Each of us has something to show the world. Someone opens up their thoughts in literature, others prefer drawing, dance to the third. And the fourth ones choose cinema as a combination of all possible ways of self-expression. Of course, large-scale Hollywood blockbusters are far from in this case, but “home” films sometimes turn out to be no worse than famous films. How to make a movie, and is it even possible to do this without special skills and professional equipment? Let's try to find out.
Where to begin?
The only thing you need at the very beginning is an idea. Do you want to make a documentary movie, sharing your knowledge or thoughts with the whole world, or is it something lightweight that you can laugh at from the heart? Or maybe your thriller plan has matured? In any case, before making a film, it is necessary to specifically determine the genre, because for each direction of cinema there are certain specific features and unwritten rules (well, for example, no one will show bloody murders in a romantic comedy). Ideally, you need to have a certain idea, at least an approximate one, in order to know what you can start from at the next stage.
Start started: script outline
How to make a movie in Hollywood? It takes a long time to prepare, write multi-page scripts, fight for financing, then for the actors, prepare the scenery, sew costumes - the process is very, very time-consuming. And it’s a very big mistake to think that when shooting a home movie you can avoid all this. Of course, the scope of work is many times smaller, but no one has canceled the planning, script and other aspects that make up any film.
When the main idea is already there, when you have decided on the genre, it's time to start writing a script. At first, in the form of a small story, you can simply outline the general concept, which then will develop into a full-fledged action. It would also be naive to believe that this option, the initial one, will remain so until the end. There will be so many edits that it’s scary to imagine. Remember: as professionals make films, so do we!
Continuation of the script
When the initial script is finally ready and even a little streamlined (in general, it is created for the most part so as not to take out the excess), you need to supplement it with finer details. For example, to indicate when the credits will appear, where the shooting plan will change, and so on. Although, of course, everything for the most part depends on what you shoot. In large-scale films, it is better to describe the movements of characters, dialogs, and the situation of locations - absolutely everything that gets into the frame. You need to take into account any trifle, especially before making a movie at home, where the actors will be far from professionals who know how to work with the camera and do not need additional tips and tricks.
Cast
So, our script is ready, every little thing has been thought out, including the color of the curtains in the room where one of the episodes will be shot. How to make a movie next?
We need actors, right? The number of them depends solely on your imagination, but still, the fewer people are involved, the easier it will be to work. And it will be easier to maintain order. Here, by the way, the occurrence of one of the main problems of “home” cinema is quite likely: friends who are eager to become movie stars, but are completely unsuitable for the role that you imagined. And it’s hard to say if it’s right in this case to give in to relatives by rewriting the role for them, or to refuse to a friend, possibly provoking a serious conflict.
Attribute
But in the process of selecting actors, filming does not begin. It is still necessary to think over the costumes - the initial ones may simply not be suitable for specific people both in size (this problem is solved by a couple of hours of work with a sewing machine) or simply in style. And it’s best to adjust all the outfits in advance so that you don’t waste time on it later. In contrast to how specially trained people make movies, we don’t have so many human resources at our disposal to simultaneously create the film and work on the costumes.
Filming. Take times - camera setup
And now we pick up the camera and try on the role of the operator. Of course, the quality of the final picture will depend on the camera’s properties, but you can also take a real masterpiece on a soap camera, while a professional action camera can ruin any plot. But let's go deeper into the process of shooting.
First you need to remember that before you make a movie, you need to practice working with the camera. And the point here is not only the study of numerous settings modes. It is important to understand what actions the device will respond to and which ones not. Professional equipment will easily take pictures in any conditions, while low-end cameras and cameras will respond to the slightest hand tremor. It is best, if possible, to use some kind of coasters under the elbows, on which you can lean so that your hands (especially after an hour or two of shooting) do not tremble so noticeably.
Filming. Double two - down with the monotony!
We move on to point two. No constancy! And this is one of the main tips on how to make a short film. A short film, namely such a format is most often chosen by young directors, and a full-fledged long film should not be filled with long shots of the same object from the same angle. It is better to show it from different sides, in different situations, with different lighting and so on. Dynamism is our everything.
Filming. Double three - eyes on the back of the head
The third rule - we observe what is happening around. Of course, the main interest for the operator is the actors, but he must also ensure that something superfluous does not fall into the frame. No matter how well the interior is thought out, there can always be something that spoils the overall picture (for example, with a certain angle, a hunting trophy - horns hanging peacefully on a wall, can turn into the horns of one of the actors). Yes, in this situation it will not be so difficult to reshoot, but why create extra work for yourself?
Filming. Double four - shooting point and light
In general, the selection of angle and lighting is one of the main difficulties that almost all novice operators encounter. One is enough to read articles on the Internet about distortions that occur with a change in the shooting point (for example, the fact that we are shooting from below seems more massive, but the one captured from above, it seems tiny), while others prefer to try everything on their own - it's best to do this is in advance so as not to create delays in the shooting process.
As for lighting, you can also find a huge amount of information. Everyone knows that it plays a really very important role in the shooting process. With the help of properly selected light, an old woman can be made a charming woman in the prime of life, and a young girl can be turned into a hag. Here again, either preliminary preparation and reading of the theory, or the trial and error method - decide for yourself.
Filming. Take five - stop, please ...
Even before you make a film, it’s better to read at least some theory on this issue. From there, by the way, you can find out that it is better to end the film or any one episode with a static, still frame - it is perceived by a person as a point after which, most likely, a new chapter will begin. From the constant footage, the human brain will simply get tired - this is our nature, so let's pause.
Filming. Double six - where did we stop?
Here, by the way, is another pitfall, such a big and dangerous one. Be sure to remember how the previous video sequence ended. The final scene, especially if it is a replica, can then be very funny combined with the next one (for example, a couple reaches for each other for a kiss, and in the next frame the young man talks extensively about how dirty around them - well, that doesn’t fit, right?) . In order to avoid such embarrassments, watch the sequence of scenes.
Finish Line - Mount Video
Are we done with the filming process? If all the material has already been shot, then it's time to start editing the film. After all, how to make a movie without final work with the material?
There are a huge number of special programs for working with video sequences, which allow not only combining many disparate videos into one, but also applying special effects. You can use the primitive MovieMaker, but the tools here are very limited, so it’s better to download something more advanced on the Internet, for example, Movavi.
And then everything is simple. Video tracks are lined up in one, music is added, transitions are made out - detailed instructions for each of these actions can be found on the network or sorted out manually, if you don’t mind the free time.
When the series itself is configured, you can view it, make certain changes, then review it again to make sure everything is done in the best possible way. And after already save to disk.
Finishing flags are already visible - adding effects
You can add various effects in the interesting After Effect program from manufacturers of the well-known Photoshop. Well, how to shoot a short film without at least minimal effects? Adding multi-colored lines, interestingly designed inserts, applying filters to frames - all this can be cranked up in this program. It will definitely help make the final video better and more memorable.
Quite finish
Now that the video is ready, it remains only to save it in a suitable format. It all depends on the computer on which you work - it may simply not support some file formats. So we choose the most convenient for us and enjoy our movie!
Summarize and repeat
How to make a good documentary or a good comedy, how to create a memorable thriller yourself or just a short film on a burning topic? Let us repeat it all again: we come up with an idea, develop a concept, then write a draft of the script, supplement it with all the necessary details, then we begin work on the cast, costumes, sets and other parts of the visual component. We go through the whole hell of filming, and then proceed to the direct editing of the film, adding music, credits, effects and other amenities, the main task of which is to attract the attention of the viewer. And only after all this has been done, you can think about showing your work to an audience.
All novice filmmakers should remember the most: self-belief and hard work will help to create a true masterpiece even with the minimum available resources. Good luck