By creating a short film based on the title 'Exchange' we decided on this list of simple do's and don'ts to act as a guide when making other pieces of media.
dON'T... 1. zoom. it looks unprofessional and lazy. however, using it as a dramatic effect can be very effective...
2. Delete extra footage. you might use it later on or it can help you come up with better improved ideas. it could also be someone else's work so never delete anything!!!
3. Film reflective SURFACES or into the light (unless you want a lense flare.) it will look UNPROFESSIONAL. for example, filming into WINDOWS WHERE THE CAMERA CAN BE SEEN and obscure some of the setting.
4. Don't just film a drama! having a complex story with lots of drama HAPPENING at once can make it boring to watch. it also draws attention away from the horror aspect so our short film was mostly action based.
DO.... 1. cREATE A STORYBOARD WITH VARYING SHOTS TO MAKE YOUR FILM INTERESTING. it ALSO allows you plan what you are filming next and build STRUCTURED ideas into a SEQUENCE so you know exactly where the story is going. when filming 'the EXCHANGE' we did not have a story board and we ended UP MAKING UP MOST IT ON THE SPOT. CREATING A STORYBOARD HELPS YOU PLAN DIFFERENT SHOTS THAT IN TURN CREATE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES FOR EACH CHARACTER.
2. CONSIDER USES OF SOUND AND LIGHTING. tHESE ARE BOTH IMPORTANT AS THEY DRAW SUSPENSE AND TENSION. sound can be the tiniest of details from a single clink or slow footsteps to a whole dramatic sequence. lighting in a horror is typically minimal as the darkness creates fear.
3. sTICK TO THE FILM BRIEF. WE WERE GIVEN THE GENRE OF HORROR FOR OUR SHORT FILM AND although we didn't have a complete STORYLINE, what we ended up with did RESEMBLE a horror. it was also important to consider the title and at some point we need to do an exchange- could be literal or metaphorical. we went with a literal exchange so it was more obvious. In a real production, sticking the the film BRIEF is vital to produce a piece of media the company wants. if it isn't what they asked for, they are likely to back out and the production is essentially useless.
4. ALWAYS USE A TRIPOD FOR PROFESSIONAL LOOKING SHOTS. USING DISTORTED AND askew shots will degrade the footage. in our short film we did not use a tripod and a lot of the shots we took were wobbly and too fast to focus on.
5. make a risk assessment. understand that what you are doing can be seen as dangerous to you and the public so by creating a risk assessment you're saving yourself from a lot of difficulties that could occur. you will need permission for weapons in certain places before you start filming.
6. consider the location and the props you'll be using. filming a horror film in particular needs a location that can build suspense and has an all round creepy atmosphere. the props should be relevant to the story line.
7. stick to simple story lines. OVER COMPLICATing the plot can make your AUDIENCE lose interest. your characters back stories should be clear cut as to not confuse those watching for the first time. however, a small plot twist never goes amiss.