Making a Short Film Advice

Kahoot of Concepts in the Video

Play Kahoot to reinforce the learning of concepts in the video

RemNote‘s AI note-taking tool generated the notes below, which will summarize YouTube videos and turn the notes into flashcards for memorization.

Writing the Short Film 

• Focus on entertaining yourself or a close friend when writing your short film. 
• Make your audience specific to make your film more specific. 
• Reverse engineer your story idea based on things you already have access to. 
• Keep the film simple and under five minutes. 
• A smaller-scale film is better for beginners. 
• Write out the beginning, middle, and end in a simple paragraph. 
• Expand the paragraph into a more detailed story, but don’t worry about the script format yet. 
• Visualize the story in your head in real-time, as if watching the final film, and time it. 
• Get feedback from friends, as collaboration is key. 

Pre-production for the Short Film 

• Mark a shooting day on the calendar and inform your team. 
• Find the minimum number of people needed to make the movie. 
• Gather props, wardrobe, and any special items needed. 
• Print the script and make handwritten notes about the scenes. 
• Create storyboards or shot descriptions to stay organized. 
• Determine the most logical order in which to shoot the shots. 
• Write down all instructions for the shooting day. 

Production of the Short Film 

• Use whatever camera you have, even if it’s just your phone. 
• Focus on storytelling rather than cinematography. 
• Prioritize good audio over cinematography. 
• Use a microphone or phone to record clear audio. 
• Record wild audio after the shot if necessary, matching the original performance. 
• Record sound effects to enhance the film. 
• Follow your instructions and ensure you have all the necessary shots. 
• Be gracious to those who helped you. 
• Back up your footage and audio in multiple locations. 

Post-production of the Short Film 

• Learn the basics of editing through online tutorials. 
• Use iMovie (for Mac) or DaVinci Resolve (free option) for editing. 
• Cut out any dead moments to keep the film engaging. 
• Add sound effects from freesound.org or create your own. 
• Use music from the YouTube Audio Library or other sources. 
• Clean up the audio and use cross dissolves between cuts. 
• Show the rough cut to trusted friends for feedback. 
• Adjust the edit based on feedback and consider reshoots. 
• Be prepared to cut out indulgent parts of the film. 
• Keep the movie short and sweet. 
• Export the movie and share it with those who helped you. 

Reviewing and Improving Your Short Film 

• Objectively analyze your first short film to identify weaknesses. 
• Research and seek advice on how to improve in those areas. 
• Making your first film is scary, but the satisfaction is worthwhile.