to easily create your scenes in 3D, but for us college kids, it's usually a good idea to draw them out on paper. It doesn't have to be beautiful and artistic. Just enough to jog your memory of the exact shots you envisioned while on set. Lining the script is drawing vertical lines through your script to indicate which character the camera is on during the dialogue. The length of the lines also indicates the length of the shot. (Great if you're using more than one camera).
Once your script is complete, you can begin location scouting. It's a good idea to find specific places you want to shoot before you get too much further in the preproduction process. Don't be afraid to call whoever you need to to make sure you're allowed to shoot there! You wouldn't want to be asked to leave in the middle of a scene, now would you?
Casting actors can take some time, so it's a good idea to start that early if you're working with a deadline. A great place to find local actors in the southeast is http://excoboard.com/THESOUTHERNCASTINGCALL There you can find a wide range of actors to fit any role you have in mind.
Once your script is written, locations confirmed, storyboard completed, and movie is cast, it's time to move into production!
First thing's first: you're going to need a script. You can't make a movie without a script, however, you don't need a 190 page feature length script to get started. Most college filmmakers start out with 5-10 minute short films to get their feet wet. As a general rule, most scripts play out to approximately 60 seconds of film per page. Because film scripts are formatted differently than any other document, it's not as much writing as you may think. For more information on writing and formatting scripts, I suggest you check out http://celtx.com/#/desktop/nav-overview There you can download the best free preproduction software money can buy! When using Celtx, you can write your script without formatting worries because everything is formatted automatically.
Once you have the script, it's time to begin preproduction. This includes storyboarding, lining the script, casting actors, securing equipment, and location scouting. Storyboarding is the process in which you map out every single shot in your movie. There is some storyboarding software on the market that allows you to easily create your scenes in 3D, but for us college kids, it's usually a good idea to draw them out on paper. It doesn't have to be beautiful and artistic. Just enough to jog your memory of the exact shots you envisioned while on set. Lining the script is drawing vertical lines through your script to indicate which character the camera is on during the dialogue. The length of the lines also indicates the length of the shot. (Great if you're using more than one camera).
Once your script is complete, you can begin location scouting. It's a good idea to find specific places you want to shoot before you get too much further in the preproduction process. Don't be afraid to call whoever you need to to make sure you're allowed to shoot there! You wouldn't want to be asked to leave in the middle of a scene, now would you?
Casting actors can take some time, so it's a good idea to start that early if you're working with a deadline. A great place to find local actors in the southeast is http://excoboard.com/THESOUTHERNCASTINGCALL There you can find a wide range of actors to fit any role you have in mind.
Once your script is written, locations confirmed, storyboard completed, and movie is cast, it's time to move into production!
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