Anyone have the free time to just randomly shoot shorts for fun with no planning?

Tabula Rasa Productions

Tabula Rasa Productions

Well-known member
I wake up every morning, check the DVXusers forum, read some books on either screenplay writing, cinematography, or directing, then after lunch I call my friends up and we try to film something, anything.

Anyone think this is a waste of time?

Does anyone do the same?

I'm interested.
 
I think it's a waste of time. And that is nothing personal, just my opinion.

I think you are much better off spending a couple weeks actually planning something then bust your @ss to make it something worth watching.

Unless you just want to have fun goofing off with a video camera. I did that with friends all through high school, but we weren't actually trying to make anything. But also, back then, we had to edit "in camera" with the start and stop button. There was no home editing. If I had back then, the tools I have today, I wouldnt waste my time fiddle-farting. I'd make something worthwhile.


Just my 2 cents. Have fun doing whatever.
 
Tabula Rasa Productions said:
I wake up every morning, check the DVXusers forum, read some books on either screenplay writing, cinematography, or directing, then after lunch I call my friends up and we try to film something, anything.

Anyone think this is a waste of time?

Does anyone do the same?

I'm interested.
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I don't but I wanted to counter post the Gages statement.

I don't think it's a waste of time. I think it shows you have an underlying passion for filming. Filming anything, whatever and whenever you can. That to me sais volumes.

But, also, Gages comments are noteworthy. You have the passion, I think he's saying, do some planning and make something worthwhile to at least yourself.

So, I guess I'm not ragging Gage after all, ha.
 
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It SAYS volumes, but does it HELP at all? No. He is FAR better off planning something and actually practicing and learning proper skills that will help him grow as a filmmaker. Plus, I think actually planning and carefully executing something speaks much more for his being SERIOUS about the art than just futzing about.
 
Tabula Rasa Productions said:
I wake up every morning, check the DVXusers forum, read some books on either screenplay writing, cinematography, or directing, then after lunch I call my friends up and we try to film something, anything.

Anyone think this is a waste of time?

Does anyone do the same?

I'm interested.
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No, I have a job.

I can't decide is this is a gag or not.
 
Agreed!

Well, I do have things that I plan out, and when I plan out, I plan out (storyboards, draft the script 5 times, get good actors, etc.)...

My question is really, when faced with downtime (my actors are away, my editor is out of town)is there any merit to spontaneous creativity, making stories with what you have lying around--or am I better off reading.

What do you guys do?
 
GageFX said:
It SAYS volumes, but does it HELP at all? No. He is FAR better off planning something and actually practicing and learning proper skills that will help him grow as a filmmaker. Plus, I think actually planning and carefully executing something speaks much more for his being SERIOUS about the art than just futzing about.
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Yes, but what context are we talking about? He's just asking. Is he a kid in school? Or does it matter? How long has he had his camera.
Hell...

"How long have you had your camera and how old are you and how long have you been at this?" ...Tabula.

-thanks.
 
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He's just asking.
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And I'm just saying.


These guys JUST graduated from high school:

http://www.vimeo.com/1392246


I dont think AGE is a matter anymore. Should Penguin stop writing screenplays because he is just in high school? Why wait until he is old and crusty like us to learn good filmmaking. If he starts now he can be tearing up the film world by 25. (Assuming he's in high school.)
 
Well, unluckily for me, I discovered my passion late, about 4 months ago. Im almost 21 (in october) and have one year left of college (as a poli sci major). I definitely plan on making this my life...to the distraught anguish of my parents. I want to go to film school, whether it be for screenwriting or production...and I just got my own camera not 2 weeks ago.

Before that I had to borrow my friend's gear, but in the short time I've been doing this, I've planned, written, and shot 3 or 4 things I can consider "somewhat well executed". I've also shot a LOT of random shorts, trying to practice skills I read about (a good pan, a good tracking shot)...

I know that I have a passion...I would rather live a poor life as a struggling videographer/film maker than a rich life without the ability to tell my stories.
But is doing SOMETHING unplanned better than doing NOTHING that is planned? As a college student it is difficult to get help with my projects at times.
 
I would be writing and planning the next project. Unless you are ready to shoot it, there is ALWAYS some preproduction to be done.


NOW.... what I WOULD do is set up exercises to learn fundamentals. Watch a scene from one of your favorite movies and try to MATCH it's lighting and framing. Dont just get a couple loco friends to act out the scene, use the exercise to LEARN the CINEMATOGRAPHY. STUDY how the light falls in the scene and then MATCH it. No, you wont have all the tools that Hollywood has, but figure it out. Grab a table lamp and watch how the light changes as you try different things with it.

Dont just go out and be a goofball. Dont just throw your friends into daylight and film then saying dumb things. LEARN the qualities of good filmmaking.

If you just go out and goof off, then at the end of the day you are a goof off and YouTube has one more poo pooing video. If you go out and TEACH yourself something then at the end of the day you are one step closer to being a real filmmaker.
 
But is doing SOMETHING unplanned better than doing NOTHING that is planned?
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No.

I should be getting better...right...NOW! AHHH!
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This is what I'm saying.

I wish I had started sooner...
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Get to it NOW. Dont think about how late you started. I'm 10 years older than you and just started. Get on it NOW so you are kickin @ss by the time you are older.
 
I try to help. Even if I stand to sound like an @ss when I do it.
yahoo_beatup.gif
 
Tabula Rasa Productions said:
I wake up every morning, check the DVXusers forum, read some books on either screenplay writing, cinematography, or directing, then after lunch I call my friends up and we try to film something, anything.

Anyone think this is a waste of time?

Does anyone do the same?

I'm interested.
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Waste of time? I shot my first movie this way. I would read DVXU everyday, read about cameras and filmmaking and then I wrote, planned and made a film. But we had shot a few shorts already.
GageFX said:
It SAYS volumes, but does it HELP at all? No. He is FAR better off planning something and actually practicing and learning proper skills that will help him grow as a filmmaker. Plus, I think actually planning and carefully executing something speaks much more for his being SERIOUS about the art than just futzing about.
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I agree with this too. Sooner or later you have to let the shorts go and move on to doing the real thing. Some people get caught up in making shorts. (No offense to people who love making shorts), but every time you make a feature you get a real hands on education and at the end you come out with an actual product.

-Nate
 
Some of my best lessons in filmmaking have come from just going out to make movies with no planning.

There is a lot to be said for figuring out things on your feet and on the go.

It is fun and great artistic exercise and it reminds me why I got into this career in the first place.

Having a job is not an excuse.

I have a job and I still find time to do it.

It keeps me fresh.
 
Sooner or later you have to let the shorts go and move on to doing the real thing.
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To be clear, Nathyn, I'm not a guy that likes shorts. I dont do them. That doesnt mean I think people shouldnt, it's just not MY thing. However, if you ARE going to do them, then plan them out.
 
Nathyn said:
Sooner or later you have to let the shorts go and move on to doing the real thing.

-Nate
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That's just crazy talk.

There are no boundaries on film that determine whether it is "the real thing" or not.

Shoot what ever you want and don't be limited by standards created by others.

A great short is a hell of a lot more "real" than an awful feature.

-rook
 
No Way!! No waisted time.. I bring a small hd camera everywhere I go!! its all about a good platform to host your own content...
 
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