hey guys, my photography teacher is helping me produce A sacrifice To Pass,(was Because I Can). I already have the entire crew and cast, which consists of 12 students and 3 teachers. The school is letting me use their equipment. I'm in the directors chair, but I have no idea what the hell I'm doing. Any tips would be extremely helpful and appreciated. Thanks!

Make sure that you take the lens cap off.

Noted...   Any serious tips Mike?

That was a serious tip.  You don't want to spend all day filming something, only to realize you forgot to take the lens cap off, do you?

Honestly, I don't know what to tell you.  I focus more on writing.  The only thing I can say is, point, shoot, and have some fun while you're doing it.

Having fun is our number one goal. Thanks.

Always have a detailed, mapped out plan of what you want to achieve each day of filming. This includes storyboards. Even if you can't draw, have storyboards. Just use stick figures and lines if you have too. That way you will have a sense of what you are going to be seeing in the film. Remember, even the one second shot of somone just looking at another character, coming through a door, etc can help a lot.

Use a good ammount of lights. You can darken the image in editing but you need a lot of light to capture all the details. Don't just use overhead lighting, sit some lights off to the side or something (just keep them out of shot). But never put lights in behind the actors (unless you want them in complete darkness) or behind the camera.

Always make sure the sound is on. Lens cap off. And all the appropiate exposures set. Always use MANUAL FOCUS. This will take a little longer to adjust all the time, but you don't want your video blurring at all the wrong times.

Use a tripod. Nothing will give an amutuer production like a shakey image.

And always work with your actors. They don't see your vision like you do. Take each person involved in the scene off by thereselves and discuss what you expect from this scene and from them. They are actors working for the director. Direct them.

Hopefully all of this helps you. Feel free to ask more questions if you need.


Randy Robinson.

Thanks a lot Randy! Should the director be the one to draw the story boards? I have someone else doing them, but I can change that. Since this is a student film we don't have a bunch of lighting equipment, but I think we have enough. In case you haven't read the script, a good majority of it takes place in a darkroom. Any tips on how to light that? Also, I have a cameo in one scene. Do I direct the scene I'm in, or do I have someone else stand in for me?

Quoted Text Should the director be the one to draw the story boards?

Usually you have someone else do them, and then I'd think the director would view them and tell the storyboard artist any suggestions that he or she has.

Quoted Text In case you haven't read the script, a good majority of it takes place in a darkroom. Any tips on how to light that?

Without that light, all we're going to be hearing is voices. You may want to have a very dim light going on so we can at least see who's talking. But would the audience know that it is a dark room? Beacuse if they don't, then you can have enough light to see the character's faces. Now if it were in a cave deep underground (like in The Descent), then unknown light would be confusing and wouldn't make sense.

Quoted Text Also, I have a cameo in one scene. Do I direct the scene I'm in, or do I have someone else stand in for me?

And that's where the Assistant Director comes in.

By the way, your display picture creeps me out. I saw that when I typed in "Disturbing" on google, and that was the first thing to pop up. I couldn't sleep well that night.

Sean

The darkroom I'm talking about is the room were you develop photographs. I have an assistant director, so that works out. I also have a storyboard artist, so that works out too! As for my avatar, I think it's beautiful.

I have aspirations in becoming a director. But I do not have the time to do so. So, I'll offer what I've watched and heard on tons of extra commentary.

Be creative with what angles you are going to use as u direct since it is important for your overall story.

IMO, regarding actors, I suggest offering them some advice on what the scene really entails and then allowing them some admitance for putting their thing in as well. No body likes being told what to do. If you can't do it screenwriting, you cant do it in acting. But thats my opinion.

Be considerate to others input within the movie. They might come up with items that you haven't noticed before. Creativity comes out of anywhere

By the way, congrats.

Gabe

thanks for the info gabe. It's much appreciated. Keep the tips coming.

I should have been more specific about working with actors. But like Mr. Ripley stated, allow the actors to give you ideas as well. You can try them out and if they don't work, leave them in the editing room floor.

With storyboards, I think it's better for the director to do it. But if you have someone else doing them, make sure you have a big hand in whats goes on. I have always done my own storyboards. I have also seen many behind the scenes featurettes where other directors do them as well. Either way is fine though, just make sure you have the most input.

With the darkroom you could shoot in reguliar lighting and then mask it in editing. Adobe and other editing programs have some really good color filters.

It is possible to direct the scene while you are also acting in it. Just make sure everyone behind the camera knows what you want since you can't be with them at the time. But since you have a AD, it will be much easier.

Hope this helps!


Randy Robinson.

For tips, I can't really tell you how to do things well, as I've never had a successful directing experience (lack of motivation on other people's parts).

Anyway, Randy is right about storyboards, if you're not doing them you need to pretty much be sitting next to whoever is doing them.  It's your script and most importantly as director, your vision, so you can't have someone else drawing there own thoughts without you.

As for actors, two main things I've learned with them.  Keep 'em fed and never act like you don't know what you are doing or they will slack off.

For my movies, lighting is always my biggest challenge (I desperately need cinematographer).  What I try to do though when possible is overlight a scene and darken it later in Adobe or Final Cut.

My main suggestion is that you need to make sure you can see the movie entirely played out in your head before you start.  No one on set will enjoy it if you're not sure where you want the camera or worse yet, just randomly picking spots.  Before you start shooting, grab a camera or something with a lens and find everything that you are filming from.

-Pat

By the way, what kind of camcorders are you using?

Thanks Pat and Randy for all the help. I'll be sure to consider all your tips while shooting. Sorry Pat, I'm not certin about the name of the camcorder we're using. If any one else has any useful information for me, please share! Thanks!

I recently shot a seven minute short called "Witness." I might be able to offer a few pointers.

Remember, most people adopt a "stage voice" even when on camera.  Look at most student films, there's often an odd inflection in the actors voice. Try getting the people to sound natural. This can be acheived by underacting. A lot of times the inflection one wants come naturally but it is instinctive to force it. If that makes sense.

Tripod and a steady shot. In post make sure not to use flashy transitions and gimmicks such as sped-up action and what I'd call cheap looking video touch-ups. Such as negative effect and pretentious use of black and white.

Basically, use common sense and take your time. In pre in production and in post, take your time.

Anyone can be coached to act well. Witness was shot with non-actors in a 48 hour time-frame and I'm proud of what we acheived.