So, you’ve got your cool new HD camera and you’re ready to shoot your first movie. This is where many new filmmakers start to struggle: They thought saving for their first camera was the hard part, but now the real work (and the real problem) begins.
Since I went through exactly what each and every one of you is going through right now when I filmed my first micro-budgeting feature (“Bite Me, Fanboy” in 2001), I decided to put together a quick list of six important things to remember when starting out as a filmmaker. independent or guerrilla. This is what I like to call … (drum roll please) …
Six Quick Tips From Film Sensei To Avoid Making Your Indie Movie Bad!
And here, my loyal students, are those tips to help you avoid some of the pitfalls I encountered as a low-budget beginning filmmaker.
1. Turn off the zoom!
Yes, I know George Lucas did it in the new Star Wars movies and, yes, I know he was popular in the new Battlestar Galactica show, but playing with your camera’s zoom will make your footage look like a tourist filming vacation movies in the Florida Keys. A really good videographer can make a zoom look good (or semi-acceptable) … a really good videographer, that is. However, for the most part, a zoom will look shoddy and amateurish. Your best bet is to break out your zoom controller, or at least the finger closest to it. A dolly, camera, or even a handheld track will look 1000% better than a shitty zoom.
2. Vary your angles
One of the most common mistakes made by most new directors and many independent and guerrilla filmmakers is that the shots are all alike. Most low-budget movies are shot very tight and never open for a long view – they are full of close-ups, two shots, and tight spaces. They also tend to be diagram shots framed at eye level. If you want to make your movie more exciting or more interesting, go back for longer shots, tilt the camera, shoot from a bird’s-eye or worm’s-eye angle – use your camera’s angles to help set your mood and control the tension level of your audience / suspense / drama. A good guide is to go back more than you think you should (or push more). Make sure you change things up a bit or your footage and your movie will stagnate and get boring.
3. Use adequate lighting
One of the hardest things for most independent, budget, and guerilla filmmakers to learn is how to properly turn on the DV or HD cameras they’re shooting on. With a much lower contrast range and a greater need for light than the human eye (and film), lighting for DV / HD cameras can often be a bit counterintuitive. In other words, what looks good to the naked eye will often not work for the finished movie. If you’re not careful, you’ll end up with images that are too dark to use. If you’ve worked with or for film cameras, it may take a little time to get used to the change in methodology. Recently, I have filmed with several really good cinematographers who made the mistake of lighting their eyes and not the camera we were filming with. Do some lighting tests before you start your main photography so you can get used to the dynamic range of your camera.
4. Write for what you have
Since most budget, indie, and guerrilla filmmakers also write their own material, the first thing to keep in mind when putting together your new script is: write for what you have! The best way to give your film a higher production value is to make use of whatever you already have access to. It’s hard to go out and find a graveyard or muscle car or airplane, but if you have friends / family with unique locations, props, or costumes, you can make your little $ 5000 movie look like you spent tens or hundreds of dollars. thousands of us have it. It worked for Robert RodrÃguez and it will work for you.
5. Get a good tripod
Holding hands is great on a date with your girlfriend (or boyfriend, we’re not sexist here at Film Sensei’s DOJO), but it should be used sparingly on a film set. Get yourself a good fluid head tripod and use it as much as possible to have a solid base from which to work. Remember, manual footage is great as long as it’s used for a purpose and for an effect. If you only do it because it’s too cheap to buy a good set of sticks, your movie will suffer for it.
6. Get a good microphone
I feel like I’m starting to sound like a broken record after yesterday’s post on essential audio equipment for independent filmmakers and guerrillas. However, it is a point worth repeating over and over again. While your audience may forgive a little clunky narration, dark visuals, or even poor acting, the one thing no one will forgive is bad sound. There is almost nothing you can do that is worse than poor sound quality, and nothing that makes you sound like more of a hobbyist, well, other than accidentally filming all day with your lens cap on. There are decent microphones available even for those of us on a more modest budget and there is absolutely no excuse to shoot with your camera’s built-in mic – EVER!
There you have it: the extent of my wisdom. Yes, I know there are a lot more things to consider that will help (like making sure you get a good AD to help you run your set properly or not hiring actresses you want to sleep with), but if you follow these six tips you’ll have a good one. Advantage to prevent your first low-budget movie from being worse than a two-dollar bitch.
That’s it from the depths of the DOJO for tonight. Until next time, keep shooting!