What makes a student film look like a student film?

[Fahad]

1

 

[Chris Light]

employing friends/family members as actors?

 

[Fahad]

so you think it's a budget thing?

 

[danjchoi]

if you're looking for a checklist common to an inexperienced student's films:

1) No Story/Nothing worth saying

2) Bad audio

3) Dutch angles (kidding....kind of)

4) Unintentional shakiness

5) Bad lighting (ie. blown highlights everywhere)

6) Interlacing

7) Cliches in music, dialog, acting, composition

 

[El Director]

Too many meaningless closeups and inserts

 

[Chris Light]

all the issues stated sofar are valid. you're not crazy Fahad

 

[Fahad]

if you're looking for a checklist common to an inexperienced student's films:

1) No Story/Nothing worth saying

2) Bad audio

3) Dutch angles (kidding....kind of)

4) Unintentional shakiness

5) Bad lighting (ie. blown highlights everywhere)

6) Interlacing

7) Cliches in music, dialog, acting, composition

Too many meaningless closeups and inserts

so, basically, a general lack of finesse?

all the issues stated sofar are valid. you're not crazy Fahad

thanks for the reassurance chris!

it's just that, with all the information i've gathered and knowledge i can regurgitate, i worry that i really don't know jack sh***.

 

[Chris Light]

i worry that i really don't know jack sh***.

welcome to my life.:shocked:

 

[Rashdan]

Here's a list:
http://www.filmmaker.com/DUMPS

 

[Jawa Ex Machina]

Everyone involved is under 25. At least half are under 20.



Including the action hero with the sun glasses and the toy gun, as well as all the ninjas he's fighting.

 

[Chris Light]

dude, i'm 34. i knew more when i had a video camera. i now use a dslr. i know nothing.

 

[David Jimerson]

When it starts out with a shot of a gun.

 

[David G. Smith]

When every scene of the international intrique action thriller is set in and around a nice suburban tract home.

 

[Batutta]

White, bare apartment walls.

 

[thekeygun]

when every scene of the international intrique action thriller is set in and around a nice suburban tract home.

yes!

 

[Doc Bernard]

And speaking of "cliche's", I am seeing so many cliche's about student film here.

 

[Doc Bernard]

Everyone involved is under 25. At least half are under 20.



Including the action hero with the sun glasses and the toy gun, as well as all the ninjas he's fighting.

So, since I get involved in a bunch of student films (I am 40), they are no longer "student films", huh?

 

[MattinSTL]

I can't believe nobody's pointed out "frequent, awkward... smoking". Which can be broken down into a couple sub-categories... including "the quick puffer" and "the joint holder"... which is often combined into "the quick-puffing joint holder"*... if not a barrage of "smoking is so cool" shots.

*Tip: If the actor playing the character you wrote to be a smoker doesn't smoke. Change the script.


Aside from that I'd have to agree that it's flat lighting. (if we're talking "visuals" only).

 

[ugafan]

it's just that, with all the information i've gathered and knowledge i can regurgitate, i worry that i really don't know jack sh***.

that is the first step towards success.

 

[_joe]

pacing and audio

when I hear massive amounts of the room and edits are very loose. As in....lots...of....space...between.....intercut...lines


pacing above all though