How to Make a Movie and Remain Sane

1
How to Make a Movie and Remain Sane

• Or how I survived the video project in Etec 612

2
First Things First

• Get rid of ideas that are too involved or involve
  Hollywood style production
  
• Think short
• Within that short period, try to come up with a
  complete story
  
• Pare down to essentials
• Ensure you can get the needed equipment

3
Storyboard

• Dont try to be an artist
• Put down the vision you have in your head
• Vary points of view
• Include all directions necessary to recreate if
  youre not around
  
• Make it clean and easy to read (unlike mine)

4
Shooting Script

• Figure out whats the least that needs to be said
  to get the idea across
  
• Be sure to include camera placement, angles and
  transitions
  
• Make note of background music or sound effects
• Include all spoken lines by subjects or voice
  overs
  

5
Obtaining Equipment

• Beg!
• If you dont have it, ask others to loan it to
  you or go out and buy the item
  
• Take care of all equipment borrowed or they will
  never loan it to you again
  
• Try to get the best equipment you can for the
  project you are involved in

6
Filming

• If outside, hope for a good day with no wind
• As you film, work from your storyboard and resist
  new shots
  
• Keep the sun at your back
• Watch out for shadows
• Dont use the videocameras microphone
• Beware of noises from neighbors or airplanes
  passing overhead.
  
• Shoot way more than you need

7
Editing

• Read the manual closely and know ahead of time
  what you are doing
  
• Resist the temptation to keep everything If it
  doesnt fit the storyboard, even though it may be
  cool, junk it.
  
• Be patient!
• Dont save anything you do unless you know its
  absolutely correct!
  
• Have fun trying to put in and time correctly
  background music!
  

8
Saving Your Movie

• Have all the appropriate hardware, wires, memory,
  etc.
  
• Windows Media compresses your video so much its
  embarrassing to watch
  
• Save to DVD if possible
• Pray that it works

9
Final Results

• When its all done, you see the mistakes you hope
  not to make next time but overall, hey, its
  your first try! Not too shabby!
  
• Click below to see my final result (granted its
  in Windows Media, but the DVD will follow
  shortly)