How could I get involved in film making; directing, editing - that kinda shit. - General

I'm quite creative, I love coming up with ideas for games, stories, movies etc. I'm never short of ideas and I'm rarely restricted with expressing them (being in top set English with a pretty cool teacher) but I never know how get them right. I know that sounds weird and that alone will probably get me shitloads of boxes, but I mean I have "visions" of stories and such and I can never really portray them the way I would like to. Whenever I try to write them down, they get fucked up and I get frustrated, making me want to instantly give up on them. Whenever this happened I consider attempting making an amateur, low budget movie or something but I have no camera, no crew and no fucking idea how to get started. So how, I ask, can I get involved in doing that kinda thing? I've got my options later this year so if there are any courses I could choose that would help there, I'd happily try it. If anyone here makes small amateur movies, how did they get started and what tips would you give? TL;DR My mate almost got arrested because he mapped his school in Counter Strike: Source. Thanks in advance. And sorry for the block of text, I know facepunch doesn't like words in large amounts.

You could record it all on your phone but people would rate you -1 and give a shitload of flaming comments, If you really have that flow and want to make such movies i suggest you ask your friends if they want to make youtube shorts and then you just tell them your great ideas, and you could also ask them for a camera or just save up for a camera, If you want to make gaming movies i suggest you use fraps, it's pretty useful for filming like that. Some make machinimas which can be pretty funny but some just suck. Anyways that's my guide for making such movies. Best of luck if you are going to try making one.

Ok, I might get flamed for this but when you don't have the resources but you have the vision, why not do a version in gmod. I'm not exactly sure what mods and stuff are available to gmod film makers but at the end of the day you're practicing similar principles to real life film making right?

Because GMod is so restrictive! I know people say anything is possible in GMod but that stuff doesn't compare to real life. There are plenty of GMod movies that are really good, but it's not the kind of stuff I want to do. I want to take out a camera, run around in the streets, and film [i]real[/i] shit.

Get some stuck up actors at your school or something then

[QUOTE=~ZOMG;19727091]Because GMod is so restrictive! I know people say anything is possible in GMod but that stuff doesn't compare to real life. There are plenty of GMod movies that are really good, but it's not the kind of stuff I want to do. [b]I want to take out a camera[/b], run around in the streets, and film [i]real[/i] shit.[/QUOTE] Well let me give you the first step: [list]Buy a camera.[/list] Also buy a book or something. I'm sure you could find loads about film-making on Amazon. [b]Edit:[/b] Here's one I just found: [b]Making Short Films: The Complete Guide from Script to Screen[/b] [url]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Making-Short-Films-Complete-Script/dp/1845208048/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263931347&sr=1-2[/url] If you tell me your budget for a video camera, I could try and find a decent one. [b]Edit:[/b] ... you have a 26.25 post per day average. My god.

[QUOTE=~ZOMG;19727091]Because GMod is so restrictive! I know people say anything is possible in GMod but that stuff doesn't compare to real life. There are plenty of GMod movies that are really good, but it's not the kind of stuff I want to do. I want to take out a camera, run around in the streets, and film [i]real[/i] shit.[/QUOTE] Well if you're not going to get off your arse, get a camera and get actors then what the fuck ARE you gonna do? And all I was trying to say was that doing some short films in gmod might help you to PRACTICE getting ideas out of your head and into a visual form. It's similar to making music. You can imagine the greatest symphony in your head but it's a whole other game to write it down exactly the same. The only way is to PRACTICE and if that means I have to sit down with a midi keyboard WITHOUT REAL INSTRUMENTS then I will.

Why not try making a music video? It'll give you good practice with editing and camera angles and shit, will be relatively easy, quick and cheap to do and you could probably do it on your own if your friends aren't interested.

[QUOTE=Nextil;19727140]Well let me give you the first step: [list]Buy a camera.[/list] [/QUOTE] second step: [list]upload your stuff to youtube[/list]

It's not so much a lack of budget or resources that is restricting me, it's how to actually get started. I don't want to go out, but a camera and realise I have no idea where to go from there.

For a suggestion in budget if you really want to take shit seriously. No need for expensive cameras. With the Canon 5D you can pretty much shoot something in movie quality. It's price is around around 2000 dollars . Seriously, just look at the video quality. [url]http://www.vimeo.com/7260115[/url] [img]http://img.tomshardware.com/us/2005/11/01/holiday_buyers_guide_2005/canon_5d_front.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE=~ZOMG;19727235]It's not so much a lack of budget or resources that is restricting me, it's how to actually get started. I don't want to go out, but a camera and realise I have no idea where to go from there.[/QUOTE] Then buy the book I posted. It has nine 5 star reviews and one 4 star on Amazon UK, so I'm guessing it's pretty good.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wHzW6YvpdA[/media]

[QUOTE=~ZOMG;19726995](being in top set English with a pretty cool teacher)[/QUOTE] reach year 10 boyo

My tips: Don't spend money. The first time anyone tries to get into anything(making movies, playing guitar, whatever) they think if they just spend money buying the right thing, suddenly they can do it. Not true. If you can't make even a short 1 minute test film from what you have now, spending money isn't going to help you. If you have Gmod, start with that, if you have a cellphone that can record video, start with that. Next, focus your effort. If you are trying acting, writing, directing, editing at the same time- you are not likely to spend enough time on any one of those things to get good at it. Pick one to start with. Next, study up on how it's done. For instance, writing scripts is done in a particular way, it is not like writing a short story or novel. So you'd do well to understand the screenwriting process BEFORE you start your own script. There are many places online to research any part of filmmaking, here's a link to a [url=http://www.wordplayer.com/columns/welcome.html]pretty good blog[/url] about screenwriting to get you started. When you start doing your projects, start small. The worst thing you could do is try to make some epic project. Do something you can actually finish in a reasonable time, otherwise you'll probably just get discouraged.

I'm gonna throw out there what I've learned being a Director of Photography on two independent film projects and studying a video technology course Get onto mandy.com or gumtree or something, find some productions, get into production assistant jobs where you get paid nothing but expenses, know people, learn skills, network From there you'll find your own path (although you're probably too young for that) Read lots of books on film making, script writing, etc. (The Raindance guides are brilliant, personally recommend them) Consider a film/creative writing for film/video media technology course (Media studies at uni won't help too much, I do Broadcast Media Technology at Brunel University if that's any help, covers lots of visual media, editing, film making, compositing, motion graphics, 3D animation) Don't buy a camera, just beg/borrow, or failing that rent gear I wouldn't recommend jumping straight into making a film without any experience of what making a film is generally about, from the ground level You still have a long way to go yet

Just remember to take baby steps, dont expect to be instantly recognized.

[QUOTE=~ZOMG;19726995]I'm quite creative, I love coming up with ideas for games, stories, movies etc. I'm never short of ideas and I'm rarely restricted with expressing them (being in top set English with a pretty cool teacher) but I never know how get them right. I know that sounds weird and that alone will probably get me shitloads of boxes, but I mean I have "visions" of stories and such and I can never really portray them the way I would like to. Whenever I try to write them down, they get fucked up and I get frustrated, making me want to instantly give up on them. Whenever this happened I consider attempting making an amateur, low budget movie or something but I have no camera, no crew and no fucking idea how to get started. So how, I ask, can I get involved in doing that kinda thing? I've got my options later this year so if there are any courses I could choose that would help there, I'd happily try it. If anyone here makes small amateur movies, how did they get started and what tips would you give? TL;DR My mate almost got arrested because he mapped his school in Counter Strike: Source. Thanks in advance. And sorry for the block of text, I know facepunch doesn't like words in large amounts.[/QUOTE] First pick highschool classes that are the closest to what you want. Then college. That is pretty much it.

[QUOTE=TINCAN;19727385]reach year 10 boyo[/QUOTE] My brother and sister have both finished year 10/11 and they said it was a piece of piss.

[QUOTE=FunkyHippo;19727261]For a suggestion in budget if you really want to take shit seriously. No need for expensive cameras. With the Canon 5D you can pretty much shoot something in movie quality. It's price is around around 2000 dollars . Seriously, just look at the video quality. [URL]http://www.vimeo.com/7260115[/URL] [IMG]http://img.tomshardware.com/us/2005/11/01/holiday_buyers_guide_2005/canon_5d_front.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] Why would he buy a DSLR when he wants to shoot movies? ... Just because It can shoot movies doesn't mean there isn't a better choice on the market for 2k

[QUOTE=cecilbdemodded;19727634]My tips: [B]Don't spend money.[/B] The first time anyone tries to get into anything(making movies, playing guitar, whatever) they think if they just spend money buying the right thing, suddenly they can do it. Not true. If you can't make even a short 1 minute test film from what you have now, spending money isn't going to help you. If you have Gmod, start with that, if you have a cellphone that can record video, start with that. Next, focus your effort. If you are trying acting, writing, directing, editing at the same time- you are not likely to spend enough time on any one of those things to get good at it. Pick one to start with. Next, study up on how it's done. For instance, writing scripts is done in a particular way, it is not like writing a short story or novel. So you'd do well to understand the screenwriting process BEFORE you start your own script. There are many places online to research any part of filmmaking, here's a link to a [url=http://www.wordplayer.com/columns/welcome.html]pretty good blog[/url] about screenwriting to get you started. When you start doing your projects, start small. The worst thing you could do is try to make some epic project. Do something you can actually finish in a reasonable time, otherwise you'll probably just get discouraged.[/QUOTE] It'll be hard but I think I can manage that. Thanks for the info, it's really helpful. [editline]BOSCHITT[/editline] Would anyone recommend a class that would involve this? Media studies perhaps?

[QUOTE=~ZOMG;19728127]It'll be hard but I think I can manage that. Thanks for the info, it's really helpful. [editline]BOSCHITT[/editline] Would anyone recommend a class that would involve this? Media studies perhaps?[/QUOTE] Don't ever do media studies. Ever. It is seen as the class taken cretins to get an easy qualification. Chances are that you will learn nothing that is helpful to you that you didn't already know. English would probably be a better choice since it is an actual subject. Do what others have said, but don't narrow your aim so much at such an early stage. In a few years time you may despise the film industry in it's entirety and wish to be a professional gardener, so keep your options open. Also write your ideas down (I wouldn't call them visions since visions generally implies either, some form of psychosis or divinely crafted ideas sent from the heavens). They are no good if you just leave them completely unattended to and it would be impossible to have an idea and film it straight off the bat.

I'm trying to get in the film industry as well. I started off gearing my major towards film. Because of this I took a short film class and made a... short film. During prop scouting with my friend for another project I ran in to the wife of a local film maker. I found out that her husband was a film maker because we mentioned we were making short films when she asked us why she saw us at party city all the time. She gave me his number and turns out he is part of a small group of film makers. LESSON 1: Tell everyone you know you are in to films and making films. Tell strangers too. So I contact this group of film makers and it turns out they are about to do a really large short. They need a whole bunch of props constructed and I'm just the hard worker to do it. LESSON 2: Work hard. After all my hard work they see that I am really willing to be doing this so they bump me up to camera-man/cinematographer. Anyways we have a lot of shoots and I get to meet a lot of local actors. LESSON 3: Get everyone's contact info and make friends. I end up becoming friends with a actor who is really well situated in the local industry in my area. He knows just about everybody. I ask him to be in one my short films for college. He apparently liked how I directed or my drive and he asked me to become a producer on a new production team. We have a crew of about 20, some professionals, and a bunch of 5Ds (the camera mentioned above). If we finish our short film, which already looks good, we might either get commercial work, or investors for a larger project. We already have gained a lot of interest with professionals in the industry. That's what I am at right now, and what I have learned. Good luck. It's not easy. [editline]04:09PM[/editline] [QUOTE=Black-Bird;19728088]Why would he buy a DSLR when he wants to shoot movies? ... Just because It can shoot movies doesn't mean there isn't a better choice on the market for 2k[/QUOTE] Actually that camera is one of the best if not the best for it's price. The only problem with it is that the focus blows as it relies on auto-focus unless I imagine you buy and expansive lens that you can rack. It looks better then the RED in some cases.

All you need is a camera and friends, at least to get started. If you want to get into bigger things, well, hate to tell you this, but you're gonna have to start small. Your first movie probably isn't going to be a big-budget full-length alien invasion with robots and mutants and dancing cockroaches. It's going to probably be filming your friends running through your backward being chased by a Labrador with a cheap antenna-hat on its head. Then, of course, learn up on how things are done in the field. A script is essential - without a good script, your movie is pretty much doomed, unless you have a billion dollars to throw into CGI (Transformers, Avatar, etc). Actors are vitally important, too - if your actors can't portray emotion convincingly, it brings down the believability, credibility, and professionalism of your movie (see any B-rated or C-rated scifi film). Editing is key, though you shouldn't overly rely on them. Sound editing is key, and can literally make or break a film - even simple music placement; you don't want to place some Deicide in the middle of a romantic scene (unless it's comedy :v:), nor do you want to play some atmospheric piano/violin music during an intense action scene. Media courses at a local community college, if its available to you, are always a plus. If you're in high school and they offer media arts and the like, I would suggest considering those as well; same as if your town has a skills center that offer the courses. When you're starting out, don't worry about budget. Don't go out of your way to get all the expensive things you [i]think[/i] you need, because you don't. If you can't afford the money out of pocket at that very moment, then you probably don't need it. You'll need to tie up some loose ends (Labrador with cheap antenna hat), but in the long run, it'll pay off. If you're looking to get sponsored for a bigger project or something, then all that matters is that you prove that you [b]can[/b] film, and you [b]can[/b] write original/good material. Your actors are sub-par. So what? Your props are made of plastic and cardboard. Big deal. Your special effects look like they came right out of the original Godzilla movie, and maybe that movie's effects were slightly better. It doesn't matter. As long as you can show that you can keep the camera steady (which, if you can, already puts you above the grain), you can write an, if not mindblowingly interesting script, at least not a mindnumbingly boring script, with some originality in it, and that you [b]do[/b] have artistic vision, that's all you'll need if someone decides to sponsor you. Not to say those will get you sponsored, of course. I'm just saying if someone is considering to sponsor you, a lot of respectable sponsors will be looking for these things. Also, YouTube is your friend. In this day and age, aspiring filmmakers have a major advantage all previous generations never had the luxury to pursue: the Internet. Made an awesome film starring your sister and your dog wearing an antenna hat? Put it on YouTube! That being said, YouTube is probably one of the best ways for an aspiring, unknown filmmaker to get reputation. Make a film, put it in YouTube. Tell all your friends about it, and have them tell their friends about it, and so on, and so forth. Put the video on your MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, personal blog, or whatever it is you have. Go to a forum that allows advertising signatures? Put it there! Do whatever it takes (that's not obnoxious, annoying, or against the rules) to get your video advertised. As for video ideas, if you're just trying to get yourself a name, try making a quasi commercial for a product, fake or otherwise (if anyone used to watch the Amanda Show, way back when, you know what I'm talking about). Make an unofficial music video for one of your favorite bands. Make a video diary of just a normal day in your life. Meet up with an English Facepuncher and go on the wrong train, making a video about it, and mentioning car analogies. You have the world at your fingertips, both physical and digital; all you have to do is figure out how to use it best to your advantage. :buddy: (Note that I am not a filmmaker of any sort, and these all purely my opinion from observation and assumption; take nothing I say as fact or to heart. This is all merely advice from someone with no experience in the field; if anyone who has experience in said field suggests anything that contradicts what I say, go with them, not me. :v:)

[QUOTE=Black-Bird;19728088]Why would he buy a DSLR when he wants to shoot movies? ... Just because It can shoot movies doesn't mean there isn't a better choice on the market for 2k[/QUOTE] It's a camera suggestion. Which can shoot in movie quality. You just don't understand.

Damn, I was in your exact position about this time last month. I'd recommend that Making Short Films book very highly. Also two bits of general advice: 1 - If you've got readily available family - dad, brother, cool sister etc. - then get them to help you as much as possible. This is because: 2 - Don't count on people at your school (assuming you're still at school). It's almost always the wrong environment to get a serious head start on a creative career. Most kids in secondary school will just take the piss out of anyone with a little ambition in them, and even your friends won't take it seriously. I'd recommend reading the book all the way through before committing to anything else. It's pretty intense reading, though, so I'm thinking of getting Filmmaking for Dummies as well, so I've got something I can turn to when it all gets a bit too much to handle.

Why don't you try asking your school or whatever if they've got any cameras that you can use.

Also I'd recommend the Canon HG10 if you can find a cheap ex-display one, but don't worry about a camera just yet. Good luck! Don't forget to post your work. fukken ninjas

That's a bullshit reason to arrest somebody :downs:

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