So this is my first fest...

Writing a good script is really the trick. First of all, you mentioned "I have no idea how to condense it into 6 minutes" which might mean the idea is just too complex. Look at the top 2 films of LoveFest and how simple they were. Simple ideas, done well. Doesn't mean you can't do a complicated plot, but many films end up feeling rushed and it's very challenging to walk that line.

Another note, if you see someone you really like in another film or even a stage play (careful with this as sometimes what works on stage doesn't translate to film), you can usually find out their email and send them the script. Flattery goes a long way in addition to have a good script.

Also, on top of getting good actors you need to be able to communicate with them as word may get around you don't know what you're doing if you're not completely and correctly prepared. Hopefully you've read "Directing Actors" as that should give you the ground work to communicate effectively and professionally with actors.

Best of luck to you.
 
Gohanto said:
Also, on top of getting good actors you need to be able to communicate with them as word may get around you don't know what you're doing if you're not completely and correctly prepared. Hopefully you've read "Directing Actors" as that should give you the ground work to communicate effectively and professionally with actors.

Best of luck to you.
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I haven't, but I think I really should. Is it a book, or is it on the web?
 
To add to the mess...

I'm 17, got alo through coercing and everything, ive got the hv20 and redrock m2... ive got lights, kickass computer and adobe cs3..

But none of that matters if you don't have a good story... and off of that, a good actor...

What i did fr my first professional shoot was get the actor, (Exarmy afterbeing shot by a sniper, and now wanted to get into acting) He was working for free, he thought it was some college kid shoot and whatnot, he walked up the location and saw us, one high school senior and one 19 yer old college dropout... But he later old us what was going through his mind ashe saw that..

"High school kid talked me into doing this movie, got free rental on lots of camera equipment, has a great story, who gives a hell, im giving this 110%"

thoe were almost his exact words, mainly the last 4 words. But the thing is, don't let them know your age, wait until they are commited and then let it out... thats what i did, and i made a movie, aquired a DC3/C47 vintage aircraft, and a grass airfeild... to play in with a new camera


Im sorry bout that, i don't mean to be cocky, just showing an experience.. lol


but imstill wicked nervous about setting up the timefest stuff... shooting two films, one wth that same actors... whom i have as a great friend... its gonna be sick, but nerveracking


best of luck... May the Force Be With You
 
Reeven, it sort of seems like you are piling on the small obstacles to create one big road block. The key to these festivals and to filmmaking in general is that you just have to do it. No one really hits a home run the first time out. You are going to have difficencies. Your lighting might suck for that all important cutaway. Your lead might not be able to act their way out of a 5th grade play. Your sound may end up being more like you are watching a film in a laundry mat than a THX theatre. It happens to everyone. Do yourself a favor and just list everything you need to do to get it all done. Try and organize it in the most logical order. Then take on one thing at a time. You will find out very quickly that you will build up momentum. With that comes greater success.

On the bad actor note... come up with a story that can be told with little or no dialogue. The less the actor opens their mouth the better. As a filmmaker you should be able to visually tell your story. Dialogue is an addition. Direct your actors with active emotion, like anger, fear, lust, calm. That emotion should play visually. A project we had to do for first semester directors in film school was to put together a 1-3 minute short film using still camera slides only. We could use music and sound effects but no dialogue. You would be amazed at how good some of the pieces were. It became a film about the direction, the angles, how the story was told through the lens, the emotion of the characters... and not about how good the performance of the actor was. If you want to know more about that project PM me. These festivals are just like film school exercises... they just have prizes in the end. But even top notch pro's need to continually do exercises or they quickly loose their craft.

JUST DO IT!
 
That is exactly why I'm making my first dvxfest with a cell phone. So many people say they can't compete because of this or that. My equipment isn't good enough, my actors aren't good enough, I don't have enough lights, etc. Well I'm shooting this on a cell phone. No manual controls, no high budget equipment. My family and friends are the actors, and I expect to make a film that can compete with some of the top films out there. If I don't make a film then I definitely can't compete! That is the key. Forget about your shortcomings and be creative and work around your problems and like Nike said, "JUST DO IT"!!!
 
sfoster said:
That is exactly why I'm making my first dvxfest with a cell phone. So many people say they can't compete because of this or that. My equipment isn't good enough, my actors aren't good enough, I don't have enough lights, etc. Well I'm shooting this on a cell phone. No manual controls, no high budget equipment. My family and friends are the actors, and I expect to make a film that can compete with some of the top films out there. If I don't make a film then I definitely can't compete! That is the key. Forget about your shortcomings and be creative and work around your problems and like Nike said, "JUST DO IT"!!!
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see, thats what i like to hear. i think its wrong for people to say you need this and that to make a good movie. its bullsht, i got 12 years experience playin the field and im 24 and ive seen some crazy sht in my time. if you can balance an image, decent framing, and a bit for photography you can pull off good cinematography on anything. just cuz it aint high def dont mean sht. low budget quality can and always will be made up by sound and story. do your research on a good half k mic if that and pop ADR the whole project with some good editing and your sht will be serious.
 
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