The Beginner’s Guide to the Filmmaking Process
Embarking on the journey of filmmaking can be daunting for beginners. This guide aims to demystify the process, providing a roadmap to navigate the creative labyrinth. From pre-production to post, let's explore the art and science of bringing stories to life on screen.
Step 1: The Idea
Every movie you’ve ever seen started with an idea in someone’s brain
- The story you come up with in the beginning will serve as the foundation on which everything else will be built
- Ideas pop into our heads unexpectedly
- Always carry your phone or writing equipment to take down any cool ideas that enhance your story
Step 4: The Cast and Crew.
Have a shoot script ready along with an organized schedule of what will be filmed when
- Locations
- Consider the space required by the cast and crew
- Filming
- If time permits, try filming the same scenes from new angles
- Post-production
- Edit all your footage to create a rough cut
The Script
Put down the story, setting, and dialogue in linear form
- Don’t be afraid to make changes to the script even after you think it’s ready
- Better ideas will come to you well after this stage in the filmmaking process
Step 3: The Storyboards
A sequence of drawings that represent the shots you plan to film
- Photograph them
- You’ll discover your storyboard’s true value when it helps communicate what you’re trying to go for to other people on the set
- Doing this has the added advantage of showing you what’s really possible