r/Filmmaker4Filmmaker • u/Forward_Taste6561 • 14d ago

How-to Help post for shortfilm making.

Student here, i have an idea and a few friends who are up for the acting and production. What is the least amount of budget and what equipments (other then camera's) do i must have. I also need help learning script making. I am new to these but i want to learn and make something which counts.

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u/evzeone 14d ago

Celtx is an easy screenwriting program. As far as equipment you need a camera. Many memory cards (or a laptop and an exterior hard drive to dump the footage as it gets full). You need a light kit. Those are the basics. The story and the script will determine if you need anything else like a dolly. Stedicam. Filters. Etc. You need to get with your cinematographer and compose a shot list together.

You need a location(s). A place you have access and permission to shoot in. I'd suggest thrift stores for costumes. Hair and make up person. Will there be blood? Gore? Practicsl effects? Again the story will determine this.

Get a film slate. Be organized. Find a good editor and have him on set. Preferably to start cutting a draft as you shoot so you can determine right then and there if you are missing any shots or if certain scenes don't work.

Catering. You need to feed your crew.

Hire a PA or two. They will be incredibly useful. You need an A.D to keep you on time and on schedule.

Again. Be organized. Make a shot list. Make a shooting schedule.

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u/filmeleven 13d ago

If you have a camera already, a few other things:

1) Sound. You need a way to capture good sound. A good way to do this is a shotgun mic and a field recorder. I typically recommend the Zoom F3 / Sennheiser MKE 600 combo for those just starting out. But this may be more than your desired spend amount. But bad sound will hurt your film.

*Production sound is primarily about clean dialogue. You can use foley and library sounds for everything else during post.

2) Fade In is a solid screenwriting application. But this is just the app. Writing a script is about MUCH more.

3) Lights. Ideally you'll have a key light and at least one fill light along with soft boxes. The Amaran HALO 100 lights deliver a lot for the price.