The Dos and Don'ts of Successful Filmmaking

Description

Mistakes are easy to make, but often difficult to undo. The greater the knowledge and experience a filmmaker has, the fewer mistakes are made by them. This introductory-level guide to filmmaking teaches effective preproduction, production and postproduction with a focus on many of the common mistakes made and how to avoid them. Filled with practical advice and information on the process of successfully making a film, Patrick Winters guides you through the whole process from preproduction to postproduction, teaching how to plan a shoot, accomplish that shoot and then follow the steps needed to edit and mix your film, highlighting key considerations and potential pitfalls to avoid along the way. The book covers everything from getting your story production ready, securing funding and budgeting appropriately, casting actors, assigning crew members, developing production design, shooting efficiently and effectively, technical and aesthetic camera and lighting choices, sound considerations, picture and sound editing and mixing, to the final stages of distribution and exhibition. Drawing on Winters' years of filmmaking and teaching experience, this book provides you with all the technical and aesthetic knowledge required to make a film, highlights common mistakes to avoid, and explains where to put your time and money into where it shows, resulting in a successfully made film that will stand out from the crowd. A combination of what to do and what not to do, this is ideal for introductory-level filmmaking students, as well as independents just starting out. The online support material includes deal memo templates, walkie-talkie lingo, camera and sound reports, first AD roll call, distribution and exhibition and additional information on booming. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Preface Acknowledgments & Credits PREPRODUCTION 1 INTRODUCTION Purpose: What This Book Is About Audience: Who This Book Is For Outcome: What You Can Expect to Learn Considerations: How to Approach a Project Projects: What Stories Are Worth Telling Layout: How This Book Is Organized 2 STORY & SCRIPT Introduction Rights The Concept Genre Theme Three-Act Structure Characters Character Arc Dialogue Voice-over Loglines & Synopsis Treatment (Three-Act Structure, Plot Points, Subplots) Outline or Step Outline Beat Sheet Scriptment Script Script Format Feedback & Revisions Kill Your Darlings Shooting Script & Conformed Script Tips 3 FUNDING & BUDGETING Funding Pitch Beg, Borrow & Acquire Proof of Concept Talent & Crew–Paid or Volunteer Budgeting Budget Breakdown Budget Topsheet Deliverables Meals & Transportation Production Equipment 4 CAST Casting Director Casting Call Casting & Auditions Actors Auditioning Callbacks Minors Extras Casting Name Actors Stand-Ins Actor Responsibilities Continuity Contracts/Deal Memos Confidentiality Actor Tips 5 CREW Introduction Team Interviews, Résumés & Work Samples Positions Production Crew Postproduction Crew Contracts 6 PRODUCTION DESIGN Introduction Location, Location, Location Color or Black & White Color Psychology Costume/Wardrobe Makeup & Hair Sets Visual Effects (VFX) & Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) Props (Properties) Set Decorating & Dressing Artworks Tests Tips PRODUCTION 7 DIRECTING Introduction Concept Book or Look Book Concept Art Storyboards Shot List Location Scouting or Reconnaissance (Recce) Casting Table Read Rehearsals Blocking Directing Approaches Acting Styles Working with Actors Doing Business Fights & Intimacy Working with the Producer Working with the First Assistant Director (1st AD) Working with the Crew Working with the Director of Photography (DP) Working with the Production Designer Working with the Editor Tips 8 PRODUCING Production Overview Development Producer’s Team Preproduction Script Breakdown Determining Shooting Schedule Day Out of Days (DOOD) Working with a Director Green Light & Turnaround Production Postproduction Distribution & Exhibition Marketing Contracts & Deliverables 9 THE SHOOT Guerilla Filmmaking Preparation Basic Equipment Locations Meals Transportation Production Steps First Assistant Director (1st AD) Call Sheets Sides Setups Background Action Video Village Script Supervisor (Scripty) Special Effects (SFX) Green Screen Added Scenes & Retakes Safety Production Terminology 10 CAMERA Cinematographers Cameras Media Supports (Tripods & Rigs) Camera Movements Shot Framing Shot Types Camera Angles Basic Rules Lenses Aspect Ratios Aperture or Iris Gain or ISO (International Organization for Standardization) Shutter Speed Three Exposure Factors Focus Depth of Field (DoF) Frame Rate Matte Box & Cages Lens Filters White Balance & Color Temperature Gray Card Color Chart Broadcast Standards Formats/Codecs Log & Raw Monitors & View Finders Zebra Stripes & Scopes Picture Profiles In-Camera Special Effects Modes In-Camera Effects Green Screen Meters Reports Tips 11 LIGHTING Lighting Light Types Light Placement Available, Natural Lighting & Practical Lighting Lighting Ratios Lighting Techniques Lighting Control Lighting Styles Green Screen Reflections Miniatures Grip Equipment Expendables Lighting Diagrams Inverse Square Rule Color Temperature Electricity Limits Tips 12 LOCATION SOUND Microphones Microphone Pickup Patterns Lavalier Microphones Boom Microphones Shotgun Microphones Plant Microphones Wired or Wireless Microphones Recorders & Mixers Wind Gear Room Tone, Ambiance, Presence Interior or Exterior Locations Recording Preparation Single System & Double System Recording DSLR/Mirrorless Camera Sound Recording Dialogue Recording Wild Sound Playback Shadows & Mirrors Two Camera Setups Sound Reports Tips POSTPRODUCTION 13 PICTURE EDITING Introduction Editing Picture Organization Project Clips Timeline Pancaking Maintaining Synchronization Continuity & Discontinuity Editing Transitions Pacing Flashback & Flashforward Picture-Editing Issues Editing Sound Temporary Music Audience Testing & Feedback Re-Editing Picture Lock Scopes Color Correcting & Grading Compositing Graphics/Credits Visual Effects (VFX) & Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) Tips 14 DIALOGUE & ADR Introduction Dialogue Editor Spotting Session Sync Check (Sound & Picture Synchronization) Track Layout Editing Microphone Choice Cleaning Filling Holes Smoothing Overlaps Room Tone Automated Dialogue Replacement (ADR) or Looping ADR Recording Tips No-Budget ADR Recording Technique ADR Editing Tips & Fixes 15 SOUND EFFECTS & DESIGN Introduction Spotting Session Sync Check (Sound & Picture Synchronization) Track Layout Foley Sound Effects (SFX) Walla (Loop Group) Backgrounds Sound Design Tips 16 MUSICAL SCORE Introduction Spotting Session Hits or Hit Points Tempo Mapping Click Tracks & Guide Tracks Temporary Scores Music Software Scoring Theme & Motif Titles, Montage & Credits Mock-Ups Digital Music Song Score, Pop Music & Source Music Cue Packages Musicals Library Music Editing Stems Mixing Deliverables Tips 17 MIXING Introduction Setup Getting Started Mixing Levels Mixing Tools Dialogue First ADR Sound Effects Ambiances Foley Music/Score DME Stems & M&E Master Output Quick & Dirty Mix Tips Distribution & Exhibition Glossary Index