Can I make a short film on this?
- Thread starter mattspat
- Start date
David W. Richardson
Chapelgrove Films
I'll tell you the story of a guy I know.
He was an aspiring screenwriter. His wife was an aspiring actress.
He wrote a script for a short (30 minute, I believe) film. It had only 2 characters -- a man and his wife. It all took place in their apartment.
They shot on a consumer-level VHS-C camcorder. No external mic. Just regular room lights. No crew, even -- just the two of them. Of course, they played both roles. So only one of them could be on-screen at a time, since the other had to be working the camera.
They shot at nights after work. He edited the old-fashioned 'linear' way -- by attaching the camera to a VCR. He composed the music score himself. Bought a cheap $90 titler to make the titles. Total cost for the whole thing -- under $100.
From start to finish, it took them 2 weeks.
Is it great? No. But it's pretty compelling. They got a copy to Joe Bob Briggs, who gave it a favorable review on his website. It even got distribution on a DVD with other short films.
They have since gone on to make other films, including several features. (I have no idea if they were all shot on the same VHS-C camcorder.)
So yes, use what you have. Tell a great story, with believable actors. Impress everyone!
He was an aspiring screenwriter. His wife was an aspiring actress.
He wrote a script for a short (30 minute, I believe) film. It had only 2 characters -- a man and his wife. It all took place in their apartment.
They shot on a consumer-level VHS-C camcorder. No external mic. Just regular room lights. No crew, even -- just the two of them. Of course, they played both roles. So only one of them could be on-screen at a time, since the other had to be working the camera.
They shot at nights after work. He edited the old-fashioned 'linear' way -- by attaching the camera to a VCR. He composed the music score himself. Bought a cheap $90 titler to make the titles. Total cost for the whole thing -- under $100.
From start to finish, it took them 2 weeks.
Is it great? No. But it's pretty compelling. They got a copy to Joe Bob Briggs, who gave it a favorable review on his website. It even got distribution on a DVD with other short films.
They have since gone on to make other films, including several features. (I have no idea if they were all shot on the same VHS-C camcorder.)
So yes, use what you have. Tell a great story, with believable actors. Impress everyone!
CovenantPictures
Active member
It's just a tool man. It's the mind of the artist that makes all the difference in the world. You'll be fine. With all this technical talk and jargon and need to stay so current with the digital cinematography trends, many tend to forget it's an art, not just a technical field.
It depends on what you expect from the camera.While i was watching behind the scenes and footage from the set then it was recording one scene with 2 actors and their acting was somewhat goofy ,overreacted and looked weird+fake but on the film this scene looks normal ,there is something about progressive 23.976 which makes mimic look good on screen,when its too smoth then it looks fake.
This is only subtle difference but its quite big for eye.Digital consumer camcorders have all overexposed auto exposure setting so you would have to keep it on manual,but anyways... its not that simple to get good results.
You can shoot even on cellphone,on anything which records... but dont expect too much.Get yourself progressive camcorder if you want some real noticeable difference.
TRUE progressive, your cam have some frame drop out progressive emulation but its not real progressive ,progressive should be recorded as progressive on progressive sensor.
This is only subtle difference but its quite big for eye.Digital consumer camcorders have all overexposed auto exposure setting so you would have to keep it on manual,but anyways... its not that simple to get good results.
You can shoot even on cellphone,on anything which records... but dont expect too much.Get yourself progressive camcorder if you want some real noticeable difference.
TRUE progressive, your cam have some frame drop out progressive emulation but its not real progressive ,progressive should be recorded as progressive on progressive sensor.
Brickhouse Media
Well-known member
Start ASAP and finish it with what you have. I used to think I couldn't 'be true to my art' without a certain microphone or something. Wrong. Create something. Nothing like it.
Steve Laramie
Veteran
Dont look for excuses go shoot
JamieF
Member
Go shoot it man.
For a first shoot just, figure out where youre at.
I agree that its not the tools its the story but. There is a point you need to upgrade where better tools make for a better story. As far as that saying goes, there comes a point where it turns into horse ****. They didnt shoot the dark knight on a mini dvd 200 dollar sony. So yes, it does matter eventually. But its great to learn.
For a first shoot just, figure out where youre at.
I agree that its not the tools its the story but. There is a point you need to upgrade where better tools make for a better story. As far as that saying goes, there comes a point where it turns into horse ****. They didnt shoot the dark knight on a mini dvd 200 dollar sony. So yes, it does matter eventually. But its great to learn.