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Planning "AGORA"
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The Do's And Dont's When Making A Film
Do's
Planning
When making a film, planning is the key to being successful!
Have a clear idea of what you want to produce and how you can produce it, what props do you need? What do you want to film? What's going to happen?
The best way to plan your film is to produce a storyboard and an outline for your film.
When making a film, planning is the key to being successful!
Have a clear idea of what you want to produce and how you can produce it, what props do you need? What do you want to film? What's going to happen?
The best way to plan your film is to produce a storyboard and an outline for your film.
Storyboarding
A storyboard outlines how each shot will look, and how they will be sequenced in post production.The best way to do this is through simple drawings of each shot that suggest the potential camera techniques, lighting and mise-en-scene you will use when putting each shot of your film together ready to record.
A storyboard outlines how each shot will look, and how they will be sequenced in post production.The best way to do this is through simple drawings of each shot that suggest the potential camera techniques, lighting and mise-en-scene you will use when putting each shot of your film together ready to record.
Stick To Your Brief
All media and film produced is there to make profit, for the film makers, actors and institutions. Therefore, WHAT is being produced needs to reflect what is desired. If you are contracted to make a horror film by Warner Bros, that's what you make if you want to keep your funding! |
Consider The Props you Use
Props are an important part of creating a look for your film that is appropriate and consistent, as well as relating to your genre.
Make sure the props you use are both appropriate for the horror genre, and the type of horror film you aim to produce.
Props are an important part of creating a look for your film that is appropriate and consistent, as well as relating to your genre.
Make sure the props you use are both appropriate for the horror genre, and the type of horror film you aim to produce.
Use a Variety of camera techniques
To make a horror film interesting and exciting, you need to have varied camera shots, angles and movements. This is the part of the film that keeps the audience ENGAGED! These techniques also need to fit for purpose, a birdseye view of a murder scene, it won't be as effective compared to a low angle long shot!
To make a horror film interesting and exciting, you need to have varied camera shots, angles and movements. This is the part of the film that keeps the audience ENGAGED! These techniques also need to fit for purpose, a birdseye view of a murder scene, it won't be as effective compared to a low angle long shot!
Simplicity
Horror films are more about the emotions they create and the aesthetic feel as opposed to developed, deep, extensive narratives. Therefore, keep the narrative of your film straightforward and easy to follow, this is what will engage the audience.
Horror films are more about the emotions they create and the aesthetic feel as opposed to developed, deep, extensive narratives. Therefore, keep the narrative of your film straightforward and easy to follow, this is what will engage the audience.
Consider characterisation
When you cast the characters for your narrative you need to make sure they appropriate for the type of character they are playing. Do they fit the character's personality?
When you cast the characters for your narrative you need to make sure they appropriate for the type of character they are playing. Do they fit the character's personality?
Consider lighting
Another key part to creating the atmosphere for your film is the lighting you use, always make sure it fits your scene!
Another key part to creating the atmosphere for your film is the lighting you use, always make sure it fits your scene!
Tripods!
The best way to get a steadily filmed shot is to mount your camera on a tripod! Tripods are designed to help you achieve your camera techniques as well as get unachieveable handheld shots.
The best way to get a steadily filmed shot is to mount your camera on a tripod! Tripods are designed to help you achieve your camera techniques as well as get unachieveable handheld shots.
DONT's!
Using one long continuous shot!
Its impossible to get a variety of camera techniques if you are only filming in one place the whole time! A continued shot is to produce a drama, not a film.
Its impossible to get a variety of camera techniques if you are only filming in one place the whole time! A continued shot is to produce a drama, not a film.
Brandishing weapons whilst filming
When you are filming in public, you need to be careful of how you handle your props! Don't walk around holding a fake knife without context, unless you like jail cells.
When you are filming in public, you need to be careful of how you handle your props! Don't walk around holding a fake knife without context, unless you like jail cells.
ZOOMING
Zooming in and out when filming shots often won't look as good as you expect, so don't bother. The quality of your picture will just drop, if it's needed that badly, do it in post production.
Zooming in and out when filming shots often won't look as good as you expect, so don't bother. The quality of your picture will just drop, if it's needed that badly, do it in post production.