I want to make a movie.?

Question

I want to make a movie......so far all I have is a script. I don't have anything else to make the movie. Can anybody tell every single thing I need to make this movie. Give me the least amount of things possible to make this movie...also the cheapest amount.....This isn't Hollywood...me and my friends just want to try to make a movie to the best of our ability with the cheapest stuff possible. Help.

Answer 1

If u just wanna make a quick video to put on youtube and show your friends and what not, nothing fancy, it's really not that hard.  Obviously you need a camera but make sure it's one that you can plug a firewire or usb chord, that's the main thing.  If you want steady shots, a tripod is a good idea but not  necessary and can easily be substituted with a chair or something.  You also need plenty of LIGHT! just make sure u turn on all the lights on in the room and if there's not enough bring in more.  The last thing that I would say that is essential is an editing system.  If you have a mac imovie hd is the easiest way to go if you are just learning to edit and automatically on apple computers.  If you have a PC Windows Movie Maker is on there and is fairly decent.  In my opinion editing is the most essential part.  Have fun!

Answer 2

Your question is impossible to answer as asked. Speaking bluntly, you can just point and shoot your friends speaking lines and going through motions and you have a movie, no cost, just time. And it only goes up and up from there. Do you have any idea what goes into making even an amateur or student film? Here is an idea, and by no means a complete one, to what it would take to make a decent looking film;

PRE-PRODUCTION

There are infinite variable up from there. The nest thing to consider is what do you intend to do with the movie? Is it just for your fun? Do you want to sell or distribute it? If so, do you know how to do that?

Next, consider the camera you are using, do you have only one? And what is the quality of the camera? Most consumer cameras fall far short in dynamic range, color saturation, optical quality and pick-up resolution than even the cheapest pro-HD cameras, so unless you have a camera that is HD quality with a 3 pick-up system and at at least a “pro-sumer” level, you will have to make your movie within the limitations of your camera.

Next thing to worry about is sound. You can’t use the built in mic, it is far to inadequate. Now will you need wireless mics or a boom mic? Now you have to rent or buy them (a boom is NOT cheap, hundreds alone for rent).

Now you have to worry about the lighting. There is little chance that you can shoot your film in any professional manner using only existing light, the least you will need are reflectors (cheap white cardboard can work) or supplemental lights (you can use shop light, 500 watts each twin heads, you can get them at home depot for under $40.00)

Next you have to worry about batteries and tape.

Next you have to worry about props..what do you need, what do you have to buy, what can you scrape together.

Next is locations. What do you need? Do you need permits or permission to shoot where you need to shoot, do you have to build any sets? Do you have the set or location for long enough to get all your shots? Do you have to pay to use the location? Do you have electricity on the set for lights or any other equipment you may need?

Set decoration, different from props, these are items in the set that lend authenticity to the set.

Costuming: What will your characters wear? Do you have it on hand?

Make-up..who is going to do it, do you have to supply all the make-up?

Special FX what are you going to do, what are you going to need to do it as far as special make-up, special stunt equipment, can you do stuff in-camera or do you need to add CGI, and how much time effort and cost can you devote to that.

Transportation, how are you getting the cast crew and equipment to the locations and sets?

Craft services..who is going to feed the cast and crew? And what are they going to be fed?

How are you going to set up your shooting schedule? A movie is not shot “in sequence” that is in the order you see the scenes in the final version, the shots for all locations are done at the same time and edited into the final film in proper order later, this means you will have to have a “shooting script” one that has each individual shot and sequence spelled out so you know everything you need to do in any set/location

Will you have a second unit? In other words, a whole other production crew shooting different, extra, secondary or filler scenes at alternate locations at the same time your first unit is shooting primary footage?

Do you have someone to do storyboards? They are shot by shot illustrations of how a scene should look to guide the director.

How many crew people? You need at LEAST a cameraman. The director, a lighting person (grip or gaffer) a set coordinator/continuity person, this is the person who takes an inventory of everything on the set and location and makes a note so that if a shot is done at two separate days and is supposed to look like it was one continuous shot, the set will look and be lit the same as will all the props and costumes, they will be the prop supervisor too. One production assistant, basically a go-for person, and your make-up person/costumer. You may want some other PA’s to help with the set up or breakdown of all equipment and props.

Actors and extras, how many do you need, how much will they work for? If you intend in any way to distribute you film commercially, do you need to hire union (SAG) actors or crew? How much will you pay them, who do you need on the set for each shot and when?



PRODUCTION:

Set security..Some locations will require you to hire police to control the area for vehicular or pedestrian traffic, figure on $50-75 an hour or more, per officer.

Do you have people to quickly set up and move props?

Do you have all permits in place?

Did you consider the weather and what to do if it doesn’t cooperate?

Do you have back up planes for anything that goes wrong with equipment, props, actors, extras, the set, the location, etc…..?

POST PRODUCTION

Sound: Do you need to do sound re-recording/dubbing? Can you get everyone back to redub dialog that did not come out well. Do you need to do foley work (these are people who add sound effects like footsteps, punches striking, bullets firing) and dub them into the film.

Editing: Do you have proper editing software? Do you know how to do linear and insert editing?

Color correction, can you correct color and lighting flaws?

Copy and duplication: What format are you going for? Are you looking to make a DVD, a master HD tape? Transfer to film?

This is far from a detailed list..you can add many, many more things and you really won’t get that great a quality film without nearly all of these things.

So, decide on the quality and professionalism of the film you want to make, know the limits of you equipment, have a complete list of everything you need for every shot, and everyone you need to make it all come together, what your skill level is at pre-pro and post production, what you intend to do with the final product and if you have the means to do it, and how many thousands you have to spend, and make adjustments accordingly.

Some advice would be to see if there is a college nearby with a film department and shop your script out to the students and see if they will take on the production.

Or, you can find producers on your won, friends or family or others interested in investing in the film for a cut of any profits or for recognition.

Answer 3

Bobs answer is perfect add this Use Final Cut Pro or Avid. Also google three point lighting and learn how. consider a tripod. Consider interesting backgrounds. Try setting focus so the person is in focus and the background is not. Use complementary colors for human flesh the background should be a medium to light blue.

Hope this helps. I have won several emmys by paying attention to detail.

Alex