Tips for getting started…

So you’ve decided to enter the Godspeak Film Festival…where do you start? How do you make a short film? How is a short film different from a long one?

Here are some things to think about.

Most of the work in making a good short film happens BEFORE the camera starts rolling!

THEME
Long before you pull out the camera and start shooting, you need to sit down and think through your theme. “Grace” is a very broad theme and gives you plenty of room to move. Brainstorm some ideas for exploring the theme of “grace” and then narrow it down to one good idea – don’t try and say everything.

STORY
Being a good story-teller usually means choosing a story that comes out of your life experience. “Stories, like music, are best when they come from the heart”, says director, writer and film-maker Mickey Grant. Good story telling “has to ring true to the minds of the audience,” he says, but “keep in mind that successful stories aren’t always for all audiences”.

Try to articulate your story in twenty words. It may take a lot of thought and re-writing, but it will force you to clarify your ideas for the film.

Then try and describe your story in a paragraph. If you have a clear handle on the story then you are on your way to making a great short film.

STYLE
Decide on a style - what kind of look and feel do you want to have for the film - and why?

TONE
How do you want people to react when they watch the film? Laugh, cry, anger, sadness? Your tone determines how people receive the film.

NOT MANY RESOURCES?
A lack of $ or resources does not necessarily mean a bad movie. Use a your imagination and get creative. Even visit your local bargain store such as Crazy Clarkes or Clints to find props and materials you can use on set.

Look around your house, school, church or street – what can you incorporate into your story? An old car, an abandoned building, a local park or forest? Use the resources in your own backyard.

Sources
Thanks to Jason Webb.
http://www.creativehat.com/filmmaking.htm
http://cmoger.tripod.com/college-film/id13.html

Disclaimer: While every care is taken, The Bible Society does not accept responsibility for any part of the websites listed above, and further, gives no endorsement whatever to their contents.

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