Short filmmaking has emerged as an interesting and popular hobby for many. It gives wannabe filmmakers a taste of the skills required to live out their dreams. Do you aspire to make short films? Then you’re in luck. In this article, we’ll explore some short film-making tips that should be useful.

6 Short-Film Making Tips

1. Choose the Right Script

The script is the backbone of the movie. It gives the film structure and flow. One can either write a script or choose one that’s already been written. Those who know how to write a script for a short film, make scripts according to the subjects they want to cover.

They weave words and images into the story to create a compelling tale in just a short frame of time. Many prefer to find scripts online as they’d rather focus on the direction or cinematography.

An idea is to use a duet acting script. These are 10-minute scenes between two actors talking to each other. It’s a simple exchange of dialogue and an excellent format to try out if you’re making your first short film. Scripts can be as short as 1-minute or 3-minutes, too.

2. Audition Wisely

Even for short films, having a good, talented, and responsible crew and cast is important. While it can be tempting to hire family and friends, that may turn out to be counterproductive. Therefore, it’s best to audition vigorously for every role.

Bad acting can ruin even the strongest of scripts. Many sources their cast and crew from theatre companies, universities, talent agencies, online advertisements, Facebook groups, and more. It’s always best to audition several people for one role.

This helps hire only the best – especially when it comes to the lead roles.
When it comes to the crew, it’s important that the cinematographer and the director get along. Filmmakers assess each applicant’s portfolio and decide whether there will be a good fit both culturally and in terms of technical ability.

3. Create a Storyboard

Just like one would with a normal movie, the next step is to create a storyboard. This is an outline of each shot that’s going to be taken. The storyboard is created panel-by-panel and looks like a comic book strip. It decides the sequence of each scene that will make up the whole movie.

Making the storyboard takes a lot of time, effort, and organization. It’s worth it as a good storyboard ensures a smooth shoot. Failing to make a storyboard can result in expensive mistakes while filming.

Good storyboards don’t need to be drawn perfectly – they just need to clearly communicate the order of events. This will be used by the camera person while the shoot is on. Many storyboard templates can be found online and they are easy to fill out and use.

4. Scout for the Perfect Location

A film’s location will depend upon the story. Depending on where the scenes are set, the crew will have to find the right locations for each scene. These could be coffee shops, beaches, parks, etc. If the location is going to be a real coffee shop or some other public area, the filmmaker will have to take permission to shoot there.

Otherwise, some of these locations can be recreated. Certain scenes might require props and accessibility to these props will have to be considered when choosing locations.

Many locations have to be paid for so filmmakers must keep that in mind when preparing a budget for their shoot. If it’s a low-budget short film, there are many locations one can shoot at for free.

5. Select the Right Camera

While traditional motion picture equipment is expensive, smaller digital cameras are just as good for amateur filmmaking. Many use an iOS or Android device – or even just a smartphone. The only issue with smartphones and other smaller devices is that they have less storage space in their phones.

Shooting requires a large amount of space. This is why it’s a better option to use a digital camera instead. If one has the budget, they purchase high-end digital cameras too. They record in high-definition, are portable, and allow footage to be transferred easily from the camera to the laptop.

6. Editing the Film

Editing and post-production are where all the film is taken and turned into a real movie. Editors remove all the unnecessary details and the raw footage is used to create a narrative with a beginning, a middle, and an end.

Editing has become easier than ever before as there is multiple video editing software in the market. Some cost a lot of money and have professional-level features. But, others are for free and are good enough if one is shooting their first-ever short film.

Do these tips intrigue you? Do you want to pursue a life as a movie-making visionary? If so, then you must certify yourself from only the best schools for filmmaking. One such school is DICE – VFS (School of Entertainment Arts), where students can learn filmmaking from industry experts and award-winning professionals.

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