Short Films & Their Making - Part Three (Finding crew and actors)

When the filmmaker gets the full, bounded script in his hand in the form of screenplay, the next step is to find right people who could do the right job. If your film is a low budget film, then it is not obvious that the crew will have minimum number of people. There is no such rule. In fact, many people are connected your film directly or indirectly. For example, if you are hiring the camera from someone, then you have to make sure that the person provides you the equipment on time. Though, he may not be present on shooting sets, or any other part of film-making, his contribution makes a difference.

Crew consists of actors, assistants, music composers, technical crew working on sets and in studios, etc.

If you’re an independent filmmaker, I will still suggest you to have at least two assistants to help you. Many times it happens that you have to look after some person, while there is no one to keep check on other things. Here, the assistants play a big role.

Concerning actors, you can pick any one. I have asked many of my friends to act in my short films. I never had professional actors working with me. If you have enough money and contacts, then it is always better to work with professional actors, no doubt about it. In one of the previous articles, I had said that a wise filmmaker will first take a look at his own resources and accordingly he will take his steps in every level on filmmaking. Walking on the same idea, when you add characters in your script, look around, search for the people who you think can act, and then approach them.

There is also a secret of finding professional actors who can work for free. I will disclose it in my coming articles.

The importance of using original soundtrack can only be understood when you see series of short films using popular theme songs and within those films, one film that has used an original composition. Original music composition impresses the judges and the audience, the film critics too. I remember one occasion in which I had to visit a film festival. It had 20 short films to screen to the people. Out of 20, about 19 films had popular music playing as background score. Most of the times, it went along with the scene, but I didn’t feel the completeness. It is my opinion. When I heard an original composition on one film out of 20, I was more impressed. Though, it was not as good as others, the sound created a soft corner in the minds of judges and audience. It is an honest attempt and people would love to see more of originality in your work.

There are other technicians like video editors, sound recording artists, light arrangement people, voice artists, etc. Again, in most of my films, I used my own instincts to place lights and give effect. I used colored non-transparent plastics and shiny papers to reflect light. I asked my assistants to place and hold the lights. I learned editing on Windows Movie Maker and started experimenting on Adobe Premiere too. If you don’t want to play with these soft wares then you may have to take help of your friends or may be you have to pay to professional technicians.

This was a little summary on how to find the right crew for your short films. I will go in more detail in my new articles.

Short Films & Their Making - Part Two

In my previous article, I explained you importance of script and how an idea can be drawn on the sheet of paper. The first step is to write a screenplay. You must have a bounded script in the form of screenplay with you all the time while shooting the script. I know many people who just write the stories and then shoot films. There is no defined way of making films. Any random procedure can work for you, but there is universally accepted way which is followed by major script-writers and film-makers. i.e. screenplay writing and then directing the movie.



Screenplay can be defined as the script written for a film. It has the details added and put sequentially or chronologically. Again, we all know that there are concepts like ‘flashback’ in films. So the script should not necessarily be chronologically, always. It is produced in parts and each part is considered as ‘scene’. A scene can be defined as the situation at a particular time at a particular place. Time and Place are the two parameters. If any one of the two parameters change, the scene changes. If both changes, it is also the change of scene.

Let us consider a situation or scene. I am writing this article now and in your story, this is a situation. It is morning and I am in my bedroom, sitting on my computer table. Let us assume that one of my friends enters my room and then we have a little chat and we both leave the room. This can be show in the screenplay in following manner:

INTERNAL: SHRIKANT’S BEDROOM: MORNING

SHRIKANT is sitting on chair near his computer table. He is using his PC. The sound of typing can be heard. There is a dim light coming through the window which is behind his computer screen, right in front of Shrikant. He hears a sound from back of his door. He turns his head to check what it is. Thinking that it can be his pet dog, he starts working again.

Suddenly, his friend ROHIT opens the door and enters the room. He is having a baseball bat in his hand, seems excited and is sweaty.

ROHIT [swinging his bat]
Let’s go! We got a match!

Shrikant turns around and looks at him. Smiles.

SHRIKANT
No

ROHIT [stops swinging his bat]
Why?

SHRIKANT
Because I’m busy writing.

ROHIT
No! You promised me. Remember?

Shrikant gets up from his chair.

SHRIKANT
All right! Let’s go. Even I was bored of writing.

Rohit again starts swinging his bat and does this till they leave Shrikant’s room. While Shrikant keeps looking at him amusingly.

SHRIKANT
Don’t be so excited.

The door closes.

CUT TO

Now, you should have observed that I have used ‘Courier New’ font. Most people use this font while writing a screenplay. I will explain you the process:

1. On the very top, my first line tells the location and time. This defines the parameters of the scene. If the place remains same but the time changes then the scene change. Considering the example, if in the story, Shrikant comes back to his room in the evening, the scene has changed. New scene should be written separately with defining its parameters in first line itself. It should be written in capitals.

2. Tense: The story is been explained in Present Tense. As if, the scene is happening right now. This is how it should be written.

3. I described the details that I consider important to be included in the scene. For example, the entering of dim light from window or the sound of typing. These details help the director to focus on them, because they are made to make an impact on the viewer.

4. The name of the character when I first introduced to the reader/director, they are written in capitals letters. E.g. SHRIKANT. Even while they are conversing, their names are written in capitals. It helps the reader/director to figure out how many characters are involved in the scene.

5. While the conversation is going on the character’s name is in capital and it should be in the centre. It should be placed about 5 tabs from the left. The character’s dialogue is just below his name and it should be placed about 3 tabs distanced from the left of the page. The spacing is not shown in the example, the name and the dialogue should be in the centre. The character’s actions, if wanted, are written in square bracket just after character’s name. It is not necessary that the actions are of character. It can be anything that is happening around.

6. The writer can include background sound if he wants. So if in above scene the writer wants a background sound is playing, say ‘Back in black’ by ACDC, then he can write it in the scene’s description. Also, if the sound is not decided, but the writer wants to have a genre song playing in the background, say ‘Jazz’ genre, then he can also mention it in the scene’s description (‘Jazz playing in background’)

7. In the end, ‘Cut’ word is placed. It is a video transition. There are many transitions in both video and audio editing sections. E.g. ‘Fade in’ or ‘Fade out’ or ‘Dissolve’, etc. The writer, if he has knowledge about editing, should write the transition in the end, on the right side. If the writer doesn’t know much about editing, which is the case most of the times, and then he can simply write ‘Cut’. However, the real video editor works on transitions, and if he wants, he won’t use the same transitions as described in the screenplay.

So this was screenplay writing. Practice few scenes and then arrange them in the way you want your story to progress. I apologize for using simple situation in my scene, but it is the most basic form of writing. It can be taken as reference to write complicated scenes. A next article is about finding crew and/or co-workers.

Short Films & Their Making - Part One

In this blog, I am going to share with you some basics of film-making process. There are many aspiring film-makers and script-writers. I am not a professional film-maker. Neither I’ve made any film independently nor have I worked with any professionals. The information that I am going to share with you is something that I’ve learned while making some low-budget short films and documentaries with my friends. We group of friends have been involved in couple of short films. While making them, I have learned some of the basics of film-making. I am sure that this will surely help you at the very initial stage of film-making, if you ever wanted to make one.

First of all, think of an idea. Now, when I say that you have to think of an idea, then it can be any random thought. The idea must be appealing to you. This is the prime factor. Most of the newcomers forget this quality that their thought/idea should possess. It is going to be the topic of their film. When you make a film, you must be the person who find the topic most appealing. You don’t have to think of audience at this stage, not even your co-workers/colleagues.

When the topic is decided, write a short story on it. Let me make you one thing clear. Your thought may have been presented to audience previously, but it really doesn’t matter. Trust me. What matters, is how you are going to present it. See, the topics are more or less similar of most of the films of same genre, but there are slight differences. The final presentation is completely different. This is what makes the ordinary story into extra- ordinary film. So if you are thinking that the thought, that just crossed your mind, is a cliché, think again!

Let us now assume that you have thought of a topic. You have decided to make a film on it. The time length of the film is not the factor important at this point of time. The next step is to write a short story. Write a simple story with very few details and dialogues. Write story even if you are a bad writer or even if you have never written any article. Write story even if you find it boring. This is most important step which people generally skip. If you’re not capable of writing one, ask your friend or any of your acquaintances to write for you.

In the story, make an attempt to have few characters involved. The end should be the high point of the story. The story must build up of curiosity in the mind of reader. Take any story, you will find one common format. There is stability in the beginning. In the middle, there is a conflict which results into instability or chaos. In the end, stability is restored. This is how any film story is constructed. Believe me, it is the most common yet most accepted format. Most of the people like good, happy endings.

When a short story is written, you have to follow a strict method after its completion. You have to systematically write down a screenplay for your film. You can make numerous changes. You can add new characters, new locations, new twists, new situations, etc. If you are a low-budget, independent film-maker, make sure that while writing a story you are keeping count of your resources.

Resources, Yes! This is big problem. For example, if you have a bike. Imagine that you have included a plane in your script. Is it possible for you to get a plane while shooting? If it is, then good for you! But if not, then I will advice you to add only those elements in your script which are accessible to you. Therefore, instead of plane, you have to use bike or some other vehicle. If you think that the story is not going as you want, then change some other elements. According to me, the elements of the film story are the characters, situations, locations, etc.

Elements like some of your friends who are good actors or who think can act well, think of them and include characters like them in your story. If you have a big farm house or if anyone, who you know owns one and if he/she is willing to give you to shoot, & then include it in your script. The point is, use resources that are available and that fits in your story. It is all about how deliberately you place unlinked elements wisely into one meaningful masterpiece!

Coming back to screenplay, which is a tedious process. It can be tiring. I will advice you to write at least three refined screenplays. When you write it for first time, after its completion, get out from the place and do something else. Do anything that is not related to your film. After some time, come back and read your screenplay. Read it as if it is not written by you. This helps you to identify your mistakes; and I am not talking about just grammatical mistakes. I am also talking about some logical, practical mistakes in you character’s behavior, locations or situations that you have described in your screenplay.

Rewrite your screenplay and follow same steps again. Remember, more the times you do this procedure, better will be your screenplay. The objective is to sharpen your own idea. It also helps to produce new dimension to your story which can be more appealing than old one.

As of now, I think I had shared enough information. Script writing is first stage of film-making process. A script should be known and explained to almost all members of the crew. It helps them to know what the film-makers want from them, what kind of work they should produce and what role they have to play in the process.

First Step

I have decided to write blogs regularly now. It has been a long time. The problem is not consistency or laziness; the problem is lack of driving force. It has always been my drawback. When I sit down to write something, or when I plan things, or when I imagine how things are going to work for me, I do the planning efficiently, but I mess up while working on it.

So, this is my first step to start writing. I remember my ma’am once told me how good I was at writing. I was pleased by her remarks. They were confidence booster. I then thought that I could easily produce a piece of writing that is worth reading. As the time passed, I got the feeling inside that I was wrong. I must write all the time. It is like brushing your teeth. You will get the whiteness only when you brush regularly, or else it is just the temporary shade.

Just considering this as my first step, I try to write this small article. I am also planning to write small articles from now on. May be because they are read faster and the reader won’t have to spend much time reading. So yes, I hope this is my start and I going to live up to my own words.