University Film Club

[Sabryna]

Hi, so I'm in need of some real help. I'm part of this film production club at my college that just got started this academic year and we're trying to figure out how best to make films. Currently, we are using it more as a networking group where people have individual projects and they find people who are interested from the club to help out. Problems are that we don't have any films that "belong," so to speak, to the club. People just associate themselves with us, but we don't really have films that "we," as a club, have made.

Ideally, we'd have several projects running at once, or do them 1 at a time, but there are things that get in the way and make this ideal hard:

-scheduling (it's difficult to create a shooting schedule that'll work for everyone, including the weather gods)
-getting everyone involved in something (what of the ppl who don't get chosen for positions?)
-equipment (we only just got off the ground and are about to get a camera though we can borrow stuff from other places like the TV stations and library)

Any ideas? I'd be so grateful!

 

[Lord of Light]

Hahaha, welcome to the world of film making. Getting everyone to work as synchronous as a Swiss watch is next to impossible.

The best thing to do is get a script going. Once a concept is written in black and white you then have something to build off. From what I'm seeing based on what you're telling us, you guys aren't getting anywhere because you don't have anything yet.

If you guys plan on doing a short film either write out a script yourself, or find someone in the group who can. And if the others don't like it, then at least you can discuss what/where you want to go and get the ball rolling.

Good luck.

 

[Buddy Greenfield]

I agree with Lord of Light, a script would be a good way to facilitate focus on the processes and considerations that must be made to make a film. From that perhaps “subcommittees” of various talents can be assembled within the club.

Another approach (possibly prior to a script) might be to attempt two things:

1st organize a budget drive within the club. Money is a sure fire way to get everyone on the same page.

2nd Suggest some measure of formal order be instituted into the club.
By vote or general consensus the most experienced, talented or interested in things like writing, directing, casting, acting, lighting, sound and cinematography might be decided upon by club members. A treasurer/secretary is not a bad idea as well.

A script can then be created (by the appointed script wiz club member) that works within the confines of the raised budget, and the process can move forward from there.

Even if not everyone can contribute, or a cohesive order can’t be achieved, perhaps still a team minded core crew of ambitious visionaries might emerge drawn to the potential in your efforts to organize and bring focus in order to maximize efforts.

You could do a documentary (Or mocumentry) about the story the Film Club as it tries to come together to make a film (to save the school or club or not) as well.

-Thanks-

 

[knightly]

We have a film making/appreciation club at my university. The way we handle this is to throw in story ideas and vote on the most compelling ones, then write up a treatment of the fuller stories to be voted in... the winning story gets written into a script (one semester to write, the next to produce). These sessions can be worked up as seminars that teach specific portions of story telling, writing, filmmaking, producing, cinematography, etc.

Approach the different departments that do these sorts of things on campus and see if they would be interested in presenting a seminar. Not only does it add value to your club, it increases exposure and support to your project allowing you to get resources you otherwise would have a hard time finding.

Getting everyone on the same page is really a matter of moving forward with everyone tied to the train... they then have to jump on board or cut loose.