“Do I need a film permit” may be high up on your list of questions. Well, if you want to make sure everything is done by the book and avoid headaches or liability down the line, the answer is a resounding yes. Getting film permits or location releases represents a crucial part of pre-production for…
The deeply collaborative nature of filmmaking can be both beautiful and terrifying. When the chemistry is right, the crew is on their game and the creative juices are flowing, being on set is a high like nothing else. If, on the other hand, directions are unclear, departments are scrambling and frustrations start to build, being…
Whenever a filmmaker stands in front of a screen at their film festival Q&A and says “Filmmaking is war,” I can’t help but see the ghosts of a thousand soldiers and napalmed civilians surrounding him, shaking their spectral heads in scorn. Sure, filmmaking isn’t easy. But “war?” Far from it. It’s a struggle, sure, but…
There is no doubt that filming at height allows you to create beautiful shots that would be impossible to get with your feet on the ground, but it also comes with an element of danger. You could fall, or you could drop something and it hits a person below. In some cases, you might get…
Call sheets are the oil that keeps the machine moving smoothly during principal photography on any film project. While there are probably very few line producers or 2nd ADs who write out call sheets by hand these days, more often than not they are still printed and handed out each day. Or in a more…
How do you go about making a professional commercial within a 5-day timeframe? As a film student (I study at Met Film School in Berlin) I am used to making short films within a limited time and with a small crew, each of us undertaking 2-3 key practical roles to get the production underway. However,…
Smart phones have had the capability to record video for over a decade now, but recent years have seen an exponential increase in the quality of the cameras and the resolution at which they can record. Unsurprisingly, more than a few filmmakers have cottoned on to the fact it has been possible to make films with mobile phones and tablets for…
For when a regular greeting card just isn’t right, Joan Philo has created a range of cards with filmmaking themes to allow you to congratulate everyone on your team. Joan describes the history of her idea: “Five years ago I was searching for the perfect card to give out at the wrap of ‘Stranger Than Fiction.’ I searched and I…
How long should your short be? An interesting question. Obviously this is determined to a large degree by the story you are trying to tell, and the way in which you want to tell it. But if you are hoping to also have your film reach the widest possible audience, the length of your film…
Horror effects can make or break your horror film. But you do not have to blow your budget to get good effects for your film. The internet is just brimming with frugal horror effects tips. I have compiled some of the best ones below so you can take advantage of them for your own film….
