2. CASTING.
Invite friends and neighbors to be stars then add some extras to fill in the
atmosphere. You'll need a few to hold things and move things (gaffers & grips) too.
While you're at it get everybody to sign a release in case somebody gets mad
at the way they look in the movie (law suit?) and in case you get a chance
to sell the movie! (It could happen???)
3. FIND LOCATIONS.
Keep it simple. Some Oscar-Winning movies have used a single location
in an apartment. Have plenty of electric outlets and room for the shooting after the
camera, lights and wires are jammed in place.
4. EQUIPMENT.
You have a camera. Handheld shooting is too shakey for a decent movie.
A simple "stick" tripod will do -- and a borrowed shopping cart can be a workable dolly.
Do a little research about lighting and get some if you don't already have it.
Mikes! Unless you're just playing, the mike on the camera simply won't do the job. Your camera has a mike jack, get a good mike with a long enough cable (you may need an exension) and plug it in. A broom handle can hold the mike near the actors when they're talking, that's all an expensive boom mike really does.
5. PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT.
Go to your script and number each scene. If you have more than one
location, make a page for each, then list the numbered scenes that will be shot there. Leave
enough room between the scenes to list the actors and wardrobe needed for that scene, and any special props.
4. THE SHOOT.
Everything is gathered together at the location. The electricity is hooked up,
the "stage" is set up, the actors are in their places. The camera is ready, the lights are on,
the mike is plugged in and the sound is ok. The director calls the sequence.
DIRECTOR:
"EVERYBODY READY?"
If something needs fixing, whoever is responsible will say so and everybody
will stand by until it's fixed. Otherwise the sequence continues.
*QUIET ON THE SET!"
Everything becomes still and silent.
"ROLL CAMERA!"
The camera person responds, "Rolling."
"SLATE"
Someone holds a piece of paper in front of the camera showing the scene number
and take number, says "Scene 1, Take 1," and quickly abandons the set. (There are all
sorts of Slates or Clap-Boards do do this professionally, but for now, a letterhead size
sheet of paper will do.)
"ACTION!"
The team performs the scene.
Even with a handheld camcorder, at this moment a process begins that only cinema can deliver:
"CUT"
The action and camera stops. At the end of the scene -- or during the scene if the director wants to stop and do another take, the slate will change to, and the slate person will announce, "Scene 1, Take 2." There can be any number of scenes and any number of takes.
"THAT'S A WRAP!"
Eventually, it's all captured on film, tape or digital memory. The shooting is over.
5. THE WRAP PARTY.
The weekend, week, month or more is over and the "productoin company" for
this movie is closed forever. So, what do we do? We party and go home with a hatful of new friends and a lifetime of memories.
6. POST PRODUCTION.
The movie "in the can" is like the baby in the womb. Now the birth of the movie begins. There are many FREE programs available on The Net allowing you to play your digital movies and allow you to edit them. You may have to look around on Yahoo or Google for this.
A, View all of your footage and select the takes that you think will tell the story best. Copy and paste them all together in sequence.
B. Do the Opening Credits with the Movie Title, Stars, up front. At the end list eveyone who did anything - especially the ones that poured the coffee or ran out for pizza. If you need more details, watch a movie and imitate the opening and closing. (I like to cut and paste that FBI warning about pirating the movie at the beginnin of the ones I make. Just for laffs.)
7. WORLD PREMIER:
Find a restaurant or similar venue that will show your movie on their television
screen, set a date, advertise and promote it everywhere your budget allows. Invite the cast
to take their place in up-front "seats of honor." Let the whole world see your new movie.
8. PAY YOUR CAST AND CREW.
Everybody gets a copy of the movie.
9. DISTRIBUTE YOUR MOVIE ON THE INTERNET.
There are books on this. Also, I plan to have http://www.hollystarpictures.com provide this service. Check it out -- it may already be available!
10. START YOUR NEXT PRODUCTION. Use the experience gained from the one you just finished and make the next one better.
In case you didn't know -- the old 1920's films (pronounced "filums") of Charlie Chaplin, Mack Sennet and others were made pretty much as I've outlined here. Steven Spielberg made his first movies as a kid using similar methods. You can literally make this your film school by making pictures this way, learning from them, and increasing your skill and knowledge to grow and develop in show-biz.
IF YOU REALLY WANT JOIN THE "GROWNUPS" and BIG BOYS - Move on up to real movie production -- 35mm film is the only REAL way to make a feature film. All of the PROFESSIONAL skills and tricks of the movie industry are taught both online and offline at Dov S-S Simmen's -- http://www.webfilmschool.com
(I don't get paid for this plug, it's just the best I can offer for you to get going! If you want to know how the industry works -- or you've got a couple-hundred-thousand or a couple-million to invest in a movie production, Dov can help you do it the right way from start to finish!)
On the other hand you might want to check this out --
10-reasons-you-shouldnt-go-to-film-school!
See you in the movies!
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