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So you wanna make an indie film….

Our goal with these blogs is to take you through the filmmaking process, step-by-step, and help you to make your movie.

Before your first Shoot

by Michael Neel & Greg Ansin Script breakdown for the Meat Man. Every thing we needed. Make sure your script breakdown is ready, organized in a binder by location and time of day. So for each scene/set up you’ll need to know: Location Actors props Wardrobe FX Special equipment Time of day All the info […]

Props and Art Direction

by Michael Neel & Greg Ansin We’ve mentioned before that one of the major assets you have is your TIME. Wood, nails, paint and you got a spooky sign. Props and art direction are great examples of how to use your time effectively. Art direction involves the overall look of the props and set, so […]

Audio Alert!!!

by Michael Neel & Greg Ansin Audio is very important. Do not overlook it. Again, audio is VERY important. DO NOT OVERLOOK IT!!!! John Gage, sound person for Drive-In Horrorshow, waits for the shot. You must hire a competent sound person. If you can record directly into the camera it is okay and saves time […]

Locations

by Michael Neel & Greg Ansin A good location is a very inexpensive way to add production value to your film. Any location where you can show up and not change much in terms of props/furniture/decorations/etc will save you time and money, and let you focus your energy elsewhere. A good location makes the scene. […]

Choosing a Director of Photography

by Michael Neel & Greg Ansin The Director of Photography (DP) is in charge of the camera and what is shot with it. The DP will work closely with the director to make sure they are getting the shots from the storyboards. The DP works directly with the lighting crew to make sure they stay […]

Casting

by Michael Neel & Greg Ansin Know the characters in your story. The right actors will make your film. They will also make your life as a director much easier. Casting is an important step in making your film. Using your roommate or close buddy might work out but most people with little to no […]

Crew

On an indie film, your crew is your backbone. On the set of “The Closet”. Some general notes about crew before we define each member’s role/job. You will have to wear many different hats so be ready to jump in. However, trying to everything at once will not work. On the day of the shoot, […]

Script Break Down

by Michael Neel & Greg Ansin The script breakdown works in conjunction with the storyboards. The script breakdown is the part of the script you’ll be filming from when you say “action” till “cut.” For every shot in your movie. A Story Board from “The Meat Man”. Work from your storyboards to create the breakdown. […]

Story Boards

by Michael Neel & Greg Ansin Once you have decided on your story, storyboard it in as much detail as possible (SEE EXAMPLE BELOW of what a storyboard can look like). Storyboarding also means including notes and the specific part of the script you will be filming. A binder is a good way to organize […]

Format

by Michael Neel & Greg Ansin What should I shoot my movie on? First, ask yourself: what is the final broadcast medium of your film? The web? DVD? Digital Theatres? Imax? Because there is a BIG difference in price range in these broadcast mediums. If you still do not know, another question to ask is: […]