Can a regular digital camcorder be used to make a professional looking short film?

Question

Can a regular digital camcorder be used to make a professional looking short film?

Answer 1

If you use a tripod, focus manully, expose manually, white balance manually and record the audio seperately (rather than on the on board mic) then possibly you will get away with it.

Whats more important is to have a decent shooting script with thought out sequences and motivation points for editing.

On top of that decent lighting.

The viewer will respond badly to the following things in this order:

Rubbish Story

Cringeworthy Script

Terrible Acting

Sloppy editing

Poor recording

So really having a top end camera is only one part of the jigsaw, a cheap camcorder used sensibly might get you through if every other aspect is spot on.

Consumer camcorders don't have decent audio... this would be the main pitfall for the likes of a drama

Answer 2

Anything is possible...........