Get a tripod.

A Steady-Cam is optional but very very useful.

Don't use the camera's built in microphone...Try finding a cheap exterior mic.

Use a firewire port for uploading the video to your computer, don't use the USB port, if you use the firewire, it will come out cleaner and more-film like.

Get on some other pages here and search the web to teach yourself how to properly light a scene...if it's properly lit, it adds wonders to the professional effect. Buy at least 3 of the workshop hardware style clamp lights...they work great for low budget lighting.

Don't use Windows Movie Maker or iMovie when editing your film...get something at least semi-professional like Sony Vegas or Avid DV...better yet, try for Final Cut Pro, if you can afford it...but Vegas is only around $80 in the US so it won't be much more expensive in England. And mess around with the effects on the software too...see if you can color correct your footage to get it all to look more like film and less like a home video.

Don't just write out your camera angles. Storyboarding gives everyone a much clearer idea of the kind of shot you want...if you only write them out, other people may not have the same image as you do in your head.

For a really professional touch, there should be a setting on your camera that will allow you to shoot in widescreen. That adds a great, more realistic touch to the film.

Shooting on location is even better than a set, as long as you don't overuse the locations...for example, if you're telling a story that takes place in the big city, I don't want to see your story being told in a lot of obviously suburban locations...things like that, it's mostly common sense stuff.

If I think of anything more, I'll post again.

Hope this helps
Good luck
-Dash

"'It doesn't bother you, killing those people?' 'Well I wouldn't be very good at my job if it did.'"
-Casino Royale

thankyou so much for your quick and long reply
it has so helped me
😀
you're very kind indeed:D

by the way what is a stedi cam?
is it the same as a tripod?

By the way, please do keep replying with tips for my movie people please!

And thankyou again Dash Madden?8D?

You're very welcome.

A steady cam is a handheld structure that a cameraman uses, usually while moving. Using this, a cameraman can keep a camera steady even while walking or lightly running. This helps lower the cost of, for example, building a track and having your camera travel along it for moving shots. Google it and find some (expensive) fairly good ones or try out these homemade alternatives...I've used the homemade ones and they work perfectly for me.

http://www.quantumpetshop.com/tutorials/cambrace.asp

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/?johnny/steadycam/

A steady camera always makes your film look more professional because it loses that shaky, home video look.

"'It doesn't bother you, killing those people?' 'Well I wouldn't be very good at my job if it did.'"
-Casino Royale

If you want editing done and all the post production done, I can run it through the Post Production section of my Company. I run it, and I would most likely do it for free. I use Final Cut Studio and Shake 4.1. So I should be able to at least some what play with the color in your footage to try to mimic film. That is if you want someone else to edit it for you. Unfortunately I am in California, just a hop skip and hugmungous jump from England. But im sure we can work something out if you want to. Shoot me and email at byarbrough?mac.com and we can definetly talk about editing and post-production services for either a nominal fee or free.

-Bryce
Insurrection Films
byarbrough?mac.com

I might be 18, but watch out, everyone has to start somewhere. I'm just starting a bit faster and bigger. 🙂

Shorts, shorts, shorts.

Before getting into a huge production, get your feet wet with a few shorts. Once you start shooting a feature, you really run out of room for experimentation.

Use an external microphone if at all possible. I use a $30 mic on a $20 boom stand and it works fine for me.

Know everything about your camera. Take everything off auto.

Practice things like lighting and sound setups. Try something, then view it.

Shoot lots of extra film. You're going to need stuff like establishing shots, but you're not going to think of it until afterward. 🙂

quote:

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Originally posted by liamberry

hiya
ive given my self the time scale of a year to make a movie about a murder mystery.
...
But in your opinion, how do I make it professional enough to be a movie you see on TV?
I don't have any other equipment except my camera- would this be a problem?
Also do you think it would be OK to film around town and around our estate etc in England?
Please help me!
I want to make this movie look and feel like a regular one you'd pay to see.
Thankyou so much!!!?:D?

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I am a total newb at this, so I can only tell you what I have read, so take anything I say for what it is worth (not much): I am reading that shooting at 24fps gives digital more of a film look than 30fps. Read up on cinemetography technique-- over the shoulder shots, dolly movements, steadicam, etc. Bad audio will ruin a film (go rent "Miami Vice" on DVD to see that) so get an external shotgun mic and a boom and read about how to use it, practice it. Use video editing software in post production editing to enhance contrast, change color tones to make the footage more dramatic. Sony Vegas software is only about $120US and is fantastic. Good luck! I still am working on my first script, so I envy you already having a script.