Tips on getting started?

L

Lorgore

I am a 21 year old guy. My absolute passion is film making. I am too poor and honestly a bit lazy to attempt to go to film school (i've heard it isn't really as necessary as people make it seem anyhow.) But I am completely insane with desire to make films.

I am curious to know if anyone can tell me the basic items, people ect I need to start working on a film minus the obvious such as camera, lights and actors. I appreciate any responses.

Thanks
 
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Lorgore said:
I am curious to know if anyone can tell me the basic items, people ect I need to start working on a film minus the obvious such as camera, lights and actors. I appreciate any responses.

Thanks
Click to expand...
Other than the obvious such as camera, lights and actors there
are the obvious such as a script and a microphone.

The basic items needed are a tripod (is that too basic?) and what
ever props are called for in the script.
The people needed are the director and someone to run the camera
and hold the microphone.

That's it. Now you can get started making a film.

Of course you can use more people - a specific person for each job -
and you can use lots of equipment, but the basics needed to start
working on a film are very, very, well... basic.
 
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The first thing that you need is absolute commitment; and "lazy" in any way, shape or form won't cut it.

The next thing that you need is knowledge. If you don't want to go to school you obviously have to accumulate this on your own. This means that you have a lot of research, reading and watching to do. You can start with a search here on IndieTalk; there are dozens of newb threads as well as many more "which is better", "doing it on a budget" and more artistic discussions. There are lots of great books out there as well as trade rags and numerous other sites and forums. Watch films and then the DVD commentaries and extras. And believe it or not, you can learn more from bad films than from good ones.

You need some experience. Get out there and work for free on indie shoots as a PA, gopher or anything else you can get. "There are no small jobs, only small people unwilling to do them." Watch what other directors, producers and DPs are doing and how the cast and crew react to them. There are many lessons to be learned, both good and bad.

You need to learn and develop your management skills. "HUH?" I here you cry. Yup, you have to manage time, people, equipment and budgets to mention just a few.

Network, network, network, network, network.

Don't burn bridges; todays a$$hole is tomorrows producer.

And here comes the obvious - you need the equipment to capture picture, to capture quality sound and to edit everything you have captured. And don't go cheap on the sound - crappy sound has killed many otherwise worthy projects.

Your first attempts will be terrible. If you truly have the passion, the drive, brutal self honesty and the ability to assimilate objective criticism you will get better.
 
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I agree with what has already been said. I will just say that in your first sentence, reading you write that you are "completely insane with desire to make films" but that your "a bit lazy to attempt to go to film school" doesn't cut it. You need to get some perspective from the industry. I would suggest maybe go online and read some biographies from people in the industry and see how "lazy" they got to be trying to make films. I'd be surprised if you found one "lazy" film maker out there.
 
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gibbo said:
I thought the director did run the camera? This implies that the director doesn't use the camera but stands around pointing and telling people what to do (litteral director)
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Well, sure. :)

The director has the vision - he "directs" all his/her help to make that happen.

There might be a dedicated Director of Photography (DP) on set - but that's probably not the director director.

For shoots with low budgets, there may well be just a few people doing multiple jobs with a lot of overlap. How many hats can you wear, before it gets overwhelming? When you have the right people doing the right job, things get a lot easier.
 
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gibbo said:
I thought the director did run the camera? This implies that the director doesn't use the camera but stands around pointing and telling people what to do (litteral director)
Click to expand...

Thank you for reducing me to a cam op :lol:

If ur interested in what a director does, do some reading on Hitchcock, Kubrick, DeMille etc. ull get a god idea that way.
 
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Hello!

Filmmaking is one of the most intense and expensive things you can choose to do. If you're not in it completely you don't stand a chance. However you might be able to make a few fun videos on the weekends with friends as a hobby.

If you're not completely dedicated then you won't make it. There are people out there that go to film school and devote their lives to making a great film. These are the people who get movies made- the movies that we then watch in the theatre.

Sorry if it's a bit harsh. But if you want to make films you must first accept that it's an uphill climb.
 
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gibbo said:
I thought the director did run the camera? This implies that the director doesn't use the camera but stands around pointing and telling people what to do (litteral director)
Click to expand...

You are absolutely correct.

The director directs. The camera operator operates the
camera, the editor edits the movie, the costume designer
designs the costumes, the dolly grip moves the dolly...

And the director stands around pointing and telling people
what to do.


ADDED: I was going to post a couple of pictures. I have a
dozen of me "standing around pointing"
rik.jpg

...but who cares about seeing me?

So I googled "film directors" and almost every picture of
famous directors were looking into, standing next to and
even holding a camera.
 
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