Where to start. I can think of three ways. (1) Write a screenplay and see if you've got a real story. (2) Write generic scene ideas and improv those scenes the way they did Spinal Tap (3) Film your friends for hours and hours and edit it down and hope it's watchable.

Personally I would start with (1), allow improve on the set to get the best of (2), and ignore (3) entirely as it's unlikely to produce much that the world beyond your buddies think is watchable.

Sounds like the inexpensive DV format is perfect for you!

I suggest you brainstorm a series of events you want to show, grab a camera and just start shooting. Even if it takes several shooting days to focus your story into something you like, DV doesn't cost that much so nothing is wasted.

So just get out there and start shooting! Keep the camera rolling all the time - who knows what you'll catch.

=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

Hey it's a good idea. But first thing is first. You have to have some storyline. Write a screenplay. Then, go from there. Improvising is great, but first you have to get your story down. Go from A to B to C and so on.

Good luck!

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ryanne_05


We want it to have sort of a Blair Witch feel to it.

It's going to be a comedy, and we want to make it look like a documentary/horror movie, but instead of being serious, it will be about something completely bogus.

---

I'm doing a Blair Witch spoof, and I started out by storyboarding the script, and then typing it up on PC. Now this has snowballed into me buying a DV camera and actually intending to film the blasted thing! Nothing's happened yet, but I'm getting a camera soon and am intending to start shooting in Easter. Be prepared to be vary patient, it takes a long time to go from script to filming.

http://www.rebellionfilms.tk/
http://www.rareglitchproject.tk/

quote:

---

Originally posted by rjschwarz

...and ignore (3) entirely as it's unlikely to produce much that the world beyond your buddies think is watchable.

---

How could you say that when you have absolutely no idea what his subject matter is?

Because I believe that hours and hours of random footage as described in (3) is unlikely to have any kind of coherent story line.

I agree with rjschwartz ... the more planning you can do beforehand, the better. There's nothing worse than spending lots of time shooting, then going into the editing room and realizing that something -- the lighting, the costumes, the lines, etc. -- got messed up so badly you have to do the whole thing over.

Coming Out of Left Field
http://bostonian71.blogspot.com