Don't know what I'm doing

[Jodie Whalo]

I've discovered that I want to be a filmmaker. I have a fairly good idea for a movie, but I'm stuck in the writing process. Not to mention worrying about how I'll manage to actually MAKE the stupid thing.

Tips, anyone?

I'm new to this board, so any form of response would be appreciated. You can make fun of me even, just let me know that someone will talk to me that knows something about making movies.

[Matty2phatty]

Taking a feature film from concept to completion is a very hard task, especially if it's your first time. I would highly recommend you do a short first.

But that's beside the point. Would you consider letting a professional screenwriter turn your concept into a workable script or would you prefer to do it all yourself?

[TJ_the_director]

here's a tip: write your script match your budget level -- no fx, no multiple locations, no period costumes, no using pop music, et al . . . these are things you'll never be able to afford so don't put them in the script in the first place.

[Jodie Whalo]

Cool. People responded. You guys are in my book now as awesome. The wheels in my head are already turning.

...

Hopefully they turn in the direction that shows me how to morph my original idea into a short. How long is a short, anyway?

[richard.fisher]

My partner in crime once posted to a non-indie-film-making-forum, with a very basic guide to film-making.

It won't teach you what colour temperature is, but rather it starts with the line 'You must have a camera.' i.e. perfect to initiate the uninitiated.

http://pirate.planetarion.com/showthread.php?t=185022

[Patriarch]

Another option could be to take some great scene that might stand alone - and then shoot that. This would be a good learning experience, and could give you something to show others and get them on board.

[eddie123456789]

The above is all good advice.

Id suggest you find some like minded people, put together a short script, borrow (if need be) a camera and go out and make it.
This doesnt have to be a scene in your film. Just anything at all, some crappy skit. Doesnt even have to make sense. Before you embark on such a great adventure you need to have filmed and edited something together.

That is by far the best way to realise what is involved. No amount of reading or wondering or dreaming will get you any nearer to completing your project.
It will give you some idea on whats involved in using a camera, it will tell you if you have an eye for anything at all, it will teach you something about whats involved in editing, and it will be practical experience of putting together some sort of narrative story.

Then you may have a clearer idea of how to proceed.

After you have done that then you could perhaps try shooting a scene from your film, as a test.

A short film is anything shorter than 90 minutes, I beleive. Anything from 10 seconds to 10 minutes....?

Good Luck.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ August 31, 2005 08:29 AM: Message edited by: eddie123456789 ]</font>

[richard.fisher]

Eddie, I believe I once read that the cut off between a short and a feature is 55 mins, i.e 54:59 is a short and 55:00 is a feature. although this may have been b/s.

[twister!]

Supposedly, the ideal length (for a short) is no more than 10 mins.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ September 01, 2005 12:21 PM: Message edited by: Justin M. ]</font>

[richard.fisher]

I always use the argument tha a film should be the exactly the length you need to tell the story you want to tell the way you want to tell it. No shorter. No longer. Which is probably why my films are always never-ending sprawling messes.