10 Tips To Help You Plan Your Short Films Better - A checklist of some crucial aspects involved in filming

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10 Tips To Help You Plan Your Short Films Better

BY TEAM CINESHORTS PREMIERE



Often times we get so engrosses in filming that we end up loosing the overall essence of this beautiful journey. Filmmaking looks Fun, but before saying that "ROLL" you need to ensure for a smooth flow. The process is exciting & exhausting as well if not planned properly. 

We hereby share 10 such important elements in this process of filming which would help you plan your films better & in an effective way.

1. Believe In Your Story:
Might sound a bit philosophical but is the very base of your story. Story telling is indeed an art, we have seen so many stories with same subject themes, however the ones that impacted our minds, stayed with us were the ones with a complete different style or approach. Hence its very important to understand your story treatment. It forms the core of your filming process, as there's no film without a story. While there are hundreds of stories lying with several productions, the ones which really differentiate are more or less with a different approach towards it. Spend some time, think upon your stories, share it with your friends/family to get an idea from them. they can be a good audience to give you just the right kind of feedback. Just don't loose hope!!

2. The Right Camera:
"Good Filmmakers know which camera to shoot their film on"
Your story is designed with a specific tone to it, hence understanding which camera can suit the look to your film is key. There are camera's designed to give a certain feel to your film & comes with some technicalities to it, figure out what best works for you. In case you're a beginner filmmaker, we would recommend the Fujifilm X-47, however you're free to explore others as per your choice as well.

3. The Professional Draft:
Your script is the mirror image of how serious are you on it. Avoid writing your scripts in word / pdf formats even if its just a 2 page story ensure using a professional writing software like Final Draft or Writer Duet. Remember it's how you do anything is how you do everything! 

4. Hire A Cinematographer / DOP:
It sounds fancy to don several hats on an independent project but one tends to loose its essence. Specially when it comes to independent filmmaking, there's always a fact of budget constraints & hence people try to uphold certain key areas of the filming department. Your films presentability is key! A great story short in an ordinary manner shall make it look ordinary. Every scene requires a certain tone, a frame & a certain look to it, having a professional cinematographer can help you lift up even an ordinary story. Make sure to have someone who loves to play with the camera.

5. Shoot Locations:
Planning your locations is key. Every scene written is keeping in mind a desired location. It can come across as a daunting task to search for locations, all the more if you wish to shoot on a real location. Your locations serve as the most essential part to your film & can consume a lot of time specially when you are shooting at minimal budgets. Irrespective, plan out your locations in advance & do not compromise.

6. Setting Up Your Lights:
Setting up your lights are like setting up the mood, for the film, for the scene & for your actors. Filming happens in totality & hence one needs to understand how crucial is having the right tone of your scene. In case you do not wish to spend more, you can explore the Aputure Amaron F7 without burning a hole in your pockets.

7. Ensure Your Film Is Well Sound:
One of the most under-rated aspects in film-making. Imagine a film without the right audio output. Make sure to have the right device for your audio whether they're Lapels / Boom Mics figure out what best works for your film. 

8. Hire Professional Actors:
"A good actor makes your film come to life" Your actors are certainly the ones who transform your stories from paper to screen make sure to have the good ones. With good ones we do not mean hiring those professional faces, you don't need prominent faces to make a good films you just need actors who can put in the soul to the characters they play. Try scouting actors by having an audition or reach out to a friend whose been trying hard & you know about his line of work. Having actors who can understand your vision & are comfortable to work with can make a big difference.

9. Right Editing:
One such aspect which can make a good film look bad or vice-versa. The word "Edit' sounds simple; thanks to apps & social media but honestly its much deeper when it comes to doing it for your film. A good editor knows the hack for making your film work.

10. Stay Connected:
The least one can do, is to stay connected with your team. Remember filmmaking is a teamwork & they're the ones who would be of help once your film is complete. It so happens that the process before filming till shoot everyone stays connected post which there's no update whatsoever. An ideal scenario being your entire team should be posted on your films overall journey. Let your team know about the film they have been part to, even if they're no more working with you. Giving relevance to your team is important since they're the ones with whom the project was executed. They can be of great help when it comes to promoting your film.

Our Suggested products to help you film better.

Filmmakers Handbook By Steven Ascher - https://amzn.to/3v8krxG

Suggested Filming Kit for Shooting Films/Series
Camera Lens Protection Bag: https://amzn.to/2QbHKrt
Camera Gimble: https://amzn.to/3dqi9n

Hopefully we have tried to convey what might best be of help in your filming journey :) If this article was useful, then don't forget to like, share & spread the word.



About CineShorts Premiere:
Cineshorts Premiere is India's Premiere Short Film Distribution platform showcasing the work of independent filmmakers. We help expand your films reach. Our shorts are currently being showcased across various platforms like MX Player, Disney+Hotstar, Airtel Xstream, Hungama Play, Shorts TV & Discover Films besides being on our channel. Besides distribution, we also help filmmakers with PR for their films, review write-ups.

For film submissions kindly reach us at: thecineshorts@gmail.com 


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