From pre-production to editing – here are tips on how to make a short film independently.
Story-telling through the arts has long been a tool for emotional expression and education. Most everyone has a story to tell. Some people use visual art such as painting and drawing to tell their stories. Some use writing and others love to make worlds come to life through filmmaking.
It’s not easy to be an independent film-maker, and many people would tell you not to do it right off the bat. However, the most important thing to keep in mind in filmmaking is that you learn everything as you go. Think of it like this – the less you know, the more opportunity you have to learn and grow.
Before we start, let’s clear something up – you don’t need to be perfect at cinematography or editing or any aspect of filmmaking, you just need to try and be willing to make mistakes! Filmmaking should be fun! Whether you’re making a short for your portfolio, job interview or showreel- here are the steps to take and some tips on how to make a short film at home.
Where to start?
Before you pick your phone up to start recording, start with a script. Even if your film doesn’t have any words in it, it is important to write a script so that you can get a sense of the storyline. The script will also help you find a sequence in which to film the story. Start your script by answering these questions.
Where: Is the location of the scene inside or outside? This will help you determine whether or not you need extra props, lighting and be conscious of how the weather may affect your sound.
When: When is your story set? In what year or era? Finally, you must decide what time of day it is in your script. This will inform the costumes and props.
Who: Who are the characters in your story? When you introduce them, before their dialogue you must describe them – their looks and a little bit of their personality.
Where: Is the location of the scene inside or outside? This will help you determine whether or not you need extra props, lighting and be conscious of how the weather may affect your sound.
When: When is your story set? In what year or era? Finally, you must decide what time of day it is in your script. This will inform the costumes and props.
Who: Who are the characters in your story? When you introduce them, before their dialogue you must describe them – their looks and a little bit of their personality.
What: Now that you have the basis you can start to write out what happens in the story. Remember to write out what actions the characters do between dialogue.
Now it’s time to film.
When you are done with your script, double check it to make sure you’re happy with your story. Remember not to compare it to anyone else’s. It is your special story and yes, you are the best one to tell it. Regardless of how different or similar your script is to others, as long as it is original and your own – you should feel confident in making it come to life.
The last step to take before filming is writing down the order in which you would like to film. Do you want to start at the end? The beginning or the middle? Would you like to do close-ups or all shots wide and including a lot of visual context. Make a list of each shot you would like to take – this will be your shot list and what keeps you on track with what you’re filming.
Make sure you are attentive to your actors and that they have a guideline on how to embody your character. If you have no characters in your film, make sure that the visuals are interesting and full of context. So, in every shot and scene there needs to be visual indicators (whether it be props or editing text) that guide the audience towards the storyline.
The final steps.
Now that you are done filming it is now for editing! A lot of people struggle with this aspect of solo filmmaking, but with an app like Capcut for example- it could not be easier because it comes with an easy to use interface and templates for videos. Take some time to go through each element of your new editing software and take some time stringing your story together.
Well! There you have it, making a short film at home is not as daunting as one may think! Remember – there is no shame in not knowing something. Google is free! So use it to your advantage and google specific questions about any aspects of your journey that you don’t understand.
Happy filmmaking!