Photography Props Cheap
Mar/100
Six Quick Tips to keep your egg Low Budget Film
So cool you have your brand new HD camera and you're ready to shoot his first film. This is where a lot of new filmmakers began to run to problems - who thought saving for his first camera was the hard part, but now the real work (and the real issue) starts.
Since I've been through exactly what each and every one of you is happening now, when I shot my role microbudget first ( "Bite me, fanboy" again in 2001), I decided to put together a quick list of six important things to remember when you are getting began as an independent filmmaker or the guerrillas. This is what I like to call ... (drum roll please) ...
Six Quick Tips Film Sensei Indie Film for the egg!
And here, my faithful students, is the advice that will help you avoid some of the pitfalls that I encountered as a filmmaker one beginning of a budget.
1. Lay off the Zoom!
Yes, I know that George Lucas did in the new Star Wars movies and, yes, I know it was popular in the new Battlestar Galactica, but playing with the camera zoom is going to make the material look like a tourist on vacation films movies out in the Keys Florida. A really good camera can zoom can watch (or semi-acceptable) ... reality very good camera, that is. Mostly, however, will a zoom of poor quality and professionalism. Your best bet is to break with its zoom treatment or at least, the finger closest to it. A Dolly, or even hand stedicam issue at all is see a 1000% better than a crap zoom.
2. Vary the angles
One of the most common mistakes most new managers and a set of hell of a lot of indie and guerilla filmmakers is to look around on the same. Most low-budget films shot very tight and never opened for a long-term - they are full of close-ups, two shots and overcrowded. They also tend to be flat diagram are drawn at eye level. If you want to make your movie more excited, or more interesting, pull back for more shots, the inclination of the camera, shooting from a bird's eye or the angle of the eye worm - Use your camera angles to help establish mood and control the hearing level of tension / suspense / drama. A good guide is to Reversing past you think should (or push up). Be sure to change things up or archival material and his film will become in stagnant and boring.
3. Use proper lighting
One of the hardest things for most indie, low budget and directors guerrilla film to learn is the proper way to light for DV or HD cameras are rolling on. With a contrast ratio much lower and higher need light than the human eye (and film), lighting DV / HD cameras can often be a bit counter intuitive. In other words, what looks good to the eye naked often does not for your finished film. If you're not careful you end up with images too dark to use. If you have worked with or on, the cameras film, then it may take a little getting used to the change in methodology. He fired a number of DPs who committed very well recently the mistake of lighting for your eyes and not the camera that was shooting with. Shoot some lighting tests before principal photography for you can be used for a dynamic range of the camera.
4. Write for what has
Since the lowest budget, indie and guerilla filmmakers also spend to write their own material, the first thing you should keep in mind when putting together his new script is: for what you write! The best way to give your film increased production value is to make use of anything and everything that you already have access. It's hard to go out and find a graveyard or a muscle car or a plane, but if you have friends / family with unique locations, wardrobe accessories and then you can make your movie look small as $ 5000 you spent tens or hundreds of thousands of people in it. It worked for Robert Rodriguez and will work for you.
5. Get a good tripod
Exploitation of the big hand is on a date with your girlfriend (or boyfriend, we're not sexist here at the dojo of Sensei film), but must be used sparingly in a shooting. Get a good fluid head tripod and use it as much as possible to have a solid base to work. Remember, the hand image is rather large, as long as it is used for a purpose and an effect. If you just do it because you're too cheap to spring for a nice set of sticks, then the film suffer.
6. Get a good microphone
I feel like I'm starting to sound like a broken record after yesterday's post about the sound equipment necessary for indie filmmakers and the guerrillas. However, it is a point worth repeating again and again. While the audience can forgive a bit Wonky narrative, dark images or poor quality, the only thing anyone is going to to forgive bad sound. There is almost nothing to do worse than the poor sound quality, and nothing that make you look more like an amateur - Well, in the absence of all accidental shooting day with its lens cap on. Decent microphones are also available for those of us with a more modest budget and there is absolutely no excuse for shooting onboard microphone of the camera - EVER!
There you have it: the extent of my knowledge. Yes, I know that there's more to consider and that is support (such as making sure to get a good ad to help implement the set correctly or not to hire the actresses you want to sleep with), but if you follow these six tips you have a good head start in maintaining its low-budget first film sucking worse than a two-dollar whore.
That is the deepest dojo tonight. Until next time, keep shooting!
-Mat N., the Film Sensei
About the Author
Mat Nastos is a veteran of the film/tv, comic book and video game industries with more than 15 years of experience under his belt as an artist, writer, director and producer. His website,
http://www.filmsensei.com
, is a source for filmmaking tips, tricks, articles and how-tos for indie filmmakers.
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