Prepping and Shooting Your Student Short Film: A Brief Guide to Film Production

Description

Focusing on the practical tools required to making your first student film, this book is a concise and accessible guide to film production. Demystifying the process of taking a film from concept through to production, author Rory Kelly covers all the key bases including: organizing your script, when and how to shoot, production budgeting, finding actors and locations, and roadmapping postproduction. Featuring common problems and challenges producers and directors face throughout the production process and providing practical solutions, the book illustrates how to effectively create a film that can be successfully shot in a classroom or micro-budget environment. Filmmakers will be empowered to prioritize realistic goals, balance practical and creative demands, manage a budget, and schedule time to ensure concept translates to reality. Kelly brings together the creative process and practicalities of producing a student film. A concise and accessible guide written with the specific constraints of a student production in mind, this book will equip any filmmaker with the tools to produce an impactful short film. Ideal for undergraduate and graduate students of filmmaking, amateur filmmakers, as well as students in high school, community-based, for-profit and summer filmmaking programs. Additional downloadable online resources include a look-book with images and video clips, as well as printable budget templates, shooting schedule templates, block breakdown sheets, a digital workflow worksheet, timed shot-list forms and templates for location agreements, appearance releases, crew deal memos and call sheets. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Preface Outline Acknowledgments 1 Keep It Simple Number of Locations Number of Scenes Number of Pages Characters Funding Notes 2 Organize Your Script Shooting Script Script Breakdown Notes 3 Decide When to Shoot What Step 1 – List All Numbered Scenes in the Script Step 2 – Determine Common Locations Step 3 – Decide the Shooting Order of Locations Step 4 – Decide the Shooting Order of Each Scene Step 5 – Create the Final Schedule Notes 4 Decide How to Shoot What Coverage Selectively Using Coverage Haven’t Seen You in Awhile I Almost Went After You We’re Still Friends Notes 5 Settle On a Look Casting Wardrobe Makeup & Hair Production Design Lighting Cinematography Editing Sound Look Book Checklist Note 6 Don’t Break the Bank Accounts Percentages Distribution of Funds I Production Costs Account 1000 – Cast Account 2000 – Production Staff Account 2100 – Extras Account 2200 – Art Account 2300 – Wardrobe Account 2400 – Makeup & Hair Account 2500 – Grip & Electrical Account 2700 – Camera Account 2800 – Production Sound Account 2900 – Transportation Account 3000 – Locations & Catering Account 3500 – General Production Expenses II Postproduction Costs Account 5000 – Editorial Account 5100 – Score and Music Rights Account 5200 – Postproduction Sound Account 5400 – Color and DCP III Revisiting Production Costs Notes 7 Find Crew Key Collaborators Crewing-Up Crew Size Locking Crew Crew Structure Notes 8 Find Places to Shoot Location Scouting Creative Considerations Practical Considerations Negotiating for Locations Locking Locations Building Sets Notes 9 Find Actors When to Cast Post a Breakdown Review Submissions Choose Where and When to Hold Auditions Book Actors Maps, Parking and Contact Info Signs and Sign-In Sheets What You Need in the Audition Room The Audition Introductions First Read Adjustment and Second Read Wrap Up Notes and Discussion Review Auditions Callbacks Review Callbacks Offer Roles to Actors Casting Directors Notes 10 Collaborate and Communicate Creative Meetings Production Meetings Equipment List Camera Tests and Workflow Tech Scouts Finalize the Shot Lists Finalize the Shooting Schedule Final Wardrobe Approvals Crew Deal Memos and Cast Appearance Releases Final Production Meeting Schedule Catering Schedule and Organize Pickups Call Sheets Notes 11 Rehearse It Before You Shoot It Plausibility Objectives, Actions and Outcomes Picking Actions Script Analysis and Rehearsals Notes 12 Obey the Rules of Engagement Call Time Breakfast Duties of the AD Prior to Call The AD Calls the Shoot Safety Meeting Full Blocking Rehearsal Setting Marks Establish Continuity Frame Up the Shot Lighting Makeup and Wardrobe Review the Shot List Video Village The Director Keeps Rehearsing The DP Stays Focused On the Shot The Art Department Stays Focused On Set Dressing Sound Stays Focused On Sound The AD Facilitates the Work of the Crew Other Duties of the AD During the Shoot Day Call the Actors to Set Wire the Actors for Sound Camera and Sound Rehearsal Last Looks Clear the Eyelines Picture Is Up The Slate The Script for Shooting Takes Problems, Problems, Problems When to Cut Takes and When Not To Shooting Another Take Moving On Shooting Coverage Set the Eyelines Mark the Eyelines Off-Camera Lines Entrances and Exits Overlapping Action Room Tone Next Scene DIT Lunch Car Scenes What If It Rains Wrap What About the Gear Don’t Despair Note Afterword (Postproduction and Beyond) Dailies Editing Sound Work Final Color and Output Timeline Afterwards What’s Next? Notes Appendices Appendix II Sample Breakdown Appendix III Sample Budget Index