An Outsider’s Perspective.
December 20, 2007
Buddy I want to make a movie but there are so many stumbling blocks. Where do I get a good script from? What about the crew, equipments, the financial expenses and most of all, being a full time student means NO TIME!! Anyways, does it cost me anything to drop a mail to FulMarxx Help desk, explaining my situation? So, I write a short note to them, explaining my doubts and inhibitions, and I very well forget about it.
Next day, I open my mailbox and I find a well structured clarification for all my queries. So here I am, with my version of what they communicated to me.
Script?? A good story definitely forms the skeleton of a landmark film, but that’s only one aspect. A simple narrative, a small day to day affair can as well make the base for a major achievement. So what can I pick up?? Probably, something from my own life, something which is a part of my dull routine or anything that I relate to. Definitely, there are a lot of stories in my life that can be presented.
What about the crew and the gadgets……
Well, I am competing with the professionals, but does that mean I need to be equipped professionally?? What if I use a handy cam? To this, FulMarxx says “You are more than welcome to do that”. Wow, that’s good news!! If Mira Nair can do it with Monsoon wedding, why cant me?? Who knows, I might be the next big kid on the block. So now, the crew hurdle reduces to finding the actors. Hey, I got so many friends who are pretty good real life actors. I can surely pick them up.
Now, the major constraint “TIME”. But guys, it’s a short movie. Add to that, I have the option of choosing the time duration of 10, 20 or 30 min. Even with the location hunting, script writing (Mind you!! I already have a story to tell), several retakes and editing, it would be all done in at the max 4, or maybe 5 days.
To recapitulate, I got a mental plan. I got the right people, a simple but convincing storyline, I know how and when I am going to execute it and wait a minute, I figure out it wont cost me that much.
It appears that the obstruction was only in my mind.
So friends, I am all set to be a part of this Short Film Fest.
Will you compete with me???
Amit Singh, Prospective Filmmaker and a full time student.
Just a small correction..:
Monsoon wedding was NOT shot on HANDY CAM. But the camera was Hand held to give the direct perspective view in first person.
Many people have this confusion.. so just felt like dropping in this note !
Peace n joy
Gaurav Chhabra
Founder Director, Humlog
Chandigarh
Entry Filed under: Cinema, Film Festival, Filmmaking, First Film, Short Film Festival, Short Films. .
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1.
Elver | December 20, 2007 at 6:01 pm
1. Find an aspiring writer with an open mind. Someone who is willing to read Robert McKee’s legendary screenwriting book “Story”. I would also recommend Syd Field’s “Screenplay” and for that extra touch which will put you ahead of the rest: Michael Tierno’s “Aristotle’s Poetics for Screenwriters”.
2. After this writer has finished a quick study of screenwriting (those three books shouldn’t take more than 2 weeks) have him either write the screenplay or help you pick one online. You can find a lot of short screenplays at zoetrope.com (90% of them suck and as a first-time director you have no clue which ones belong to that 90%)
3. You need a digital camera with audio input (for a microphone) and audio output (so you can monitor the sound levels). You can get one for $400. Maybe less. Surprisingly enough, video quality does not matter.
4. Audio quality matters a lot. Get a shotgun microphone ($50 for a cheap one, but if you have money to burn, get a Sennheiser shotgun mic), tape the mic to a long pole, and run a cable from the microphone to your camera. So you can operate it as a boom pole and keep it above your actors, pointed down. Remember, clear audio is the most important part of your film.
5. Foolproof directing and editing tip. Start each scene with a wide shot. If it’s a scene of two people talking, start by showing both of them at the same time from head to waist. As the scene gets more intense, get closer with your camera to add more intensity. As the scene is ending, use wider shots again to dissipate stored up conflict.
2.
Dr. Gaurav Chabra | January 3, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Just a small correction..:
Monsoon wedding was NOT shot on HANDY CAM. But the camera was Hand held to give the direct perspective view in first person.
Many people have this confusion.. so just felt like dropping in this note !
Peace n joy
Gaurav Chhabra
Founder Director, Humlog
Chandigarh