SO YOU WANT TO MAKE

A SHORT FILM?
Enter the magical world of filmmaking.

1. SCRIPT
A short film needs to have a script, no matter how short. It may be a
short film about a man drinking tea, yet having a written script with
scene descriptions (and dialogues if any) is a good starting point.

2. CAST AND CREW

Film making is a social art, so you need people. Firstly the cast, or
the actors. And then as important are the crew - director, AD,
DOP/cameraman, make up artist, gaffer, music director (for
background score), editor, and a few 'all rounders/heavy lifters'.

DON'T FORGET TO SIGN AGREEMENTS WITH CAST, CREW

AND LOCATION OWNERS. IT WILL SAVE A LOT OF
TROUBLE LATER ON.

3. LOCATIONS
You need a place to shoot. Refer to your script and choose locations
where you can shoot unobstructed and without attracting unwanted
attention. Also the location should be within reach and have basic
amenities for the cast and crew.

4. PROPERTIES AND COSTUMES

There are some items which are inevitable to the script, maybe the
heroine shoots the villain with a gun, or the security guard blows a
whistle - make sure you have you have the gun or the whistle. And
similarly for the costumes, if your protagonist is a beggar, then the
actor wearing is wedding suit won't be ideal.

BACKGROUND MUSIC CAN MAKE OR BREAK A FILM!

 LOOK TEST
Atleast a couple of weeks before you begin filming, make sure you
have a look test for different characters and try out different looks
with costumes and make up.

LOCATION RECCEE
Visit the location - make a note of challenges you might face while
shooting there, imagine where the camera can be placed and
visualize camera angles available, look for different frames that can
be captured, and make a note of properties missing or required.

ACTORS WORKSHOP
Its a good idea to conduct an actors workshop to discuss the
characters and allow the actors to grasps the nuances of a character
and understand its motivations. It also helps in familiarizing the
actors with each other and removing their inhibitions.

EQUIPMENT
Make sure all your equipment - camera, lights, sound recorders,
batteries, chargers, etc. is in place and in working condition or
ordered from a reliable rental agency.

Your cast and crew needs to eat

TRY TO DO A SCENE BREAKDOWN BEFORE
and they need to take toilet
HAND AND HAVE A BASIC SHOT LIST
breaks, make sure you organize
READY. IT WILL SAVE A LOT OF TIME ON
for food and refreshments and a
THE DAY OF THE SHOOT.
clean toilet.

If you are making the short film for a

competition or a film festival, make sure you
have read all the rules.

A specialist
editor can s
ave y
film f our
fallin rom
g on i
face. ts

Happy Film
Making to You!