Note: I ran across this email while clearing out my computer and thought it deserved a spot in the blogosphere. Nothing earth-shattering, but some solid starting points for anyone wanting to break into the storytelling scene. It was an email I shared with a good friend who was looking to create a short film – here’s what I had to say:
On the cost for a short film, it’s going to depend on a number of factors. First, what type of gear you want to use. Next, number of actors (and whether they’ll work for free). Then there’s the site costs (if you need to do anything in a studio – which I’m guessing you won’t) and the post costs (which can make or break the final deliverable).
For gear rentals, I recommend Omega Broadcast – they’re up north, have killer prices (much better than GEAR last I looked, but you might want to check them out as well). I wouldn’t worry about color correction as a specialty, particularly if you’re working in the short genre – your best bet is to line up a college kid with Final Cut Pro chops, as they can knock everything out on a single box.
For costs – a camera is going to be anywhere from $100 to $250/day. For solid sound, you can get an audio tech (or college kid with his own gear) for $150 to $250/day. For post, it’s all negotiable. If it’s a solid script with a decent cast, you may be able to get someone to buy in for what’s called deferred payment. That said, it’s easier to bitch at someone to finish something if you’re paying them. You could probably get someone for $150 to $250 a day, maybe less depending on how hungry they are. Make sure your script is locked and solid – an hour of pre-production saves four hours in post, and that can add up later on down the road.
Some resources you should check out –
http://governor.state.tx.us/film – you can post casting/crew calls (and learn a ton about the industry in general)
http://www.creativecow.net/ – badass tutorials – for the dollars you put into a project, it may be worth it to learn the tools on your own.
For me, editing is like writing – just because you have a pen and paper doesn’t mean you can write. Take sequencing, for example: breaking down a scene – I’m shooting a guy walking into a building – I start with an establishing shot of the structure, cut to medium of the talent, cut to rear of talent’s feet with gravel sound, cut to face of talent looking at the door handle, cut to hand turning handle, cut to walking through door with swoosh – that’s SEQUENCING, the most important fucking part of a visual storyteller – and the pace at which you cut it all together matters immensely. Then there’s audio design. And talent – can they say the lines? Etc.
Regardless of everything above, the best way to learn is by doing. You don’t have to have an expensive camera – use a digital one with a card that easily digitizes media to your computer. You don’t need a fancy editing system, you could use MovieMaker or iMovie to get comfortable with the process. And you don’t have to start with a short movie. Pick a “documentary” to get your feet wet. Call it Chris’ Kids. Then shoot them doing stuff – eating cereal, heading to school, coming home, playing games, saying good night, throwing fits, etc., make it a “day in the life” type of thing, then edit it all together. Does it tell the story you want to tell? Did you shoot too much stuff? Too little?
And onward. Project #2 could be Why Austin Rocks – get shots from 6th, the Capitol, the trail, the chicks running on the trail, south Congress, etc., cut it to some Lyle Lovett, and tell your story.
And that, my friend, is visual storytelling 101. 🙂