How to Make Your Own Video or Short Film: All you need to know to make your ideas shine

by Bob Harvey

Overview

New technologies now offer accessibility to the medium of video and film for virtually anyone who feels they have something to say. You might be: someone who wants to create a video to share online; someone who wants to record and document everyday events that happen around you; a charity worker wanting to highlight the plight of the less fortunate, or a journalist keen to use film to explore social issues; an artist or a writer eager to experiment within an an audio visual medium; anyone who wants to step into a world of discovery and challenge, and learn new skills along the way.This book offers an abundance of hints, tips and practical advice that will help emerging film-makers discover an exciting form of expression, either for personal satisfaction or to make their mark in a highly competitive industry. It includes: deciding what kind of film you want to make; choosing a camera; choosing your subject matter; dealing with copyright; using music to enhance your film; working with professional actors; researching information and avoiding location problems; production meetings; budgets; schedules; conducting interviews for documentaries; digital editing; aound and lighting techniques; and, making your film stand out from the crowd.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781848032576
Publisher:	Little, Brown Book Group
Publication date:	04/25/2008
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	300
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Bob Harvey worked as a dubbing editor and film editor with the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 on numerous series, including Horizon and TheWorld at War, before turning to writing and directing. His career has encompassed documentary, commercials, factual, entertainment, children's and drama. He received a BAFTA for his work on Raven in 2003, has written columns for Broadcast Freelancer, lectured at Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication, and tutors a documentary course at the Metropolitan Film School at Ealing Studios.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Acknowledgements x

1 The Wonders of Choice 1

The impact of the digital age 1

Exciting new challenges for film-makers 3

Overcoming restrictions and pressures 3

Deciding what kind of film-maker you want to be 4

Considering your audience's expectations 6

2 The Film Legacy 8

The role of film 8

The pioneering spirit 8

Documentary comes of age 11

Propaganda and the war years 13

Film and the art of deception 14

New innovations in the post-war years 16

The evolution of the fictional film 18

3 Deciding on an Approach 20

Assessing the options 20

Creativity and the truth 21

Blurring the lines 24

The director's vision 26

Having fun with your film 28

4 A New Box of Tricks 30

Television creates a wider audience 30

The challenge to be innovative 34

Leading by example 36

Integrating stylisation into your narrative 39

5 Evaluating Your Options 42

Finding a style 43

Your personal approach 47

Making your film work at more than one level 47

A balanced viewpoint 50

Can your film draw a conclusion? 52

Choosing your subject matter 54

6 Nothing Is What It Seems 57

Discovering the truth 57

Subtext in drama 58

Subtext in documentary 60

Using exposition 61

How film-makers can change perceptions 64

7 Mixing Your Ingredients 67

Deciding on your film's components 67

Studio bound 68

On location 69

Creating an illusion 70

Delving into the archives 71

The power of music 72

Working with actors 77

Finalising your components 83

8 Avoiding Unnecessary Complications 84

Clearing your ground 84

Filming with children 85

Hidden camera filming 88

Avoid copyright issues 89

The importance of release forms89

Filming on private property 92

9 Plan Ahead 95

Thinking ahead saves time and money 95

Thorough research: an essential starting point 96

Make time for a recce 97

Take control whenever you can 98

Take practical steps to avoid location problems 102

Be prepared when filming abroad 108

Health and safety a priority 111

10 The Creative Framework 117

Deciding on the filmic style 117

Determining a running time 118

Translating the creative concept into a practical reality 119

Focusing on creating a strong narrative 120

Formulating a creative template 124

Devising a shooting script for drama sequences 134

11 Communication is Key 139

The communication hit list 139

Budget your film sensibly 140

Devise a realistic shooting schedule 141

Protect yourself against the unexpected 149

Making the most of a production meeting 152

Call sheets maintain strong communication 155

12 Practical Magic 161

Film or new media 161

Choosing the right camera 163

Choosing the format that's right for you 166

Finding your way through the digital maze 167

Staying future proof 171

Being prepared for a shoot 172

Lighting techniques 173

Sound ideas 176

13 In the Hot Seat 179

Sounding our your contributors 179

Making your interviews visually interesting 181

Eliminate distractions wherever possible 182

Getting the most from your contributors 184

Improving your interview techniques 186

Maintaining intimacy on camera 188

Filming street interviews 189

14 On the Shoot 194

Make sure you are fully prepared 194

Establish a system for filming interviews 195

Consider eyelines and spatial relationships 196

Deciding whether to use two or more cameras 201

Controlling your filming ratio 206

Bring your scenes to life 208

Supervising the wrap 210

15 The Mechanics of Editing 212

Film establishes our editing conventions 212

The development from linear to non-linear 214

Digital editing comes of age 216

Digital editing in practice 217

Flexibility and control in digital editing 220

Always conceal your building blocks 222

16 Piecing the Jigsaw Together 223

Distilling life into digestible portions 223

Consider creating a paper edit 224

Create an assembly before fine-cutting 225

Editing as an evolutionary process 227

Creating a hook 228

Staying true to your objectives 231

17 Reaching Your Audience 233

Deciding on an outlet for your film 233

The network of advice at your fingertips 236

Taking your ideas to a broadcaster 237

Submitting your film to a festival 238

Finding a distribution outlet 240

Using your film as a stepping stone 241

18 New Frontiers 243

Further Reading 245

Index 247