How to Produce a Great Film – From Ideas to Production
A film, also called a “video” or “televised film,” is a collection of moving pictures shown on a large screen, most often with synchronized sound, which create a story to be told. Most of the time, a film is produced for release in theaters, on a movie theater chain, or a DVD distributor. You may casually prefer animated films over other types of movies while secretly feeling like a fan of independent, French films. Either way, you’ll need to know some basics about film making if you want to produce your own film.
Before you can even begin to create a film, you will need to have the necessary film supplies. These include four to six camera supplies such as cameras and lenses, a VCR or DVD player, editing equipment such as video cameras, tapes, and a computer, a printer, and business cards or personal identification cards. Other items you may want to consider taking along are your basic film kit, a portable computer, flash drive, editing supplies, film processing supplies, a tripod, and an assortment of other miscellaneous items. Depending on how complicated you want your film to be, you may want to rent some additional supplies before you leave home. For example, lighting equipment, smoke machines, and smoke filters can make your film look great.
The first step in the process is to purchase the materials and get your cameras ready to go. If you aren’t a professional, it’s best to scout around for a good deal on camera equipment. You can usually find great prices at flea markets, second hand stores, and online retailers.
Next, you’ll have to write a script of your film, which is essentially the blueprint of your movie. You can use a book or a newspaper or even your own written script to get your point across. Try and keep your plot consistent throughout your film so that viewers won’t get bored with the film. Remember that film makers don’t like change. So if there’s going to be any changes in your story, it’s important that you plan ahead and make sure everything fits.
After your film is complete, you’ll want to edit it. You can either use a word processor or you may want to invest in a good editing tool for your computer such as Adobe After Effects. To add special effects to your film, you can use graphics software such as Photoshop. In addition, lighting and sound can significantly change the impact of your film and it’s important to research each element to make sure you have the right settings.
Finally, you’ll want to submit your film for approval. This is where submitting your film to film festivals come in. You can either apply for grants through these organizations or you can simply send your film to a number of different film festivals hoping that one of them will be selected.