I want to make my own movie/film – What is the list of things I will need?
Question by Fanremote: I want to make my own movie/film – What is the list of things I will need?
I’m in college so my budget will be super tight. I don’t except it to go to theaters or anything but still want something with quality that could take it there. Need to know what I would need and approx how much things costs for a amateur movie
Best answer:
Answer by toasterphantom
Oh costs. It depends on who you know really. You need to know people. It cuts costs considerably when you know people. I’ll get to that in a bit. As far as the overall cost? $ 10-$ 10,000 depending. For an amateur film, yeah. Try to of course, keep it lower.
Things you will need in a list. Camera, tripod, other camera equipment, microphone, editing software, lights, screen-writing software, props, sets, actors.
Camera (Price range, $ 0-$ 10,000. $ 700 is the most practical number.) If you have a camera, or you have a friend with a camera (An HD camera that can upload the footage to your computer, and has an audio input is what you need.) then your camera cost is $ 0. Otherwise, you’re going to need to find yourself one. Not a flip camera or anything too small. For lower price higher quality camera, I would suggest the Canon Vixia HG20, or HG30, or even HG40. They’re a decent line of good quality cameras for cheap. Of course the HG20 will be cheapest, but they’re easy and they record to a hard drive. This makes uploading your footage as easy as plugging your camera into the computer. They also coax some pretty good footage out of it’s recording. When looking at ANY camera, type in the name (I.E. “Canon GL2”) into youtube. You’ll find some footage of people testing it out and you’ll be able to get a good feel for the image quality. Make sure if you’re looking at an HD camera, to only watch in 720p or higher. Otherwise you won’t know what the camera CAN look like.
Tripod ($ 15) If you know someone with one, go for it. If not, go to walmart or Target and pick yourself up a nice cheap one.
Other Camera Equipment ($ 30-$ 100) Namely a camera dolly and steady-cam. Good films almost never zoom, and their hand held walking shots always are smoothed out with a steady-cam. Look up some tutorials online (youtube or instructibles or something) to see how to buld your own camera dolly (for zoom like smooth in/out side/side shots) and steady-cam. If you can’t afford both, go with the camera dolly first and use your tripod in it’s folded up position on the bottom of your camera for a sort of cheap knock-off steady-cam. (I find film riot to provide pretty good tutorials in and amoungst the surrounding skits.) (Dolly- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyguAKPaTP4 ) (Steady Cam- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIGLniZoUxw )
Sound equipment- ($ 150-$ 175) First you should get a microphone to boost audio. The Rode Videomic (http://www.amazon.com/Rode-VideoMic-Directional-Shotgun-Mount/dp/B0007U9SOC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1273280138&sr=1-1) is your most cost effective microphone that will boost your audio quite a bit. If you have the canon vixia line you can either buy an adapter and stick the thing right on top (more ideal than your regular camera audio, but less idea than a boom) or make it into a boom mic. To make it into a boom mic, you’ll need to get the VC1 Extension Cable (http://www.amazon.com/Rode-VC1-Extension-Cable/dp/B0010CP5DY/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1273109929&sr=8-3-fkmr1) and a boom pole. Now you could buy the boom pole for $ 150 extra, or you could go to your local home store and pick up a mop pole and screw the damn microphone to the end of that. They’ll have the exact same quality, the difference being the latter will cost you $ 145 less. Then just plug your microphone right into the camera, turn it on, and there. Much better audio.
Editing software ($ 40-$ 700 Ideal starting point, the $ 114 version.) For a tight college budget, I would avoid the mac software industry standard Final Cut Pro. It’s expensive. Instead turn your attention to the Sony Vegas line of editing software (http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/products/vegasfamily.asp). They offer different packages. To make it look good you pretty much should at least get the Platinum Pro Pack, but the Platinum is better than movie maker. Hell, the HD is better than windows movie maker, but not by much.
Lights- ($ 0) Borrow. Steal your neighbor’s lamp. Borrow any and all work lights and can lights you can. Replace the yellowish bulbs for energy efficient white ones. You want your color as neutral as possible so you can get in there with platinum pro and make the color epic. Use what you can find, don’t waste money on studio lights.
Screen Writing software ($ 0)- Go download Celtx. It’s free, it’ll format everything for you, and it makes your life SO much easier.
Props/Sets- (Your guess is as good as mine.) This is likely where your money and efforts go. I can’t help you with this until I know what film you’re doing. It’s actually my specialty, I direct and do all sorts of jobs with film, but my main calling and what I have most experience with is props. Building is better. Thrift stores are your friends. Yard sales are your BFFs. Also stealing things from room mates never hurts.
Actors- ($ 0) Friends/Family. Cheapest way to get it done. Find people you know. Or people who people you know, know. Try to feed them if you can,
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
