If you're a kid, you'll need a green screen, props, actors, a director, producers, a storyline, a place to shoot, and a video camera to make a film. To get a green screen, you can do some research on the internet to find out where to buy one, or find information on how to build it yourself.
Steps
Step 1. Find an idea
It could be a book written by you or one of your friends, or whatever you want.
Step 2. Write a screenplay (or script)
Step 3. Get the actors
Ask for the cooperation of friends, because getting real actors will be really difficult.
Step 4. Get a tool for shooting
This could be a video camera, digital camera, flip camera or webcam on your computer, or a real movie camera. Get a camera that has a resolution of 720p (1280x720) or higher.
Before you start shooting, make sure you know the camera like the back of your hand. If you can afford it, we recommend using a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR, which combines the optics and mechanisms of an analog camera with a digital sensor), but if you don't have the possibility to buy a good quality one, avoid buying it: don't expect the cheapest one to have good shooting characteristics
Step 5. Ask the owner of the location where you would like to shoot for permission to shoot
Step 6. If you need it, buy or build a green screen
Step 7. Find a place to shoot
It will be difficult for you to shoot them all on a green screen: you may therefore have to build sets or shoot outdoors (for example, a park in the area).
Step 8. Rehearse for the film
Step 9. Shoot the same scenes several times, as you will need as many good quality footage as possible
You may need a few people willing to do some stunts - if so, you'll need doubles.
You probably don't have a large amount of money available; as a result, unfortunately, you will not be able to include many acrobatic scenes in the film. It will be difficult, in fact, to find doubles, because few people are willing to shoot these scenes without showing their face, unless they are paid. Real doubles are trained professionals, which your friends aren't
Step 10. Watch the movie up to the point where you made it
Step 11. Edit the film
View all the takes with the editor (unless you edit it yourself) and decide which ones to use.
Try not to use Windows Movie Maker, as it generates an extremely irritating slowdown of the movie. Try to get Adobe Premiere Pro or Elements. If you can't buy them, Hitfilm Express is a great free alternative. If there is a great deal of violence in your film, you might want to purchase Adobe After Effects
Step 12. To present the film, create your production company
You could also send it to real production companies, but they are likely to reject it.
If you wish, you can send the movie to some theaters (but, again, you will probably get a rejection), or you can show it with a home theater system, if you have one. Another possibility is to transfer it to DVD thanks to Windows Live Movie Maker, to play it on your television system
Step 13. If your parents agree, throw a party
Invite the actors, friends, family, and some of their work friends.
Step 14. Burn discs for all actors and family members
Upload the movie to YouTube, Vimeo or Facebook.
Advice
- Make sure there is no shadow (or at least hardly any) on the green screen and that the room you are shooting in is well lit.
- If you go on vacation, take pictures and scan them on your computer, so you can have another background for the green screen.
- Make sure you include some really good effects in the film. If you have a problem, ask your parents, an older brother or sister, or friends for help - they might offer you some good ideas.
- Write a script or script - you could write it with friends, but your parents, older brother or sister could also help you write it.
- If you decide to abandon the film, try to shorten the duration, so that you can go faster and complete it.
- If one of your actors quits, don't interrupt the making of the film, but get another one that looks like him.
- Equip yourself with an enormous amount of patience. Making a film requires a lot of time and energy.
- True ideas come from the heart. Some films are based on real life experiences.
- If the director abandons the production taking his video camera with him, don't interrupt the making of the film: go and buy a video camera, or, with their permission, use that of the mother or father.
- If you wish, you can divide the film into two or three parts. Most films consist of only one part and usually have no more than four.
- Make sure you are as far away from the green screen as possible.
- Turn the movie into a book.
- Tell your parents where you are going to shoot for the movie so they don't worry. They'll also know they don't have to go to where you keep the green screen and don't speak loudly when you're filming.
- Make sure you choose actors who are willing to appear in the film.
Warnings
- To make the film, DO NOT use real knives or weapons: someone could get hurt.
- Some stunts could be dangerous, so be very careful.
- The making of the film may take a long time.
- Watch out for the camera - if it gets hit by something hard, it could break.
