The Dos and Don'ts of Successful Filmmaking : Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistakes are easy to make, but often difficult to undo. The greater the knowledge and experience a filmmaker has, the fewer mistakes are made by them. This introductory-level guide to filmmaking teaches effective preproduction, production and postproduction with a focus on many of the common mistakes made and how to avoid them. Filled with practical advice and information on the process of successfully making a film, Patrick Winters guides you through the whole process from preproduction to postproduction, teaching how to plan a shoot, accomplish that shoot and then follow the steps needed to edit and mix your film, highlighting key considerations and potential pitfalls to avoid along the way. The book covers everything from getting your story production ready, securing funding and budgeting appropriately, casting actors, assigning crew members, appropriate production design, shooting efficiently and effectively, technical and aesthetic camera and lighting choices, sound considerations, picture and sound editing and mixing, to the final stages of distribution and exhibition. Drawing on Winters' years of filmmaking and teaching experience, this book provides you with all the technical and aesthetic knowledge required to make a film, highlights common mistakes to avoid, and explains where to put your time and money into where it shows, resulting in a successfully made film that will stand out from the crowd. A combination of what to do and what not to do, this is ideal for introductory-level filmmaking students, as well as independents just starting out. The online support material includes deal memo templates, walkie-talkie lingo, camera and sound reports, first AD roll call, distribution and exhibition and additional information on booming. This book teaches effective preproduction, production and postproduction with a focus on many of the common mistakes made and how to avoid them Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Dedication 6 Table of Contents 8 Preface 18 Acknowledgments & Credits 20 PREPRODUCTION 22 1 INTRODUCTION 24 Purpose: What This Book Is About 24 Audience: Who This Book Is For 25 Outcome: What You Can Expect to Learn 25 Considerations: How to Approach a Project 26 Projects: What Stories Are Worth Telling 26 Layout: How This Book Is Organized 27 2 STORY & SCRIPT 28 Introduction 29 Rights 29 The Concept 30 Genre 31 Theme 32 Three-Act Structure 32 Characters 34 Character Arc 35 Dialogue 35 Voice-over 37 Loglines & Synopsis 37 Treatment (Three-Act Structure, Plot Points, Subplots) 38 Outline or Step Outline 38 Beat Sheet 39 Scriptment 39 Script 40 Script Format 40 Feedback & Revisions 43 Kill Your Darlings 45 Shooting Script & Conformed Script 45 Tips 45 3 FUNDING & BUDGETING 47 Funding 47 Pitch 48 Beg, Borrow & Acquire 49 Proof of Concept 50 Talent & Crew–Paid or Volunteer 51 Budgeting 52 Budget Breakdown 53 Budget Topsheet 53 Deliverables 54 Meals & Transportation 55 Production Equipment 56 4 CAST 57 Casting Director 58 Casting Call 58 Casting & Auditions 60 Actors Auditioning 61 Callbacks 62 Minors 62 Extras 63 Casting Name Actors 65 Stand-Ins 66 Actor Responsibilities 66 Continuity 68 Contracts/Deal Memos 68 Confidentiality 69 Actor Tips 69 5 CREW 71 Introduction 71 Team 72 Interviews, Résumés & Work Samples 72 Positions 73 Production Crew 73 Postproduction Crew 81 Contracts 83 6 PRODUCTION DESIGN 84 Introduction 85 Location, Location, Location 86 Color or Black & White 87 Color Psychology 88 Costume/Wardrobe 88 Makeup & Hair 89 Sets 92 Visual Effects (VFX) & Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) 95 Props (Properties) 96 Set Decorating & Dressing 97 Artworks 98 Tests 99 Tips 99 PRODUCTION 100 7 DIRECTING 102 Introduction 102 Concept Book or Look Book 103 Concept Art 104 Storyboards 104 Shot List 105 Location Scouting or Reconnaissance (Recce) 106 Casting 107 Table Read 107 Rehearsals 107 Blocking 108 Directing Approaches 109 Acting Styles 109 Working with Actors 110 Doing Business 112 Fights & Intimacy 112 Working with the Producer 113 Working with the First Assistant Director (1st AD) 114 Working with the Crew 114 Working with the Director of Photography (DP) 115 Working with the Production Designer 116 Working with the Editor 116 Tips 116 8 PRODUCING 118 Production Overview 119 Development 121 Producer’s Team 121 Preproduction 122 Script Breakdown 123 Determining Shooting Schedule 124 Day Out of Days (DOOD) 124 Working with a Director 125 Green Light & Turnaround 125 Production 126 Postproduction 126 Distribution & Exhibition 127 Marketing 128 Contracts & Deliverables 128 9 THE SHOOT 129 Guerilla Filmmaking 130 Preparation 130 Basic Equipment 132 Locations 133 Meals 133 Transportation 134 Production Steps 134 First Assistant Director (1st AD) 137 Call Sheets 138 Sides 140 Setups 140 Background Action 140 Video Village 140 Script Supervisor (Scripty) 140 Special Effects (SFX) 141 Green Screen 142 Added Scenes & Retakes 142 Safety 142 Production Terminology 142 10 CAMERA 143 Cinematographers 144 Cameras 145 Media 146 Supports (Tripods & Rigs) 147 Camera Movements 151 Shot Framing 152 Shot Types 154 Camera Angles 156 Basic Rules 157 Lenses 159 Aspect Ratios 159 Aperture or Iris 161 Gain or ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 162 Shutter Speed 163 Three Exposure Factors 164 Focus 165 Depth of Field (DoF) 167 Frame Rate 169 Matte Box & Cages 169 Lens Filters 169 White Balance & Color Temperature 171 Gray Card 172 Color Chart 173 Broadcast Standards 173 Formats/Codecs 174 Log & Raw 174 Monitors & View Finders 175 Zebra Stripes & Scopes 176 Picture Profiles 178 In-Camera Special Effects Modes 179 In-Camera Effects 179 Green Screen 180 Meters 181 Reports 184 Tips 184 11 LIGHTING 186 Lighting 187 Light Types 188 Light Placement 190 Available, Natural Lighting & Practical Lighting 192 Lighting Ratios 193 Lighting Techniques 194 Lighting Control 197 Lighting Styles 202 Green Screen 203 Reflections 204 Miniatures 205 Grip Equipment 205 Expendables 205 Lighting Diagrams 206 Inverse Square Rule 206 Color Temperature 207 Electricity 207 Limits 209 Tips 209 12 LOCATION SOUND 210 Microphones 211 Microphone Pickup Patterns 212 Lavalier Microphones 213 Boom Microphones 215 Shotgun Microphones 216 Plant Microphones 217 Wired or Wireless Microphones 217 Recorders & Mixers 218 Wind Gear 219 Room Tone, Ambiance, Presence 220 Interior or Exterior Locations 220 Recording Preparation 221 Single System & Double System Recording 226 DSLR/Mirrorless Camera Sound 227 Recording Dialogue 227 Recording Wild Sound 230 Playback 231 Shadows & Mirrors 231 Two Camera Setups 232 Sound Reports 232 Tips 232 POSTPRODUCTION 234 13 PICTURE EDITING 236 Introduction 236 Editing Picture 237 Organization 239 Project Clips 239 Timeline Pancaking 240 Maintaining Synchronization 240 Continuity & Discontinuity Editing 240 Transitions 245 Pacing 246 Flashback & Flashforward 247 Picture-Editing Issues 247 Editing Sound 248 Temporary Music 249 Audience Testing & Feedback 249 Re-Editing 250 Picture Lock 250 Scopes 250 Color Correcting & Grading 251 Compositing 253 Graphics/Credits 253 Visual Effects (VFX) & Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) 254 Tips 255 14 DIALOGUE & ADR 256 Introduction 256 Dialogue Editor 257 Spotting Session 257 Sync Check (Sound & Picture Synchronization) 258 Track Layout 258 Editing 260 Microphone Choice 262 Cleaning 263 Filling Holes 264 Smoothing 264 Overlaps 265 Room Tone 266 Automated Dialogue Replacement (ADR) or Looping 267 ADR Recording Tips 267 No-Budget ADR Recording Technique 269 ADR Editing 270 Tips & Fixes 271 15 SOUND EFFECTS & DESIGN 274 Introduction 274 Spotting Session 275 Sync Check (Sound & Picture Synchronization) 275 Track Layout 275 Foley 276 Sound Effects (SFX) 280 Walla (Loop Group) 284 Backgrounds 289 Sound Design 291 Tips 294 16 MUSICAL SCORE 295 Introduction 296 Spotting Session 298 Hits or Hit Points 300 Tempo Mapping 300 Click Tracks & Guide Tracks 301 Temporary Scores 301 Music Software 302 Scoring 302 Theme & Motif 303 Titles, Montage & Credits 304 Mock-Ups 304 Digital Music 304 Song Score, Pop Music & Source Music 305 Cue Packages 306 Musicals 307 Library Music 307 Editing 308 Stems 310 Mixing 311 Deliverables 312 Tips 313 17 MIXING 314 Introduction 314 Setup 317 Getting Started 318 Mixing Levels 320 Mixing Tools 321 Dialogue First 325 ADR 326 Sound Effects 326 Ambiances 327 Foley 327 Music/Score 328 DME Stems & M&E 329 Master Output 330 Quick & Dirty Mix Tips 330 Distribution & Exhibition 331 Glossary 332 Index 340 Three-Act,Structure;,Funding;,Actors,Auditioning;,Computer-Generated,Imagery,(CGI);,Day,Out,of,Days,(DOOD) Three-Act Structure,Funding,Actors Auditioning,Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI),Day Out of Days (DOOD) Mistakes are easy to make, but often difficult to undo. The greater the knowledge and experience a filmmaker has, the fewer mistakes are made by them. This introductory-level guide to filmmaking teaches effective preproduction, production and postproduction with a focus on many of the common mistakes made and how to avoid them. Filled with practical advice and information on the process of successfully making a film, Patrick Winters guides you through the whole process from preproduction to postproduction, teaching how to plan a shoot, accomplish that shoot and then follow the steps needed to edit and mix your film, highlighting key considerations and potential pitfalls to avoid along the way. The book covers everything from getting your story production ready, securing funding and budgeting appropriately, casting actors, assigning crew members, developing production design, shooting efficiently and effectively, technical and aesthetic camera and lighting choices, sound considerations, picture and sound editing and mixing, to the final stages of distribution and exhibition. Drawing on Winters' years of filmmaking and teaching experience, this book provides you with all the technical and aesthetic knowledge required to make a film, highlights common mistakes to avoid, and explains where to put your time and money into where it shows, resulting in a successfully made film that will stand out from the crowd. A combination of what to do and what not to do, this is ideal for introductory-level filmmaking students, as well as independents just starting out. The online support material includes deal memo templates, walkie-talkie lingo, camera and sound reports, first AD roll call, distribution and exhibition and additional information on booming. "Mistakes are easy to make, but often difficult to undo. The greater the knowledge and experience a filmmaker has, the fewer mistakes are made by them. This introductory level guide to filmmaking teaches effective pre-production, production, and post-production with a focus on many of the common mistakes made and how to avoid them. Filled with practical advice and information on the process of successfully making a film, Patrick Winters guides you through the whole process from pre to post production, teaching how to plan a shoot, accomplish that shoot and then follow the steps needed to edit and mix your film, highlighting key considerations and potential pitfalls to avoid along the way. The book covers everything from getting your story production ready, securing funding and budgeting appropriately, casting actors, assigning crew members, appropriate production design, shooting efficiently and effectively, technical and aesthetic camera and lighting choices, sound considerations, picture and sound editing and mixing, to the final stages of distribution and exhibition. Drawing on Winters years of filmmaking and teaching experience, this book provides you with all the technical and aesthetic knowledge required to make a film, highlights common mistakes to avoid, and explains where to put your time and money into where it shows, resulting in a successfully made film that will stand out from the crowd. A combination of what to do and what not to do, this is ideal for introductory level filmmaking students, as well as independents just starting out. The online support material includes deal memo templates, walkie talkie lingo, camera and sound reports, 1st AD roll call and additional information on Booming" -- Provided by publisher