So the last blog I did seemed to go down well so I am going to do a continuation from that and talk more about some filming tips for all the new indie filmmakers out there.
What I do when planning my latest independent films:
Script – A script is one of the first things I need when I begin planning my film, that doesn’t mean it has to be the final version! My film playground went through drastic changes from the first script to the last. Once you have your script you can begin to plan what you are going to need, for instance characters, location, props, crew, kit, shooting dates and so on. Don’t forget to send your script out to people to see what they think. Take their feedback and use that to make the script the best it can be. I heard recently that you should try telling the plot of your film to your grandmother, if she stops you half way through to make a cup of tea then you know something is wrong!
Funding – How to finance an independent film is a tricky one and for me I invest a lot of my own money into my short films. Maybe you can get a group of you together. I am lucky enough to have generated revenues from my films through Film Annex that I then invest back into my next short film. Falling was an example of this, it was made on a camera that I bought in part with my revenues and in return premiered my film with Film Annex. Funding for filmmakers is difficult on shorts because it’s harder to return the investment because the market for paying for short films is smaller than features. You could also try approaching local companies to help fund your film, maybe they wont give you money but for instance some companies might help you out with catering or transport so there are options.
Planning – So something that helps me when planning a shoot is to look ahead and pick my shoot dates right at the start. That way I can work backwards and set myself deadlines for things like casting, storyboards, location, etc. Use a calendar and put everything on it, write down what you have done towards your film each day and this will help you to see your progress. Work out the easiest and most time efficient way to shoot your film. Do this before you get to the shoot day. Have plenty of meetings to go through things with the crew so that when it comes to the shoot day everyone knows what to do, this doesn’t have to be in person you could even use Skype.
Casting - This can be a tricky one! Maybe you know a great actor, maybe you don’t! Use casting websites like casting call and starnow, they are simple to use and free. Remember to be positive about your project but don’t be too arrogant. Chances are, most of the time, people are going to be doing this for expenses only, so if they are investing there time, then let them know that you are confident about the project and that you believe in it. Some advice I would give from my experience is that, if possible, have recalls for a second round of auditions to make sure your decision is the right one. Try to have a few rehearsal sessions so that when it comes to the shoot, the cast know how you want it performed so you are not wasting data on the shoot.
Crew - Make sure you have enough people for the crew. I say this, but it seems no matter how many crew members I have, I always feel like I could use a couple more. There are lots of people out there who will gladly help out for free on a project that they believe in! I know because I am one of them. Filmmaking is about teamwork, people help me and in return when they need it, I help them. Don’t put up and advert demanding “a cameraman with a red, full lighting kit, lens set and at least 5 years in the industry, but oh yea I can't pay you but you can use the footage in your showreel”. I don’t know how many posts I read per day from people like this! There is no harm asking for things for free but just make sure it comes across that way and not like a list of demands.
Shoot – The shoot day has arrived and you are ready to go. All the planning has hopefully paid off and you’re good to go. Don’t panic, things will go wrong but you’re the director and it’s important for the crew that you keep your head up. Ideally, you will have a great producer or AD there to take the stress off you, but this is not always the case. It's difficult to be a good director because I know for me I don’t want to just be rude and angry, but at the same time, I don’t want to just be seen to not command respect. It’s easy for people on shoot to lose motivation at times especially on long shoot days! There is what I call the crazy hour where time just seems to slow to a stop, nothing seems to get done and motivation drops to zero. For me, this is always near the end of the shoot. Just remember that you are the driving force and if you are moving forward, then so is everyone else. I learn on every shoot and I think everyone does, so don’t be put off if your first shoot is a nightmare because it will get easier.
Editing – This is totally preference and I think everyone has their style. For me, pace is what can make or break a film. Every time I send out an edit review, someone will say they like something about the editing and someone will point out the same thing as a negative. What I like to do is watch through me film, and if I notice that I am being bored by the film visually I will cut. Some people say that cutting is like blinking but it really depends on the film itself. Ready or Not was a very action packed film and so the cutting was quick to add tension, however Lost Dreams begins very peaceful and so the cutting is paced out. Just get your film out there, show people and see what they think, similar to the script feedback.
Distribution – So you have the finished film and you want to get it out there! This is important not only for you but for all the people that invested their time in the film. You could go down the festival circuit and get it sent out to as many as possible. Maybe you made your film for a specific festival. If you can budget for this, then do so because the cost can start to mount up. The other option is social media & online film websites. I tend to go this route because I want as many people to see my films as possible. Film Annex and other social media websites can help with this. Film Annex has previewed my films to more people than any other website, so this is a great option for online film distribution.
So I hope this helps you guys and let me know if there is anything I have missed and don’t forget to check out some of my old movies online.
