This blog is going to be slightly different from my previous ones because I’m going to talk about how to “get started” in the world of movie making. Whether that be recording videos on your phone or going all out with a camera and crew.
This is my how-to guide to amateur film making from my friends, a professional and myself.*
*take all advice with a grain of salt since not all of us are as qualified as the rest.
First off we have my long time friend, Alex Curnutt! Alex has produced multiple films both independently and with me (one of which being my SXSW film linked on a previous blog)!
He told me that, “I [Alex] think something useful to know if you’re wanting to get into the film making industry, or wanting to make films, is just knowing movies. I think it’s so important to see what the greats have done, how they went about it and how they chose to tell their stories. I mean can anyone just whip up some insane movie out of no where? No. I believe it all comes from our inspirations and what we choose to do with them.”
Devin Holloway, another long time friend, who has won an award at the Adobe Creative Jam Contest with a short film he produced also had some input.
He suggested that, “its always a good idea to know the equipment you’re working with, whether that be on a set or making videos on your own, because the more knowledge you have about sound/video recording devices the more creative freedom you will have.”
I also have had the privilege to not only interview Porter Farrell, an actual movie director, but I have received the opportunity to be a production assistant on set of one of his upcoming films.
When discussing aspects of the movie industry he told me about his experience and that movies are the hardest art to get into because if you’re not patient, you wont make it.
He also told me about his top 2 movies everyone needs to watch: Animal House and Casablanca. He went into depth about each telling me key factors for each.
Animal House: “It had an incredibly small budget but it told the story well and had good actors. They made it work.” He then exclaimed about how the defining factors to film making are almost entirely the script and the actors.
Casablanca: “Well, it is considered one the greatest movies ever, there was an amazing cast and the screenplay was out of this world. The dialogue is amazing,” is what he told me about it.
With that, you should have a good basis for getting started in the movie making hobby along with some homework from Mr.Farrell. Now with the advice from amateurs and professionals, it starts with the pursuit and the passion.
As for my advice, I give you this: no matter what equipment, crew (or lack of), money or strange ideas you have, just to try it. Whether that be writing a script or just taking videos and making something random, to YOLO it (as I would say). If you have an interest/drive to do it, what the worst that could happen? If all else fail, just look up how-to videos on YouTube.
With all my love, Skyler Rupnow.
A Friend of Film 