We recommend using a DSLR camera. They look like they only take pictures. Surprise! DSLRs do video, too! You should be able to get a nice Canon with a decent zoom lens for around $500.
Lights
Lights make or break the film quality. You have several options. Most hardware stores carry bell lights. They look like big silver bells with a clamp on the back. These lights are the easiest type because you can clip them anywhere. Cost: under $10.
Sound
If movie sound sucks, so does the movie. Do not use the mic on the DSLR you just bought. Always record sound separately. There are some inexpensive sound-recording devices that capture high-quality sound. We like Zoom recorders. Cost: around $100.
Short films made into indie features
Short films showcase your talent. It’s a good idea to keep a full-length feature idea handy when putting together your script. Think we’re kidding? Saw, Sling Blade, and Napoleon Dynamite were all short films. Maybe you already have a feature idea. Even better. Pull some elements from the feature you’re thinking about and make a short film.
Chapter One
Starting Your Film Project
The Location Situation
Aha! You thought it was the script that came first. Not in low-budget cinema. Locations, or as we say in the film biz, LOCATIONS! (screamed like a mythological siren) are the first elements you should think of when filmmaking on a micro-budget. Remember, locations are those places where you film actors, record all their cool lines, and sometimes create sets. They’re the backdrop for your characters, are part of your story, and add crucial texture to your scenes. Here at Hectic Films we insist on finding cheap locations, or better yet, free locations. Seriously, we know you don’t have a budget for actors besides the five McDonalds cheeseburgers you promised. So what makes you think you’re going to have boatloads of cash to spend on that beach scene in Maui? Yeah, scratch that fantasy.
Locations can make or break your project. Filming a scene in your Aunt Judy’s yellow-stained bathroom she never cleans might not work for a tale of middle class Americans with a housekeeper. That fight scene you planned in a garage full of taxidermy squirrels? Might not be a good choice for what was supposed to be the private quarters of a nuclear scientist. Oh, and that treeless park no one goes to down the street? Bad idea for your personal remake of The Blair Witch Project. It’s supposed to take place in a forest, remember? Not to mention, the police can shut you down, fine you, or even make arrests if you have fake weapons and/or no permits. Maybe this is a good time to remind you that you and your crew need to dress like filmmakers. We prefer to wear our Hectic Films shirts with pride while on location. Quiet on the set!
All right, enough of that. Let’s talk about what kind of locations you should be searching for. Get out your map, your car (or your friend’s bike), and start checking out potential locales in your area. First, you need a location where you can shoot one or more scenes. Somewhere you know you can always film without being bothered by nosy people (for the record: don’t be mean, just tell anyone curious about what you’re doing—that you’re working hard filming a masterpiece).
Location examples include locally-owned businesses, downtown alleys, halls for rent, parks (be careful not to get in trouble or set up in a park that will be crowded by nine in the morning), cheap motel rooms (make sure to check for any pre-existing crime scenes—unless that’s part of your film, then SCORE! Just kidding. If you see blood, call the cops and run away). If you don’t have money or access anywhere (come on, be creative, surely there’s someplace available) then you can use your home. That’s free, right? You’d be surprised how many scenes we filmed at city structures then finished all the interior shots in our own homes.
We know what you’re thinking. How can there still be a cost if the location is free? As Hectic Film’s Rickey Bird’s Grandpa always says, “Ain’t nothing for free.”
Remember throughout your film journey—even free stuff costs.
For example: a gas station in another town says you can film on location this Saturday. Super cool. Now factor in travel costs for your film crew and actors. Gas, food, even lodging will sneak up if you don’t plan well. Another example is using a forest or park. Sure, those may be free, but have you thought how you will get electricity for lights? Trust us, you always need lights. What about having too many locations? Yes, you can have too many. That’s time and money. Think about it. Pack up your film gear, ship out to your location, unpack, film, repeat. No thanks.
All right, moving along. You’ve found a location. Your buddy says you can use his apartment to film something, anything. Great! Now what do you do? You give your friend a huge hug. Yes. No! There’s more. You need reference photos. You might not even have an idea, let alone a script. Right now you just want to see what you have to work with. Now, go to your friend’s apartment and photograph each room to later use for references as you write your story (a.k.a. future script). The beauty in this day and age is you can use your smart phone to store pictures of your locations. Snap photos as if you were framing for the film. Be precise. This is for your movie. Pretend you’re watching a scene unfold. Two people arguing. Frame and snap. People eating food and talking about the end of the world. Frame and snap. Repeat throughout with every idea you can think of. Once you write your script you can come back and take more photos if needed. Remember, photos of potential scene locations will help your team get on board with your project. You’ll get your ideas across better. So, snap away!
Uh oh. You forgot to ask an important question. When is the apartment available? Can’t go over there during the Super Bowl or during your buddy’s epic all-night Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. Finally, you set up filming dates. Don’t forget pick-up shot dates too. Those are the shots that filmmakers always realize they need after the fact. Trust us, filmmaking is sometimes all about imagining new scenes, close-ups, or long-shots. By the way, grab yourself a glossary of film terms. You’re gonna need it.
A lot to think about already? None to worry. Take a breath. This is a good time to slow down, ask yourself a few quick questions about your location . . .
If I’m filming at a structure, what’s the natural lighting like inside and out?
Which direction does the sun come up in relation to the exterior of the location?
Hey, when filming either during day or night, you have to think about how light changes on the interior (buildings have windows, duh) or the exterior of our locations.
This is where your photography skills come in. They’ll be important when it comes to composition and lighting. Smart lighting makes films visually interesting.
By the way, we recommend
