Write and Produce a Movie
Hollywood motion pictures often have large budgets, crews and resources. This guide will show you how to write and produce a movie with a small budget.
Contents
Steps
- Think of what kind of movie you want to create. What genre will it be? Horror, romance, drama, sci-fi, comedy, etc?
- Remember that each genre has its own unique challenges. How long will it be? Where is it going to take place?
- Consider what resources you have. Your film will be much better if you can afford to have a budget, even a very small one.
- Try to get volunteers and people who will help you accomplish your goal of producing your movie.
- Decide what characters, props, and sets you will need. Make an outline of the entire story.
- Be sure to include detailed descriptions of your characters, locations, and story; you will refer to this as you write your script, for continuity and direction.
- Start writing the script. Type it up on the computer. Refer to the outline you made.
- After writing the first draft, proof it yourself, then review it with your team. Polish it to make it better.
- Print out the script. Make several copies for all of the actors.
- Based on the needs of your script, create a budget to determine how much money you will need to complete your film.
- Now that you know how much it's going to cost you, locate and secure sources of financing for your movie.
- Find people who will volunteer for your production.
- You need to write out a budget for everything you need, how much can you spend. If low on funds you can use indiegogo or enter a funding site like www.writersandfilmmakers.com to help you raise funds.
- Hold auditions. Set up a date in advance with sign-ups on a block schedule to keep things running smoothly.
- If you are not going to direct it, find a director and one or more assistant directors.
- Make sure your crew has decided upon a date and time to show up and meet. Be sure that everyone is free on that date and committed to being on time. Make a good first impression with your crew by being prepared; you need them to stay motivated to finish your movie.
- Hold at least a week of rehearsal so that the cast can have time to memorize their lines.
- Have the directors film and direct the movie.
Sample Script and Outline
Doc:Script,Script Outline
Tips
- Make sure you have people that can cooperate and will finish your movie.
- If you're filming at night, make sure you film at early night, as in 7:00 pm, or 9:00 at the latest.
- Also, make sure that you give a person a part that suits them. This means do not have a 20 year old play an elementary school student. It doesn't look right.
- Make sure you remove any inappropriate objects from your sets, e.g. It is uncommon practice to find an Nintendo DS, or cell phone, or any other electronic, hand-held article in ancient China.
- The best time of day to film outside is the "golden hour" at one hour before sunset.
- Be creative.
- Have fun!
- Make sure that nobody is being put under too much pressure, and make sure that you're not in a grouchy mood when filming or your actors may quit. Try to make the atmosphere as light as possible.
- To draw this project's attention, you may want to make flyers on your computer, print them out, and post them on random suburban areas. Make sure you put down a time, and address though.
- If you're making a graphic movie involving blood, it's recommended that you use red paint, mixed with not too much or too little water.
- Beware about copyright.
- Make sure the script is suitable for your target audience - you don't want to create a film for kids, but decide to stick a graphic zombie in it.
Warnings
- Try not to spend too much of your own money making your film; use OPM (Other People's Money).
- Some of your scenes may be filmed in real rain. It is possible to do this without the rain destroying the cam. Use transparent protection. Real rain does not show up well on camera. In Hollywood they make their own fake rain because it shows up well on film.
- One lazy person in your cast or crew can spoil your entire production. One bad apple can ruin a whole bushel. So make sure that you treat your cast well and let them know how important it is to show up on time.
- If you do a lot of jobs in your film, don't credit yourself 24 times as directing, producing, writing, and editing it in the credits. That is tacky and dumb. Just put "a film by.
- If you are filming at night, do not have the cam set to night-vision mode. It'll just look stupid. Bring some makeshift movie lights (i.e. lamps from Walmart, halogen lights, high-beams on your car.)
Things You'll Need
- A computer with video editing software
- An imagination
- A camcorder
- Lights - makeshift ones from a store or your house are fine
- The props, costumes, and sets you've organized
- Volunteer actors
- Volunteer director and assistant director
- If you want to look ultra professional get a director's take-board and a chair with your name on it
