I have recently begun pursuing filmmaking. Unfortunately, it seems that for every step forward I'm forced to take two backwards. Since I'm strapped for cash, my first problem is finding people willing to pursue an endeavor for little or no monetary compensation. Are there any suggestions? Also, does anyone know how to create a concetration of light? I want the light where I want it and no other place. Any help and any suggestions for an up and coming filmmaker would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.
Having Problems gettting my Project Going.
- Thread starter JackFrost
- Start date
Nerdcolony
Member
It's all about the favor exchange. Start working on other peoples projects for free. Bust your ass and work like you are getting paid a ton. Make friends with people who are passionate about film like you and then when the time comes, call in the favors. If you work on other peoples films for free, people will remember you as long as you work hard and have a smile!
As far as concentration of light... not quite sure what exactly you mean but aside from barn doors if you have them, try black wrap. It's like tin foil only it's black so it does not reflect light. You can create funnels for your light using this stuff. The effect may vary depending on the source of the light but it might help you.
As far as concentration of light... not quite sure what exactly you mean but aside from barn doors if you have them, try black wrap. It's like tin foil only it's black so it does not reflect light. You can create funnels for your light using this stuff. The effect may vary depending on the source of the light but it might help you.
egyptianboxer104
Well-known member
Also you could compensate with credit/copy/meals. Provide meals for all days you shoot for every 6 hours they're on set. And as was mentioned before, work on other peoples sets for free. If you're around va/dc/md i'd be willing to help you out no compensation lol.
And if it's your first time, just try worring about getting it shot. don't try and get a huge crew together, but learn from the mistakes and why you NEED that large crew. if you have an amazing script, try writting an okay script that can be shot in a weekend for your first one. then on your next one try and go all out!
Hope this helps.l this is wha i did and my second film turned out pretty good.
And if it's your first time, just try worring about getting it shot. don't try and get a huge crew together, but learn from the mistakes and why you NEED that large crew. if you have an amazing script, try writting an okay script that can be shot in a weekend for your first one. then on your next one try and go all out!
Hope this helps.l this is wha i did and my second film turned out pretty good.
Jon Starr
Veteran
Well recently I worked on an 80 min web series (which btw don't tackle something big like that until you have some shorts under your belt). The way I got a team of 4 producers was simple, make them feel part of the process. I co-wrote the series with two others, which made them feel attached to the project. One of them was helping me direct and produce and the other was helping to edit. Meanwhile another producer came on because she loved the scripts and became our first ad.
It's all about favors, but more importantly show them your interest, give them a reason for being a part of your project.
Also, the most important advice I've heard when it pertains to getting to know filmmakers and other industry proffesionals is "don't make contacts, make friends."
As for lighting, well I'm assuming you're new to lighting just by the nature of the question. So I would read a few things pertaining to lighting. For example, blocking out light can be done in several ways, and it depends on if you want a spot or flood that's blocked off. There are obviously barn doors (which should automatically come with any movie light) and black foil, but you also have cookie cutters (I think it's called?) and of course flags, which all of then act differently and can have different effects.
Look up things like three point lighting, diffusion, flagging, bouncing light, etc. It's all important to start to get to know.
Also the more you know, and the better your scripts are, the more you'll attract people to your projects.
I consider myself fairly knowledgable, and for my web series the first shoots, in fact the majority of shoots were a crew of about 4 or 5, depending. When you have two cameras, you log shots, you have complex lighting, have to operate sound and direct, you need a bigger crew at times. Only on our last shoot did we have a crew of 8. That being said I have good amount of knowledge and lots of contacts/friends. Even I had trouble. So it may take time. You may have to have a friend doing two to three jobs at a time.
It's all about favors, but more importantly show them your interest, give them a reason for being a part of your project.
Also, the most important advice I've heard when it pertains to getting to know filmmakers and other industry proffesionals is "don't make contacts, make friends."
As for lighting, well I'm assuming you're new to lighting just by the nature of the question. So I would read a few things pertaining to lighting. For example, blocking out light can be done in several ways, and it depends on if you want a spot or flood that's blocked off. There are obviously barn doors (which should automatically come with any movie light) and black foil, but you also have cookie cutters (I think it's called?) and of course flags, which all of then act differently and can have different effects.
Look up things like three point lighting, diffusion, flagging, bouncing light, etc. It's all important to start to get to know.
Also the more you know, and the better your scripts are, the more you'll attract people to your projects.
I consider myself fairly knowledgable, and for my web series the first shoots, in fact the majority of shoots were a crew of about 4 or 5, depending. When you have two cameras, you log shots, you have complex lighting, have to operate sound and direct, you need a bigger crew at times. Only on our last shoot did we have a crew of 8. That being said I have good amount of knowledge and lots of contacts/friends. Even I had trouble. So it may take time. You may have to have a friend doing two to three jobs at a time.