Making A Short Film

[NextBigThing]

I've decided to make a short film in my free time, starring myself and a few others, and hope to enter it into some festivals afterwards.

Anybody have any experience with such?
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The King Does As He Pleases

[Gambit Jango]

I've done the 48 Hour Film festival before, but never made a real short film with an extensive planning. I do know how to do it however, from my many film classes. If you need any help or have any questions lemme know. My first advice to you is if you really want to get into a festival, hire real actors. Unless your friends have genuine talent, I'd keep them behind the camera or in small roles. There are TONS of students out there studying to be actors who are looking for cheap work, and you'll get much better performances.

and keep us updated
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"Soon comes the cold, and the night that never ends. Unless true men find the courage to fight it. Men whose hearts are fire." ~Melisandre

[RamRod]

I can't offer any adive, but I respect the ambition. Good luck.
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Adopt-a-Ram: Brian Quick - 11 receptions, 156 yards, 2 TDs

[Gambit Jango]

random advice:

1. Make sure your script is totally done before you start shooting. Like, without flaws. Make sure you have all the props, costumes, and locations ready too. You don't wanna have to reshoot things.
2. Be very very very careful about copyrights, trademarks.
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"Soon comes the cold, and the night that never ends. Unless true men find the courage to fight it. Men whose hearts are fire." ~Melisandre

[The Gnat]

Everything same with GJ as with me. Basically 48 hour film projects, blast to do, but you have very limited time frame. I'd say give yourself a time line, otherwise your project will/can end up stretching on and on.
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Gnat's Movie Reviews

[NextBigThing]

ill take any and all advice you guys have.

def will have a schedule, want it done sooner rather than later
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The King Does As He Pleases

[The Gnat]

1. Keep your script concise and the rule of thumb 1 minute per page is pretty accurate. It might not seem like it is going to be that long while you are filming it, but come post production, it will be around that.

2. Plan enough time for filming. With the 48 hour film project I've done three locations in one day, that took about from 8 AM until 9 PM to shoot for a 6.5 minute video (minus credits). Anything that's over 8 minutes plan multiple days for filming. Same with multiple locations, more locations you have, longer shooting time will take because you need to pack up and unpack at every new location.

3. The level of actor really changes the level of production. Seems fairly obvious, but the better the talent is it will make your production seem more professional. Now you probably don't have money to pay people, which is great for the 48 hour film project, but if you are in college or can find college students in the acting department to act for you, it will notably bump up the level of your film.

4. KISS - don't make it too big, keep it to something that you aren't going to have to fake. Basically if you don't know how to shoot something or how to create the effect (and you are planning to show this at a festival) don't try it here for the first time, you can experiment on your own time to get something to work. Same with script, like I said above, keep to to the point, and more to the point the better, and cut down on your dialog (general rule of thumb), there are indie films that get away with lots of voice over explaining the film and what is going on in the film, but it is a film, show the audience, don't tell the audience.
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Gnat's Movie Reviews

[NextBigThing]

[Gambit Jango]

I could read your script for you. I've been taking classes on script coverage, so I can help.
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"Soon comes the cold, and the night that never ends. Unless true men find the courage to fight it. Men whose hearts are fire." ~Melisandre

[NextBigThing]

[Gambit Jango]

Yeah go for it, I could use the practice
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"Soon comes the cold, and the night that never ends. Unless true men find the courage to fight it. Men whose hearts are fire." ~Melisandre

[Apodrocks]

I've made one short film, and I've got a question for those of you who have made one for the 48 hour film festival.

Do you have to supply your own camera? I'd make more short films, but I just don't have the access to the camera. My DSLR doesn't shoot video.
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^Packerbacker87 on the sig, thanks!

[mission27]

The hardest thing, in my experience, is finding reliable acting talent. Almost anyone you know who "acts" is going to suck at it and won't be committed to the project. That's just the reality of small/no-budget films. You'll also need to find some way to get high quality sound which can be nearly impossible without really, really good equipment. If you figure that out let me know.

BTW, I wouldn't worry about trademarks and copyrights personally. If your movie blows up big enough that anyone cares about it then you've made something of a name for yourself and the worst that can happen is you have to re-edit it or you can't get it distributed. But that's unlikely to happen anyway. If it does, you've got a great problem on your hands.
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[NextBigThing]

NBT will play one of the two characters, hopefully I dont suck! scripts ready if anyone else wants to a peek
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The King Does As He Pleases

[mission27]