Research: How to make a short film

 

                  Welcome back my blog reader! After watching this video, I was able to receive various tips on how to make a short film and what to keep in mind before/while making one. For starters, some good information that I gathered while watching the video was that for instance one writing advice that I would like to keep in mind is that the speaker in the video explained that “If first you want to go left, go right instead” which means that whatever I think should happen next is probably what the audience is expecting that is going to happen therefore I should do the opposite of what is expected in order to keep that element of surprise and maintain the viewer engage. For Instance, if there is a scene where a jump scare is expected, I should do the opposite which is to do nothing and save that wonderful jump scare for another scene where the audience is not expecting it and are caught off guard thus maintaining that element of surprise. Additionally, it was explained that you must think realistically about what resources you have and that you are actually able to use instead of trying to create something that is out of reach which can end up causing problems later. It was also mentioned, that one of the most important things to keep in mind when writing a short film is to let the theme of the film guide your story as that will help dictate what is going to happen next as well as it will serve as a template for how the characters will act. Another writing tip that was mentioned in the video was to take consideration to casting when it comes to the writing aspect of the film as when you know who you are able to cast, it is important to write to the strengths and weaknesses of the actors as it will aid the film to be as realistic as possible and engage the audience. In addition, it was mentioned to consider the budget and the number of actors before writing as well as to make sure your story revolves around the resources you have. Furthermore, another tip was to consider your limitations when creating your story such as the gear you have access to and work around that. Also, when it comes to production, in the video it was explained that preparation is crucial and when you think that you are prepared that is when you should prepare some more. For instance, making a list of what shots are going to be used, as the director you should know the script better than anyone else, and it is also very important to storyboard the film as all of this together will serve as a guide when you start the filming process and it will give you space to make changes based on what you have if need it, instead of working with nothing planned. Moreover, it is important to understand the tone that is going to be applied in the film and it is important to stay true to it through the camera angles, wardrobe, lighting, location, etc... Due to that if all of these do not coordinate with the tone of the film, it will cause the film to not be able to convey its message and it will lead the viewer to feel confused as you are just jumping from one tone to the other. It was suggested in the video that if you are unsure of how to set the tone of the film such as for thriller which is what I am doing, the solution is to go watch a film that has a similar tone for instance a thriller movie and analyze how they did it as a source of inspiration and guideline. It was mentioned, that when it comes to casting it is crucial that you find actors who are able to fulfill what you expect for the film and for them to be hundred percent committed to the role due to that if they are not, it will reflect on the screen which will make the film less realistic and less believable for the viewer which in the end will lead the audience to be less engage in the film. Further, it was mentioned that sound is vital to the film, if you don’t have gear to make sure the sound is of good quality, it is suggested to write something that does not require too much dialogue and film in relative quite locations. In addition, a tip for post-production that truly stuck with me as I am working by myself is that if you are working by yourself, it is best to give yourself time to step away from it after you have been working on it for a while due to that at that point you are not seeing it clearly anymore. Therefore, it is best to step away from it for a little while and then come back to it in order to be able to see it with a much clearer vision. It was also recommended to show it to an individual who has not seen it as it will give you another perspective and possibly shed some light on little changes that could be made. Moreover, my takeaway from the video is that there are multiple aspects to consider and keep in mind before creating a short film. I envision that the tips/advice given in the video will help me through my short film making process as these tips provided me with valuable information that I will keep in mind and apply when I begin the process of planning and filming my short film. Well, this is my cue to leave, until the next time reader!