Heyyupeth peeps! Just wandering if I could obtain some advice!
I've just recently plunged myself into a filmmaking project that I didn't think honestly would get as big as it has for me! I'm an ex alevel 'film studies' student so have some knowledge of film in general, atm I'm gapyearing it and in a fulltime job!
For some reason or another I blotted out a good 35page script for a short film, and now suddenly have taken the whole idea into a project over the previous few months.
I have almost completed my cast selection and will get them studying the script up until spring where I will begin shooting the film!
But this is basicly the first proper film I'll film, so mostly equipment wise everythangs quite new to me and I'll have alot to learn about the whole filmmaking process! I've already set my eyes on and saving for a "Canon DM-XM2 Professional Camcorder" which once purchased I'll practise with by making a couple of short 'mess about films'!
My call for advice is, is what editing software would any of you reccomend for my amuteur level for once the film is made? Plus any other advice you have for my filmmaking journey, because I am beggining to take the whole flimmaking ordeal seriously and probably pursue it!
Thankies alot! Any advice would be fantabulouse!
as far as an editing program is concerned it varies from person to person but the most popular ones are Final Cut and Adobe Premire. However they can be very confusing the first time you use them and you might get frusterated (you could read the instruction manual but its like 100000000 pages) but of course the best way to learn is try and fail and try and fail. If you have never edited before you could use imovie for Macs. It is really easy to use so its good to leanr on but for a solid pro looking film its prob no tthe best decision
as for your camera. Once again its preferance. I use a DVX. But teh saying for young filmmakers is not to wait for a great camera. Shoot with what you got and shoot often.
other random advice??? i could go on for pages but my main advice would be:schedule your shooting days in advance, be very patient, and dont go for huge spfx or huge shots. Since its your first, try to stay simple. And one last quote that might help you, "you write one movie, you shoot another, and you edit another" in other words don tbe surprised if you project doesnt come out exactly as you thought it would. Have fun and good luck
"I believe the cinema is one of our principal forms of art. It is an incredibly powerful way to tell uplifitng stories that can move people to cry with joy and inspire them to reach for the stars."-Wes Craven
"Anyone who has ever been privileged to direct a film also knows that, although it can be like trying to write 'War and Peace' in a bumper car in an amusement park, when you finally get it right, there are not many joys in life that can equal the feeling." - Stanley Kubrick
Thankies alot for all you advice! Yurh I gathered that the end product will be completely different to what I've written down on paper! Just a few others thangs to ask:
I don't own a Mac so some of those editing studios wouldn't be obtainable! Other thang is are editing suites like "Pinnacle Studio 9.0" or "MediaStudio Pro 7.0" along the right lines for a beginner to obtain a half decent finish (mainly because their in my price range)?
Plus one other thang will the external mic on "DM-XM2" be sufficiant enough to capture a good sound quality for the dialogue?
Thankies again for your time and effort!
those editing programs should be fine. and as for that external mic question, it should work OK but if you want to boost your sound to a more professional quality i highly recommend buying a shotgun mic.
"I believe the cinema is one of our principal forms of art. It is an incredibly powerful way to tell uplifitng stories that can move people to cry with joy and inspire them to reach for the stars."-Wes Craven
"Anyone who has ever been privileged to direct a film also knows that, although it can be like trying to write 'War and Peace' in a bumper car in an amusement park, when you finally get it right, there are not many joys in life that can equal the feeling." - Stanley Kubrick
So... I should be set to film in spring with:
DX-XM2 Camcorder,
Boom for a shotgun mic,
Shotgun Mic,
Editing Suite!
Sorray I know this is like 20million questions and what not! But should that sort me quite happily for being able to shoot and create my first feature film? Seeing thats stretching my buget slightly but can be managed!
Thankies again for all your feedback much appreiated!
I've been searching away and have come across a "Sennheiser MKE300D Camcorder Microphone" is this the proper deal for capturing top notch sound?
Ha yet again sorray for the major bombardment of questions! Just want to get the right equipment and thought this was the right place to ask! Thankies!
In direct response to the original post here, I hafta say, as a former "actor" (us Montreal actors don't really do much aside from student film) and a current musician with a home-based studio, there are definitely advantages to having a few connections in the local industry, as well as the exeprience and skills required for the troublesome audio-editing....
What I've learned recently, as I'm cerainly no director, is by watching the "extras" on most DVDs to see commentaries by the actors, and more importnatly, by the Directors and camera teams themselves.
You can learn ALOT of valuable information just by listning to how they did certain things, from camera angels to lighting etc...
Sounds petty, but aside from giving away all their "ticks of the trade" you'd be surprised how much info you'll end up with.
Exmaple:
Need a Boom? Don't spend a dime on expensive equipment - make one. A long wooden pole, duct tape, and a decent mic. Sure series mics are great. Omni directional. Shielded cables a plus.
I've done this for a feature length film (my first, and certainly wont be my last), and the sound was great. A little tweaking and EQ-ing in Acid 4.0 and Soundforge 6, and I had a sweet mix.
S
I think, therefore I've got problems...
I think, therefore I've got problems...
