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!