The world needs more ‘Lerts.
Be secure. Lock your personal stuff in your car or keep it on your person.
(more…)Category: Tip
Any filmmaking tip
-
Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #44
“Fourple”
On a low budget movie set, a lot of people have double, triple, or fourple duties. On a low budget set, “fourple” is a word. No matter what you’re supposed to be doing, chances are, you’ll wind up doing some other things, too.
(more…) -
Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #43
After he destroys the Ring, of course.
You can’t just eject the warp core and hope a matter/antimatter explosion will produce a shock wave that let’s you surf out of the event horizon. That’s stupid. Find a more down-to-Earth solution to problems for your story.
(more…) -
Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #42
Wish there was a spray for ‘em.
Watch out for drama queens. Drama belongs in front of the camera, not behind it. If they are indispensable, contain them severely. If they are not indispensable, dispense with them.
(more…) -
Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #41
Except when they’re in the bathroom.
When writing a script, keep track of each character, and always try to know what they’re doing at any given point in the narrative, even if we never see it in the script or in the movie. Doing this helps keep the timing right, and the rhythm of the movie benefits from it.
(more…) -
Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #40
Or even a Furby!
Anyone who thinks animation has to be hyper-realistic in order to be emotionally connective never cried watching Bambi. Conversely, the more realistic an animation is, unless it is indistinguishable from real life, the creepier it is, even if it’s supposed to be happy. At best, you can achieve a creepy sort of happy. Usually, that becomes a “fail.”
(more…) -
Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #39
Like peas in a pod.
The Director, the AD, and the Cinematographer should always get on well with each other. Find time to make that happen.
(more…) -
Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #38
Yes, even a nuke.
If you must have a live weapon on set, such as a pistol, or a shotgun, or a nuclear weapon, have one expert dedicated to babysitting that object. They must never let it out of their sight. Pay attention to what they have to say. If they say the actor is being unsafe, fix the actor — don’t shush the expert.
(more…) -
Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #37
You Can Always Shake it in Post!
Get a tripod! Battlestar: Galactica was a fluke — if you don’t lock that camera down, you’re going to make your viewers queasy. You can pan and tilt and even dolly if you have one, but unless you have a real good compelling reason, please, please, please get that camera on the sticks!
(more…) -
Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #36
Even at the dollar store!
If you can’t pipe your sound into your camera, borrow a camera with a microphone jack and use that to record audio. There is no real difference between a ’spensive 16-bit digital recorder and a 10-year old Handicam that records sound in 16 bits. Except, well, cost.
(more…)