SCRIPT - 50 Tips for Filmmakers
- Under The Ledge
- May 26, 2021
- 3 min read
Hello everybody, my name is Elliot, I am from Under The Ledge and welcome back to this week’s video. Today I’m giving you 50 tips that will help you to create incredible films.
Use foley. Watch your film and make a list of the sounds to use
Use a rubber band for pans and tilts on your tripod
Stay professional. Make your rig look professional, and use on set terms
Bring food for your cast and crew, especially if they are not being paid
Get your mic as close to your talent as possible without it being in the shot
Label everything - Lenses, Lens caps, Batteries
If your not good at drawing, create storyboards using photographs
Play music on set to help your actors get into character
It is better to have your shot in focus, than with a shallow depth of field
Watch films, especially Vimeo mini docs.
Bring a headphone splitter on set.
Before you start to edit, organise your files. It will save you time
Show your edit to other people to get a fresh new perspective
Work on other people’s sets as well. It can help you get experience and make social connections
Stay off your phone as much as possible, you don’t need to be checking instagram
Have somebody taking BTS. It’s good for portfolio work and nice to look back on.
Learn the rules of filmmaking before you break them
Set your audio levels
Use a shower curtain for diffusion
Get other people to read your script. It’s important to get a fresh new perspective.
Create a tag on your view-finder, to make it easier to access.
Test that everything works before you go on set. Batteries, Cameras, Lights, Cables, etc.
Bring tools, like Allen keys, screw-drivers and a pocket knife.
Don’t use kit just because you have access to it
Make a poster for your films, for social media and to print on your wall
Audio is more important than visuals (card)
Keep a few 50p’s in your bag for tripod plates
Learn how to use your equipment back to front, before you get on set.
Charge all your batteries and bring a charger on set
Make lots of films
Learn to take feedback
Bring a torch, they are cheep and so useful.
You can never have enough extension cables
Use a French turn-around, were you move your actors instead of your camera equipment
Shoot on your phone, if you don’t have a camera. You will learn so much.
Before you upload your film, watch it on multiple devices
Use a whip pan and cut in between for a smooth one-shot transition.
Go through the script with your cast and crew before the shoot
Buy old lenses. They are cheep and can give you interesting looks
Before you start editing, play audio and ajust to a commutable level
Martini shot means the last shot of the day
Tape down cables, you don’t want anyone tripping
Sleep well and eat well, but be ready to sacrifice that for the good of the project.
Have brightly coloured audio cables, then you’ll see when there in shot (and can sometimes key them out in the edit)
Shoot towards the light for more cinematic images
Shoot in reverse if it makes it easier
Invest in lighting.
When you hand someone a pice of equipment, don’t let go until they say hands on, they you say hands off.
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Have fun.
Thanks for watching this video. I hope you learned something new and I’ll see you in the next one,
Elliot Hartley
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