Think of an interesting event in your own life and use it for inspiration for your script. Consider the scope of the story and whether you can convey the story on the budget that you have.
If you don’t have a lot of money to work with, you don’t want to write a script that includes explosions or expensive digital effects. As you write, think about your potential audience and viewers. You should aim to satisfy them and give them what they need to understand your idea and the story you’re telling. [3] X Expert Source Gavin AnsteyVideo Producer Expert Interview. 27 June 2019.
Some screenwriters will sell you their script for a fee.
If you aren’t artistic, you can use stick figures to represent the actors and simple shapes to represent the elements in the scene.
Getting permits to shoot on private or public property can sometimes be very expensive.
Look for actors that can embody the role in the script. Have them read lines to you to see if you think they would be a good fit for the part.
If you don’t have a budget, ask friends who are interested in filmmaking if they would be interested in working on the movie for free.
If you want to take steady shots, you should purchase a tripod. If you’re shooting during the day, you can try to use sunlight for your lighting source. If shooting inside, you’ll need to get light clamps and flood lights. For sound, you can get a more expensive boom mic or you can opt for cheaper external audio recorders or small wireless mics. The external mics on many cameras aren’t great for picking up actor’s dialogue.
This process is known as “blocking the scene. " The read through of the script can be done anywhere, but you should try to do the blocking on set.
If the actors have to wear a cultural or religious piece, such as a hijab or yarmulke, be sure to study it. Don’t just throw the piece on; be as accurate as possible. If you are on a tight budget, you can have the actors provide outfits from their own wardrobe, but make sure that what they find meets your vision.
You don’t need to shoot the movie in chronological order. You can shoot whatever scenes are the easiest to do, then order them during post-production. Plan ahead for outdoor scenes, especially if you have specific weather in mind, such as a gloomy, rainy day or a bright, sunny afternoon.
Make sure that the frame is in focus and that there’s nothing obstructing or interfering with the shot.
You can thank everyone as one big group, or you can do it in smaller groups, such as: actors, crew, costume and set designers, etc. If someone is unavailable that day, be sure to thank them personally, either face-to-face or by phone. If you encountered any difficulties, such as unexpected weather changes or taking longer than expected, you could thank them with a pizza party later on.
Examples of video editing software includes: Avid, Final Cut Pro, and Windows Movie Maker. Choose a program that is easy for you to use and that can perform the exact sort of editing that you need.
Make note of any areas that don’t flow as you watch the film. You can then reorganize it later. In some cases, you may have to re-shoot a scene.
Keeping the audio tracks and sound effects separate from the video is important. This will allow you to adjust things like volume without affecting the video. Keep the background music and sounds at a lower volume when people are talking. If they are too loud, you won’t hear the actors.
Implement editing techniques like fades to transition scenes. If a scene feels like it’s staggering or sluggish, you can tighten up the dialogue by adding cuts in between actor dialogue.
Once all of the people producing the film agree on the final product, you can start showing your short film to people.
