The main thing I would say is tape is cheap. Waste it. Do a million test shots before you shoot. Shoot rehearsals. Keep the tape running between takes if you want. Have the actors ad-lib a scene before the actual scene starts to give you more to work with have them continue after the scene is supposed to end.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

Start shooting your first movie right away!

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

Whoa there, instigator! Not to disagree with you but I haven't done anything yet. Not even a short! Do you still think I should do movies immediately even though I don't have any experience? This is the newbie section, after all.

Shoot shorts right away then. I believes he's trying to say learn while doing. Experiment, learn, have fun. As I said, tape is cheap.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

Every professional filmmaker working today shot their
first movie. Even though they didn't have any experience.

Every starting film director dreaming of making a movie
makes their first movie. Even though they don't have any
experience.

YOU have to shoot your first movie sometime. Even though you don't
have any experience.

Yes. I think you should make your first movie immediately - even though
you don't have any experience. Name your favorite director and that's
exactly what he did. Why not you, too?

All newbies at some point need to make their first movie. I respect your
disagreement and if my advice isn't what you're looking for, I have a
question for you: What do YOU think you should be doing right now if
you don't want to make your first movie right away?

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

Right now, I think I should be doing my homework and reading books on writing and directing. Some of these books include Film Directing: Shot By Shot, The Screenwriter's Bible, The Filmmaker's Handbook, Digital Moviemaking, Film Directing: Cinematic Motion, Plots Unlimited, Secrets of Screenplay Structure; I could go on and on. I'm also thinking about reading screenplays along with them.

those books can be very helpful, but like certified said the best way to learn is to do. i prob. shot and edited over 20 short films before i got good at things like continuety, lighting, camera shots, and good effects. i took that test thingy in 5th grade and i'm a kinetic, visual learner, so i guess the books didnt help me much 😛

"They say a picture is worth a thousand words. But a film? Well, thats worth a thousand pictures."
-(Own3d Studios)-
www.own3dstudios.com
www.myspace.com/own3dstudio
www.youtube.com/own3dstudios

OK, so 3d says I should do movies in order to learn. But what I want to know is if it took you 20 shorts before you became an expert, how would making a movie be any different? Do I have to make 20 movies before I become an expert? I don't mean to disagree with your answer 3d, I'm just a little confused.

There will always be a number of reasons not to do the movie now. There is always something new to learn. At some point you have to act despite the ongoing nagging reasons not to.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

well, what i mean is there isnt a certain number you have to do, it was just something that was fun for me and then i became good at it.

"They say a picture is worth a thousand words. But a film? Well, thats worth a thousand pictures."
-(Own3d Studios)-
www.own3dstudios.com
www.myspace.com/own3dstudio
www.youtube.com/own3dstudios

That makes more sense. And whether you know it or not, you might have taught me another lesson as well. Be careful with your emotions. Sure, you may be having fun and all, but you certainly need to learn from that fun as well. If you get caught up with your feelings, you probably are missing an opportunity to understand how the process is done. Respectable advice if I do say so myself.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Spokane36

Right now, I think I should be doing my homework and reading books on writing and directing. Some of these books include Film Directing: Shot By Shot, The Screenwriter's Bible, The Filmmaker's Handbook, Digital Moviemaking, Film Directing: Cinematic Motion, Plots Unlimited, Secrets of Screenplay Structure; I could go on and on. I'm also thinking about reading screenplays along with them.

---

That's fine then.

If you feel more comfortable reading then actually making a
movie, there is nothing wrong with that at all. We each find
our own path.

But as RJ said, at some point you will need to write a script,
put together a small cast and crew - even if it's just one or
two other people - set a day or two, pick up a camera and
make that movie. My advice is to do that immediately.

Your first one will be pretty bad even if you spend months (or
even a year or two) reading books. In my opinion there is no
better way to learn about lighting than to set up lights and a
camera and roll tape. You see immediately if it looks good or
bad. In my opinion there is no better way to learn about camera
placement than to set up lights and a camera and roll tape. In
my opinion there is no better way to learn about working with
actors than to set up lights and a camera and roll tape.

Here's MY suggestion. Find someone with a video camera - it
doesn't have to be top of the line. Find a script - I suggest
starting with One Act plays: they usually have few actors and
only one setting. I suggest Albee's The Zoo Story - but there are
thousands to choose from; ask at your library.

Find actors your age and skill level. If your school has a drama
department there will be plenty of wannabe actors there. If not,
check near by towns to see if there is a small theater doing
plays. Sometimes when you start looking, you get surprised.
If those options aren't feasible then ask two friends to just
read the lines as you shoot them. This first movie doesn't have
to be good, it has to be made.

Read the play with the actors and your camera person. As they read
it think of shots you?d like to see: what?s important at each
moment.

Then shoot it. I suggest Zoo Story because it takes place outside
- you can shoot on the weekend in a local park. Of even in your
backyard.

If your first one sucks - make a second one. If that one is
terrible make a third one. If your first ten movies aren?t as
good as you want them to be, make number eleven. Make a short
movie once a month - a different play each time - for six months.
During that six months people will see you're serious and more
and more people will want to help. You will learn more by doing
this than you would reading 20 books and taking 20 classes.

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

I'm still probably going to read those books. Mainly because I want to be prepared for what to expect when I get to work. I will say this, Instigator, you do make a good point. At some time, we should be writing scripts and directing movies, no doubt. However, I also want to make it clear that you don't just waltz into the business when you don't know how the entire business works. That's why I'm reading these books. It never hurts to be prepared for what's in store when you get in there. That way, if somebody tells you about something or if some problem emerges, you don't end up seeming like you're clueless about what to do about a problem.

I'm not sure how you have a list of books for a beginner film maker and don't have Rebel without a Crew. I also recommend Making Movies by Sydney Lumet.

But certified instigator is right. Just jump right in. You don't need to know the business because your first films honestly won't be that great regardless. You should read every book you can get your hands on, but read after a day of shooting. You can probably read 2 books (I'd suggest making Rebel Without a Crew one of them) during preproduction.