Tomorrow I'm getting my first cancorder ever and I was thinking of making a mini-film or at least explore with the camcorder. Anyone got any ideas? Any filmmakers, tell me what you did with your first camcorder and what you doing now?
I too would really like a film camera. I would like to make really artsy short films. You know the kind that is really intense to watch and focuses on one particular character and their story. I love story, it would have to tell stories. Blessings Sebbi
I'm in film school, running into the problem that making a real film that looks half-professional takes an enormous amount of money, which I of course don't have. But don't let that get you down, where there's a will there's a way! I just have to find it, but I will find it..... good luck to you too That being said, some ideas I have for making films cheaply with a home DV camera involve: walking around and asking outrageous and/or provocative questions to strangers and filming their reactions filming all the little and natural phenomenon of things around you and cutting them together in an artistic way, preferably with music (like a little fountain bubbling, a watch ticking, other things that spin or bob or undulate) documentaries (can also get expensive to do profesionally but you can still make your own little mini-docs) music videos... I want to do one where I get some people to go around and dance to a certain song in various public places: parks, supermarkets, department stores etc. again, get the reactions of passers-by. Reaction shots are always funny! Plus: see if you can get some of them to join in!! exploring close-up shooting by building some miniature sets with art supplies... makes a great fun project and then you could do a story with characters... Oh My God an idea just occured to me: A movie entirely made with LEGOS! The characters would be lego men, and you could film it just like a real movie with close-ups and different sets and shots and voice-over the characters yourself with a few friends. Oh my god that would be so fun, I'm gonna do it!!! addendum: there's always claymation/stop-motion animation too... takes a lot of work but it's pretty cool. Infinite possibilities, and it's cheap!
What kind of computer do you have? Can you download your video to your computer (via firewire or otherwise)? You will need some sort of movie editing software. I have a program that came with my computer called "Windows Movie Maker", which for a pre-installed Windows stock program, is actually quite a decent editor. There are many other editing programs available, some of the most popular being Final Cut Pro and Avid. Of course, these are extremely expensive ($900+) but you might be able to get a pirated copy... BUT, I also happened to find this page, and while I haven't used any of these programs they are much more reasonably priced: http://video-editing-software-review.toptenreviews.com Just make sure it has timeline editing and some sort of audio mixer and you're good to go. (It's the timeline editing that allows you to arrange multiple clips and sounds to be queued at exact intervals of time, thus synching them)
yeah Movie makers is real cool to use. Rigamarole, Thanks for your advice. Even tho to make a good decent movie is expensive, im just gonna do little film. Oh like filming the Dk show Im in and also filming what goes on backstage. I saw in Dawson's Creek a blair witch project kinda filming that dawson did. I love to tell scary stories. Or maybe a love story. Hmmm, now you got me thinking. Thanks for the inspiration. Oh hey if you ever need to get or exchange ideas for your filming. I'll be glad to help. Since you helped me.
I think I have the Windows Software you mentioned. As far as audio mixing goes that's not a big problem, as I say I have recording/editing equipment. It's more the syncronisation that I'm thinking about. Blessings Sebbi
although overdone, Blair Witch knock offs are good to get a feel for what you are doing, but the only they dont do is show you how to work cut-aways, and multi-angle shots...but the project doesnt even have to be that elaborate...i walked around my house for a few munites filming stuff that glowed or shined in the dark, and called them ghosts, then i killed off some weird doll that is gigantic, then i died... i used to run iMovie of a laptop from my dad's school, but the Communications Tech teacher liked my stuff, he gave me the CD the school had for Final Cut Pro 3 [nothign like getting stuff for free]...but yeah i once did a weird film where i was basically just playing with the effects in FCP, but then i decided to take a "Milk 2 Go" bottle and animate it around the school...because i was shooting video, and not film, this was hard..i took 5second still clips on my camera [while on a tripod] and moved the bottle ever so slightly...the final product, as cool as it is, im not 100% satisfied with it [and if you ever are with a project, you did something wrong, there should always be something you want to change] cause the tripod movied when i hit the button so it jumps around alot, and everynowandthen the bottle moves too much...but still, its a blast to watch but ideas-acctually, i dont realy have any [well i have a couple, but i dont wana give them away cause i wanna do them]...i lost my idea book in feburary and havent had a lot of ideas since yeah, anywho-good luck, and have a blast
Well, the timeline editing software allows you to synchronize audio and video. Just drag the video clips into place, and import whatever audio you want to use and lay it on the audio track to correspond with the video, hedging and trimming it wherever you need to.
back in june of this year we did a documentary style film about an exorcism it turned out quite well.. we used a regular video camera and one of the characters were actually documenting the events as they were unfolding.. The documentary began once the girl was already possesed, so you dont need to really worry about character introduction.. it kinda unfolds as the movie plays its self out.. just have a couple of friends (who can act) help u out with it... if u need more info or a basic script just message me and i will be glad to help u out
Hey Everyone, I just finished my first short film. I live in L.A.. The film is about the hurricanes, the war in Iraq and the Bush administration. I am really excited about this project and would appreciate some feeback. Check it out: www.hiphopconcepts.com Let me know what you think. Peace
Wow! u truly captured the pain of america, and the world! very nice.. and the music played very well with the pictures, great contrast.. thanks it is really touching.
I have a few scripts that I've worked on,the only way I realize that I could even get them produced or even done(The only way I'm seeing my works done is if I'm not only the script writer but the director)...I could do a few avant garde/surreal short films...You know,something to show off in the arthouse crowds. I do think I can get my hands on the camera,but it would take plenty of resources at hand.Anyone interested in working on a collabrative project you're more than welcome to either PM,email,or IM me. That's enough publicity whoring on my part.But I'm more interested in doing science fiction,horror,art house,surreal films ala David Lynch/David Cronenberg(Cronenberg is one of my biggest idols). But if one is looking for a crew member instead,I am skilled as a camera man(Depends on the type,but once I have the hang of it,trust me,I'll get good shots),and aside from camera operation,I'm also a storyboard artist,and conceptual designer,plus I can dab into makeup and mild special effects(If needed.) And to comment on the short film by HipHopConcepts,it isn't bad at all.I dig your message,but I also have to agree that the part with the solider montage felt a tad rushed(Time constraints maybe?)Sometimes subtley can be as eriee and disturbing as anything directly brutal and in your face.
i must say--i think i might have already said it, but i don't feel like checking--the best kind of film to make as a first film project, although cliche like no tomorrow, is a Blair Witch Spoof [hehe, i just thoguht of somthing--the Tony Blair Witch Project, hehe] but yeah, i also agree that a short doc. would be good too--something like the day in the life of your pet or somethign are always stupidly great especially if you can make it seem like they have a hugeg exciting day out of monotonous goings-on like eating [by use of music, camera angles, etc]
