Basic Filmmaking Tutorial
Headings:- Overview
- What you want to shoot
- Fundamentals of Framing
- The Basic Shots
- The 180º Rule
- The Rule of Thirds
- Coverage and Cutaways
- Lighting
- Microphones
- Be the Director
- Editing
- Screening
- Go and Shoot
Overview
Learning to be a filmmaker means getting to grips with angles, framing, shots, and of course editing. So lets have a quick run through.What you want to shoot
The most important thing above all else! Research, plan, research, plan!Know exactly what you want to shoot.
Ensure you know exactly what type of story are you telling - even if it’s a live event.
What angles do you want to use in shooting? What narrative hooks do you want to feed your viewers? A documentary is perhaps the only genre that should be shot angle free.
Fundamentals of Framing
Traditionally opening shots establish the area in which the action will unfold, with the intention of locating the audience - but be wary of patronising or boring your audience.The Basic Shots
When framing people there are 3 basic shots:- The Long Shot
Not your Auntie’s tip in the grand national, but a great way of introducing characters, where they are, and seeing action. - The Medium Shot
Perfect for conversation, not too much distracting space, but allows the room for more than one character. - The Close Up
Enables the actor to really convey thought/feeling. Use helps audience empathise with character.
The 180º Rule
Much simpler than the off-side rule, it’s just about keeping your cameras on one side of a straight line; most often used when shooting a conversation between two people, to avoid startling or confusing your audience.The Rule of Thirds
This helps avoid constantly centering your subjects in the frame. Divide your screen into thirds and place your actors somewhere on these lines.Coverage and Cutaways
Coverage refers to shooting more footage than you’ll think you’ll need to use in editing when you need to a momentary escape, use up time or build suspense. Includes different angles and setups, extra takes, and plenty of all other types of shots.Cutaways are also filler material, but more specific.
Lighting
Lighting can often take longer than you’d imagine but taking extra time to light scenes can be invaluable.Unless you’re making a documentary every scene needs to be lit.
Lighting your scene yourself gives greater control over the image and that’s what it’s all about.
3-point lighting is how most films are lit. This means a key light, a fill light and a background light. Think about whether you need to a) light the set, best if characters move within the frame; or b) light the actors, best if you need close-ups.
Don’t be afraid to improvise with some cheap bulbs, rig them up on broomsticks and then spend a bit on great filters or gels. Or rent them. To reflect available light, try tin foil or mimic a chinese lantern with a simple paper lampshade.
The camera can also control the amount of light it sees, but be wary of relying on this.
Keep a consistent look throughout. Repetition and variation can again be very effective. Use colours that you can also pick up in the costumes, make-up and sets, as well as ones that match the mood of your movies. Think about tone in each scene. Light areas of the frame where you want the audience to look.
Microphones
- Omni-directional: The sort of mic your DV camera will have attached. Great for background noise, but they can’t be pointed in a specific direction to pick up a specific sound.
- Cardoid: Great for picking up a cluster of sounds, rather than a specific sound, or everything; for example recording a conversation between a group of people.
- Shotgun: Great for picking up a specific sound, even at long distances, without distractions.
Be the Director
The director has to mentally juggle all the aspects of production. This lets the rest of the cast and crew concentrate on their own performance, but is also crucial in ensuring that the whole production goes in one clear direction. Being a good director is about good communication and the best way to get great shots is to work out in advance what you want, and convey your intentions clearly to your cast and crew.Command respect but don’t run a set where people are too frightened to say if they’ve made a mistake, and occasionally listening to and encouraging crew input is often for the better.
Whilst the importance of organization should never be forgotten nor should that spontaneity and seizing the moment can often produce the best film; and remember a good story is magical!
And unless the drama requires otherwise encouraging a fun set often provides just the right environment for your cast!
Editing
The editing can find or make a film; set pace, bring out performances, cover cock-ups and making it all work and flow.It should seem invisible to the casual viewer. Connoisseurs compare it to music, with rhythm and tempo being crucial.
Good editing can help generate emotional crescendos, carry the audience along with the story, and ultimately fulfill their want of a good story.
Nowadays it is a non-destructive process - until recently editors had to physically chop and stick film together! Now all you need is a pretty good computer and some decent software.
Screening
There are many places to get your film shown on the web. If you’ve a short film meant to display your talents to the industry as a whole, a professional looking DVD and a well researched list of contacts might be an idea.Seeking distribution - even if you aren’t successful - is a significant way to give back to your cast and crew especially if they’ve been paid little or nothing.
Technically speaking MiniDV can be transferred to film, so however unlikely, it is still possible if you shoot on this format your film could still be shown in cinemas nationwide.
Go and Shoot
The best way to learn is just to get out there and start making mistakes and masterpieces.Of course logic is still vital if you want to entertain the masses, so here are some last closing tips:
- Be open to influences from other films/documentaries:
Check out how similar scenes to the ones you are shooting were shot, take note of what you liked and how they did it. - Notepad and pen are your friend. Ticking off shots and noting continuity factors vital when shooting the same scene on separate occasions.
- Obviously make sure you have all you need in the way of film, batteries, tripods, mics, and lights.
- Plan your order of shooting bearing in mind in which scenes amounts of daylight are important.
- Be new age British and check the weather forecast.
