Seeking film-making advice - General

First post. My friends and I are currently in the production of a half-serious video. Was seeking film techniques and editing advice so our finished product doesn't look [I]totally[/I] terrible. Thanks in advance. Trailer Below [URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq_h6rDEiGw"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq_h6rDEiGw[/URL]

Best thing I've seen on this forum honestly. Idk how you can improve on this tbh, you've nailed most, if not all the techniques.

actors seem p.young for the roles

[QUOTE=Hogie bear;49968126]Best thing I've seen on this forum honestly. Idk how you can improve on this tbh, you've nailed most, if not all the techniques.[/QUOTE] :dewritos: Cheers for the positive feedback lad [editline]20th March 2016[/editline] [QUOTE=Nautsabes;49968150]actors seem p.young for the roles[/QUOTE] The actors you see at the start are us, in 2011. Were making a sequel to our child hood films. Original trilogy here [URL="https://www.youtube.com/user/airsoftali"]https://www.youtube.com/user/airsoftali[/URL] Cringe alert though.

Feel like this is a bait post

[QUOTE=Evaczination;49968160]:dewritos: Cheers for the positive feedback lad [editline]20th March 2016[/editline] The actors you see at the start are us, in 2011. Were making a sequel to our child hood films. Original trilogy here [URL="https://www.youtube.com/user/airsoftali"]https://www.youtube.com/user/airsoftali[/URL] Cringe alert though.[/QUOTE] boyhood ain't got shit on this

is "ISIS" a game kids play now?

Unless you are 100% sure you can or get somebody who can act in the script you've written, write a different one. You can't make a serious mafia/crime story without it looking totally rediculous when the actors are all kids. Write something about yourselves, student's life, something. I know you want to make action packed movies but you'll get there, and you can sneak a gun or two in those stories about you anyway. Seriously, the script is 90% of success. About camera/editing techniques, watch a shitton of your favorite movies. Analyze them, think about every shot, every cut, try to make references to them. It might be boring but it's the only way to learn something like that. Learn about shot sizes and 180-degree rule, it's the totally basic stuff that'll make your movies 100% better. Try to get the most of your acting, take a time to get into the role, re-do the shot 10 times until you're happy. I've been in the same spot as you guys (well, I was a bit older but that's on your side) and I can't believe how better I and people around me got in a few years. I love that you're actively working on something and seeking advices. Wish you the best of luck.

I would also highly recommend watching the Every Frame A Painting series on YouTube. Offers a lot of filmmaking insights. [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UE3jz_O_EM[/media]

my advice: change hobby [editline]20th March 2016[/editline] in all seriousness, look up basic filming/editing techniques before doing anything at all. Professional films play out so naturally on screen that many aspects are taken for granted by the observer, but actually nailing a good flow and feel is hard when u have to actually work on it yourself. Study, learn, observe and take your time before starting a project. [editline]20th March 2016[/editline] oh, and since you are young kids, my advice would be to make a film/video about something revolving around people of your age and situations you could actually be in, instead of having guns and shit that makes it just seem awfully amature and dumb. It comes off as awfully generic, unrealistic and unengaging for the audience. [editline]20th March 2016[/editline] oh, and don't steal quotes from other movies.

[QUOTE=PHrag;49970028]Unless you are 100% sure you can or get somebody who can act in the script you've written, write a different one. You can't make a serious mafia/crime story without it looking totally rediculous when the actors are all kids. Write something about yourselves, student's life, something. I know you want to make action packed movies but you'll get there, and you can sneak a gun or two in those stories about you anyway. Seriously, the script is 90% of success. About camera/editing techniques, watch a shitton of your favorite movies. Analyze them, think about every shot, every cut, try to make references to them. It might be boring but it's the only way to learn something like that. Learn about shot sizes and 180-degree rule, it's the totally basic stuff that'll make your movies 100% better. Try to get the most of your acting, take a time to get into the role, re-do the shot 10 times until you're happy. I've been in the same spot as you guys (well, I was a bit older but that's on your side) and I can't believe how better I and people around me got in a few years. I love that you're actively working on something and seeking advices. Wish you the best of luck.[/QUOTE] I'll add a few things: White balance, ISO and color correcting is important too. I really don't know if it's supposed to be one movie, but once you got the 16:9 format going it felt a lot better. Not good, but better. That's mostly because it's widescreen and the white balance is rather nice. My best suggestion is to actually recreate a scene from a movie. It doesn't have to be anything amazingly special. Just a normal conversation for example. The bar scene from Drive is a good example. [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuNTmJy2Av0[/media] It's in German, but that doesn't matter. Look at the camera positions and how they've done their cuts and try to replicate that as best as you can. Do this with other scenes as well and you'll get the feel for it when you make your own things.

Completely shocked with the response! Expected hate, and nothing but. :downs:As a new member to fp I can see they have a great community! [QUOTE=PHrag;49970028]Unless you are 100% sure you can or get somebody who can act in the script you've written, write a different one. You can't make a serious mafia/crime story without it looking totally rediculous when the actors are all kids. Write something about yourselves, student's life, something. I know you want to make action packed movies but you'll get there, and you can sneak a gun or two in those stories about you anyway. Seriously, the script is 90% of success. About camera/editing techniques, watch a shitton of your favorite movies. Analyze them, think about every shot, every cut, try to make references to them. It might be boring but it's the only way to learn something like that. Learn about shot sizes and 180-degree rule, it's the totally basic stuff that'll make your movies 100% better. Try to get the most of your acting, take a time to get into the role, re-do the shot 10 times until you're happy. I've been in the same spot as you guys (well, I was a bit older but that's on your side) and I can't believe how better I and people around me got in a few years. I love that you're actively working on something and seeking advices. Wish you the best of luck.[/QUOTE] Thanks for the tips, I'll try incorporate them, filming day today.

There are good filmmaking podcasts out there that could help. like Friends in Your Head. I've pretty much learned everything about filmmaking from them.