Noob Question: Coming Up with Ideas for NO BUDGET films!

J

JPeguero25

So I've been wanting to do a short film for the longest time now, mainly to get as much practice as possible. My problem right now is that I can't seem to come up with an idea to do a short. Everytime I come up with something it becomes a more complicated story then what it should be. Does anyone have any suggestions on doing short no budget films since this will be my first time doing something like this. I also should add that it will probably be just me on my own since everyone else that I know is currently busy with there own things. Any help will be greatly appreciated!
 
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I feel your pain. Just because the people that you know won't help, does not mean that you cannot find people that will. Facebook, youtube, and other online sites are a great way to find like minded souls.

As for writing it short...some people can write short stories/films. I cannot. Mine also always get too big...so the obvious answer is...go big...you can do a full length movie on a zero budget, its just very hard. But its possible. Just make a story that doesn't need special effects etc. Make a script that you can actually shoot on a zero budget. Write to your budget, and write the story you want to tell. And try not to plan on having 5 actors in it if you can only attract 1 or 2.

Best of luck. Never look at what you cannot do, it will depress you, only look at what you CAN do.


Heres your checklist


Do you have a camera that will shoot a picture you are happy with? yes - go to next question. No - find one, then go to next question.
Do you have a script you want to shoot? yes - go to next question. no - write one, then go to next question.
Is it possible to shoot it with what you have? Yes- you know the answer. no - adjust it or write a new one.
Is your new found friend willing to help you. Yes - continue with haste. no - slap him into submission.
You have all of this. yes - then don't sit here reading this, go and film. no - slap yo'self fool and quit your jibber jabber. you aint got time to be trippin!!
 
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I know that I beat this horse to death, but watch (original) episodes of "The Twilight Zone" and "Alfred Hitchcock Presents." A very large percentage have a small cast and few locations.
 
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sfoster said:
start with a location and work from there
Click to expand...
...I'd even add: start with a location you have access to, base your script around that.

If you spend a few weeks trying to come up with a killer idea and can't, then simply write the best story you can and film it. Experience counts for a lot, and will teach you much.
 
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IndiePaul said:
...I'd even add: start with a location you have access to, base your script around that.

If you spend a few weeks trying to come up with a killer idea and can't, then simply write the best story you can and film it. Experience counts for a lot, and will teach you much.
Click to expand...

yes thats what i meant, a location you have access to.
do not feature your no budget script on the moon :D

I've shelved all of my killer ideas, I can't do them justice just yet.
That's okay, I'm finding I can still come up with some good stuff to grow with. Start with a location you have access to, and go from there.

It's very hard to write a short story. I managed to get my project filming later this month down to a page and a half. It's very economical storytelling.
 
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JPeguero25 said:
So I've been wanting to do a short film for the longest time now, mainly to get as much practice as possible.
Click to expand...
start with a location and work from there
Click to expand...

You said "mainly" to get practice. My advice of where to start is to FIRST define exactly what it is you want to achieve, for example, what do you want to achieve in addition to practice? Once you know what you want to achieve then you can start looking at locations and scripts which will help you reach your goals and, if your goals can't be achieved with the locations/scripts readily at hand, you know you either have to look harder or change your goals.

G
 
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If you have no experience and are a total newb, forget about the story (OH, the heresy!). What I mean by that is to begin with the very basics. Start with composition. Go to a place that you have ready access to (your home, a street that isn't busy, a park, etc.) and practice framing shots and getting the horizon lines correct for the feel that you want. Experiment with different focal lenths, shutter speeds and f stops. See what effect the lighting from different times of day and weather have on the various aspects of capturing the image. Shoot a lot. Shoot more every day. Read about basic photography skills online. Once you have a fair amount of footage, edit it together using whatever NLE (Non-Linear Editor) you have available. Ignore your new brain baby for a couple of days while you shoot more. Go back and evaluate your edit with a critical eye and take notes on what you could have done better. Go figure out how to accomplish what you thought you could do better. Re-edit the footage. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Best of luck.
 
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If your main concern is with learning and gaining experience, forget about shooting a whole movie (even just a short) and just shoot a scene. And if you can't write one, borrow one from an existing movie. Don't work from the film itself (seeing the scene already realised will hamper your imagination). Find a script online for a film you haven't seen. Pick a relatively easy scene - two people, simple location, no VFX - and shoot that.
 
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Since H44 won't use it, I guess, this is something I came up with in 10 minutes.
You only need a tripod and one actor.

I quote myself:

(Caution: I got a brainwave including 1 actor!)
(Between [ ] are shot suggestions)

"After a good night sleep, the city of ... wakes up slowly. [sunrise over town, buildings catching daylight]
People get ready to go to their jobs as they do everyday. [people getting in cars, people at the train station]
Except for John. [people crossing street, John keeps standing still and looks to the sky]
John is different. [John walks through green meadows]
He has a dream and a purpose. [stares in distance with binoculairs]
He is determined to find the end of the rainbow." [watching smartphone to locate rain]
[John waits and waits while looking around]
END

For this you need a few shots without people.
A few shots without the actor. (A)
A few shots with the actor. (B)
And you will need a tripod. (C)

How much time do you need?
You need to get up early 2 or 3 mornings to shoot A and B shots.
You'll need 1 day to shoot C shots.
(Or more if you're not happy about the footage.)

And the funny part is: you don't need a shot of a rainbow.
But if you can get one while shooting with the actor: let him run towards it :)

Just credit me and BrokxMedia (my company) for writing it :p
 
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I like to think of short stories in the same manner as a joke. You have the set-up and the punch line. That’s it. Try thinking of your punch line first, then add the build-up. Keep it simple.

Also, have you written anything feature length? Even if you haven’t written it and it only lives in your head, you can do this… Pick a scene and shoot that. There’s nothing wrong with doing that for practice.
 
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Before I made features, my most successful short film was an adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood. This was back in 2005 before Hollywood had done it's version. My twist was that the wolf was a cannibal named Wulf. I had just two actors (the girl and the guy) and a cool cave in the forest near where I lived. It was a simple idea, the story came from a book, and I shot it in a day.
Maybe see about adapting some work that you admire, just put your own twist on it.

Here's the final short:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gXgEwJaKD8
 
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It think you might have watched the short movie ,

"MY NAME IS LISA"

well, it was funded. story is great and way it has filmed makes you think it's easy and inspirational.
It doesn't make you think that filming is confusing .
Is it complicated ?....(left up to you to think and analyze it.)

First make your own simple story and film it, not necessary you upload it.
If find impressive enough... find actor and perfect it more.... when satisfied .. then upload.

If you are satisfied .. don't be bothered about others opinion...

keep building new ideas...and making movies (hopefully interesting one's).

Best of luck.....:bday:
 
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