You have a video camera, an idea and everything you need to make your film, but no actor or crew willing to help you. If you are bored and want to shoot something, you want to give an original touch to your school project or you want to start your career as a director, you can take a cue from the ideas in this article to shoot a video without anyone's help.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Preparation
Step 1. Find a simple idea that you can pick up on
Shooting a movie alone means eliminating all the other actors and scenes that require more people. Unfortunately this excludes almost all special effects and dialogue, but such limitations can unleash your creativity, leading to unique and original solutions. Here are some ideas you might consider:
- Artistic films: Pioneers like Sadie Benning and Bruce Nauman have contributed a lot to the art world using only their camera and their willingness to experiment. You can try whatever format you prefer, from video diaries to abstract movies that explore a color or sound. Look for inspiration in the free Video Data Bank.
- Short documentaries: you just need a camera and a microphone to go down the street to interview passers-by and film the environment.
- Talking heads: This format, popular on YouTube and on some TV shows like The Office, involves recording a monologue or performing in a sketch. In some cases the scene is shot next to the movie or game you are commenting on.
- Stop-motion: While it takes a long time, the stop-motion technique is one of the few that allows producers to make professional-looking films on their own.
Step 2. Write the basic script
If your idea isn't outlined yet, there's no need to describe the whole story, but having references in black and white will help get you started. Almost all videos tell a story and most of them are divided into three parts:
- Start: presents the world of your video. The subject can be you, the protagonist, the setting you are filming or simply a color or mood you want to explore.
- Conflict: something disturbs, modifies or transforms the original premises. For art films or short-lived works it can be a simple change of pace or the introduction of a new theme. The "story" is told through change.
- Resolution: how does your story end, what is the message or thought it communicates? Some stories end up unsolved, but that simply means nothing has changed.
Step 3. Organize your gear
All you need is a camera and a program to edit the videos on your computer, but other equipment can be very useful:
- Tripod: If you want to film yourself in a scene, a tripod is the ideal tool for obtaining a stable camera that can be moved, rotated and raised or lowered in many different angles.
- Lighting: One of the main differences between home and professional movies is the quality of the lighting. 3-4 spotlights purchased from home improvement stores can be enough to create a strong, even light for your film.
Step 4. Experiment with your camera until you know all its features
To make a film yourself, you need to use all the resources at your disposal. The camera is your best friend and you have to learn how to use it perfectly to create a unique and original video. The quickest way to do this is to try, but here are some things you need to consider:
- White balance: this changes the color "temperature" of your film. Proper balance ensures that all colors look natural. You can use it to get various visual effects, but it's easier to correct it during editing.
- Lenses: the various lenses can greatly change the composition of the frame. Experiment with wide angles, fish-eye and zoom to change the visual effects.
- Focus: It takes a lifetime to master the art of focusing and so you should start practicing today. Focus determines which part of the frame is sharp and which is blurry. Many cameras have autofocus, but to make really great videos, you have to manually control it.
Part 2 of 3: Shooting
Step 1. Focus on the visual narration of your story or idea
Videos are a visual medium, and while dubbing and text are great ways to communicate information, they're not very engaging. By shooting alone you will not be able to insert dialogue, actors or sound effects to tell your story. However, you have all the time in the world to choose beautiful shots, capture compelling images, and find the best angles.
Consider all the scenes with the mind of a photographer. Ask yourself if they are interesting images even on their own
Step 2. Make a storyboard of your movie
This is the comic version of your film, an invaluable tool for designing your video, which allows you to "see" the work before you start shooting. You can use it as a guide throughout the shoot. You can search for models on the internet and print them or draw the main scenes with pen and paper.
Of course, improvisation is also important, however storyboards are great for planning the camera position
Step 3. Use an external microphone instead of the camera one
The built-in microphones of the cameras are almost always poor and become completely useless when the device is away from the action. An external microphone greatly improves the quality of the output, as audiences recognize defects in the audio more easily than in the video.
Step 4. Shoot many short scenes
Instead of leaving the camera on as you move, create individual and compelling scenes. This way you will be able to think through each scene by yourself and the editing phase will be much easier.
Step 5. Stand still if you are shooting in first person
Focus works by sharpening images at a precise distance from the lens. Moving the camera around would have a hard time following your movements, changing the focus or causing blurring.
Stick a small piece of tape on the floor to remember where you need to stand in each scene
Step 6. Shoot triple or more of the scenes you think you will need
All types of films are built in the editing stage; the greater the amount of material at your disposal, the easier it will be to make a good film and the more satisfied you will be with the finished product. Shoot the same scene from different angles, try out some variations of the script, or film the scene environment for atmospheric shots. All the extra scenes matter.
Experiment with the scenes. Try unusual angles, film bizarre and abstract shots of common objects, and explore your surroundings with the camera. You probably won't use these cutscenes, but even one in 100 scenes is worth spending the time this way
Part 3 of 3: Assembly
Step 1. Edit the film to tell your story or idea, not just to show off your "prowess"
Editing is one of the most underrated art forms in the world of cinema, but it is a natural consequence of the nature of the technique. The best editors are invisible, because they make perfect cuts and scene changes. The images flow naturally and the public doesn't even think about it. Before you start editing your film, make sure you know the story, purpose, or theme of the video. Put your editing skills at the service of that idea.
Step 2. Learn to use cuts to tell your story
In editing, paints and brushes are replaced by "cutting", ie the transition between one scene and the next. Films tell stories in this way, images switch from one to the other, and each transition shows the audience a slight change or progression, such as "she walks into the building" or "he is talking". They can be simple or symbolic, like Stanley Kubrick's famous cut from a bone thrown into the air at a space station in "2001: A Space Odyssey". Learning to use cuts to foster storytelling is key to editing.
- Clean cut: a cut to another angle or scene with no transition. It is the most common in cinematography.
- Smash cut: an abrupt change to a completely different scene or image. This technique points out the cut, often signaling a surprise or an important moment in history.
- Jump: a dry cut within the same scene, usually at a slightly different angle. They are not very common and show confusion or the passage of time.
- J-Cut: Cut to the audio of the next scene, without changing the video. This is a great way to thematically link two scenes or tell the story.
- L-Cut: cut to the video of the following scene, continuing to play the audio of the previous one. This is a great way to show a character talking about something, like a promise, which then takes action.
- Action cut: a cut that occurs during the action. For example, show a room door opening, then cut on the same door on the other side.
- Overlap: two different scenes are superimposed, indicating that they are connected and intertwined. This technique is often used in transitions.
- Similar scenes: a cut in which the first scene is shot in the next one. For example, after a shot of your eyes, you might switch to your eyes wearing sunglasses or another person's gaze. This creates a link between the scenes, but usually also indicates some fundamental differences.
Step 3. Think about the rhythm and cadence of the scenes
Many editors take individual frames, the still images you can see when you pause the movie, and sort them as if they were musical notes. Does your film run well? What contribution does the speed of the cuts make to the rhythm of vision? In general:
- Quick cuts add energy and movement to the scenes.
- Slow and infrequent cuts develop tension, suspense and focus. They slow down the film, allowing the viewer to contemplate a shot or an idea.
- The human brain takes 3-5 frames to recognize an image. Remember that, or you might confuse audiences with too quick cuts, as long as that's not your purpose.
Step 4. Take the time to color correct your movie
This operation adjusts the hue, saturation, brightness and contrast of the images so that they are always constant. It is not easy to achieve this on your own when shooting, so it is almost always necessary to correct the colors in the course of editing. All editing programs have filters and effects designed for this purpose. Many also have autocorrect features, which often don't work perfectly.
- You can also use color correction to get surprising effects or particular lights, such as soft yellow halos or dangerous and intense red tints.
- If you want to sign up for an event or festival with your film, consider hiring a color grading professional.
Step 5. Watch your movie with friends and ask for their opinion
The only way to become a better producer is to share your work with the whole world. Ask if they can explain in their own words the events they witnessed and what they liked and what they did not like. Come up with ideas on how to improve the product and try to integrate their recommendations into your next movie. Who knows, maybe they'll even help you make it happen.
Advice
- Explore a single idea in each of your films. Instead of trying to put 4-5 insights into a single feature film, focus on creating the best possible version of a single vision.
- Experiment with the camera by shooting anything. Remember that you have the flexibility and the freedom to do whatever you want, at any time.
- If you include music during the editing, make sure it is not protected by copyright, or contact the owner.
