Amateur Movie Making

So you’re interested in amateur movie making? I’ve written up a step by step guide for a next-to-free movie making process. Keep to this simple guide and you will be able to make a rewarding amateur movie based on a story you’ve created.

(I like filmmaking a lot but I’ll try not to bore you down with useless details.)

Planning Your Movie

Equipment

If you don’t have a camcorder or don’t know anyone that you can borrow from, see if your phone has a camera. The quality will be poor but you’ll still have lots of fun experimenting. Don’t worry about the quality. You’re not making the next Hollywood blockbuster!

The last thing you really need is a digital editing system on your computer that you will use to edit your final masterpiece together. Check your computer. You might have a simple one available. If not, you can try a school or friend’s computer.

I was able to edit an infomercial for a local company with the same equipments. Amateur movie making isn’t as difficult a hobby as one may think. If you have these equipments, the boring parts of preparing your film are over.

Assembling a Crew

Members of your group may need to double on jobs. Or everyone can take turns trying out each job. (You can, of course, still make your film alone if you want. It will just be a bit harder.)

• Director – leads the whole process, from start to finish
• Camera Operator – operates the camera and works under the directions of the director
• Actors
• Editor/Sound Mixer – assembles the film and sound together in a pleasing manner
• Clapper – calls out scene/shot/take (ie “scene 7, shot 9, take 2”) to help the editor figure out what shot he/she is working with
• Screenwriter – writes out each scene and shots with director on script

(If you’re doing this alone, you can take on all these tasks just fine with the exception of the camera operating. You’ll have to put the camcorder on a surface and act “in” screen.)

Screenwriting

Schedule

You need to consider everyone’s time limits and the location to shoot. If you’re shooting every shot in order, then your chances of getting confused later on will be lower but still a schedule that you follow closely will definitely help.

Again, make copies and give them to your crew.

Shooting the Film

Let me outline the process of shooting one shot. Repeat the process for all your shots:

1. The director or screenwriter should explain what will happen in the shot to be filmed so that everyone is on the same track. Follow the schedule.
2. The camera direction, angle, movement, and zooming should be decided according to the script. The director should work with the camera operator.
3. Next the actors need to rehearse the shot. Watch through the camcorder to see how they look on screen and adjust accordingly.
4. Note: If you are using a new tape, let the camcorder film about 15 seconds. Sometimes the first end of new tapes are not good for filming so you must get rid of it by “running the tape”.
5. When everyone is ready, the director calls out “Roll” and the camera operator presses the start button.
6. Then the clapper should say loud and clearly, the scene/shot/take. Takes stands for how many times you’ve tried to film a shot. If it’s your second time, say “scene #, shot #, take 2”.
7. The actors act out the shot as rehearsed.
8. When the act is over, the director calls out “Cut” then the camera operator presses stop. The director may call cut whenever s/he thinks the shot has gone wrong to conserve film/tape.
9. The director needs to say if they need another take.
10. If it’s good, then go to the next shot. If not, then the director should explain whatever went wrong so that the mistake will not be repeated with the next take.

And this is the amateur movie making process, loads of work but a wonderful experience.

In the Editing Room

• Open your computer editing system.
• Turn on you camcorder.
• Connect the camcorder to the computer and there should be some reaction on the computer asking if you want a transfer. Choose yes.
• If it works, bingo, transfer each tape. If not, check the manual or help section of your editing program for “importing”, “transfer”, or “converting”.
• When you have the media on your computer, play with the tools and have your script by your side. Don’t save unless you’ve really figured out what you’re doing. You’ll get the hang of it pretty soon with some experimenting.
• Edit the image and sound so that it makes sense and has a good rhythm.
• You may consider doing some simple special effects and adding in text cards for title/credits before and after the film. Make sure everyone that helped gets credit!
• When everyone has seen the movie and am happy with it, transfer the movie onto DVDs.