Friday 31 January 2014

Simple Tips For Student Filmmakers

By Eliza Mendoza


People who study film are usually passionate about it. They want to know about the process, both in theory and in practise. However when it comes to breaking into the film industry passion is not enough. With a few simple tips it is possible for student filmmakers to build up experience and to give themselves the best chance of making it in the film industry.

The good thing is that the tools needed to make films are now much less expensive and far more accessible than in recent years. Whereas people would previously have to buy a lot of expensive film and rent unwieldy video cameras nowadays people can use relatively cheap cameras and shoot digitally. Furthermore it is a lot easier to view and watch footage so you can avoid wasting time reshooting scenes that do not need to be reshot.

However with a bit of inventiveness and budgeting you would be surprised what you are capable of on a limited budget. How you get that budget depends on what is available in your local area. A good example of entrepreneurial inventiveness in this respect is the director Robert Rodriguez.

The truth is that the best directors are often passionate about film themselves. A good example was the French New Wave of the Sixties. Influential directors such as Jean Luc Goddard learned their craft by studying and critiquing other filmmakers before then using that knowledge to apply it to their own movies to create a distinct visual language that took those influences and created something new.

Ironically this would happen again in the Nineties when Quentin Tarantino would take the style of the French New Wave and fuse it with other influences to form his postmodern deconstruction of classic genres. This was often attributed to his days as a video library clerk. It was here that he was said to gain his now legendary obsession with a wide array of films.

It should be stated that not all students long to be Tarantino. Equally there are some who simply wish to work in film. The crucial thing for students in this case is to find extra work, runner work and anything else that allows them to develop experience.

While the theory is important practise is vital too. As well as making your own work during a course it helps to get work experience as well. Whether it is other student productions or a professional film set you can learn more about the craft of making a film. Furthermore it is a good way to establish connections that are often useful when it comes to making your own productions.

In simple terms being student filmmakers does not begin and end with the course you work on. It is worth looking online to find various accredited local courses as well as more information about who runs them and how much is theory and practise. This will allow you to find the ideal school to help you develop your skills and prepare you when it comes to creating your own masterpieces.




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