Bird - Cheap movie tricks: how to shoot a short film for under $2,000

Cheap Movie Tricks: How to Shoot a Short Film for Under $2,000

By Rickey Bird

Copyright 2017 Rickey Bird.

Published by Mango Publishing Group, a division of Mango Media Inc.

Cover Design: Rickey Bird

Layout & Design: Roberto Nunez

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Library of Congress Cataloging:

Name: Rickey Bird

Cheap Movie Tricks: How to Shoot a Film for Less Than $2,000

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017906610

ISBN: (paperback) 978-1-63353-543-5, (ebook) 978-1-63353-544-2

BISAC category code PER004010 PERFORMING ARTS / Film & Video / Direction & Production

Printed in the United States of America

Dedicated to the strongest woman I know

Anita Catherine Vivo-Williams

I love you always Grammy

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction to Short Films

Big Tricks, Small Packages

H ey, you, with the camera. Yeah, youthe aspiring filmmaker. Weve been watching you, trying to get your attention for a while now. Want to know something?

We believe in you.

Thats right. You probably didnt realize this, but we know youre a little lost right now, not knowing how to use that camera, attempting to figure out what kind of story to tell, planning a budget (that you dont have) for set, makeup, actors, editing, sound and light. Youve really created an unreachable fantasy. Anyway, listen up. You can make quality indie short films. You really can.

For starters, you need to get your butt off the couch . Uh oh. Youre not on the couch? Youre locked in a closet? Youre actually sitting in the dark thinking your movie dreams might be over? Is it that bad? Stop this nonsense.

Quit crying about not having a $25,000 budget for that short film you always wanted to make about two psycho lovers, or the one about that zombie who can live without his head while wandering aimlessly through Hollywood searching for it. You dont need that much money to pull it off. And no more whining. A film school degree is not the only thing that will help you hone those indie filmmaking skills you desperately need to grow.

Got your attention now? Good. Listen. No aspiring filmmaker requires $25,000 to make a short film. And, a film school degree isnt what makes your moviemaking skills shine. Its you . You have to put in time and learning. You have to work hard. You have to figure out how to frame scenes, how to direct, how to edit, how to organize, how to cut corners...

You have to cut lots of corners.

In fact, by following the directions weve prepared in this book, you can learn how to make solid short films that you can show off at film festivals. Oh, and guess what? You can do this without a film degree or deep pockets. Along with some inner drive, some moviemaking gear, some money, and a lot of ingenuity, you can get really far in the film business.

So, yes, were on to you. We know what you want. You bought Cheap Movie Tricks: How to Shoot a Short Film for Under $2,000 because you need to make short films so bad your eyeballs are starting to burn. You want some help. Admit it. You want a self-help book for moviemakers. Something that will take the sting out of those flaming eyeballs. Cant say we blame you with the catchy title and the sheer awesomeness this book has to offer.

Here we are. Just what youve been looking for, ready to help mold you into a smart indie filmmaker, a cost-cutting planner, a genius storyteller, a creative editor and filmmaking effects guru. Seriously, before you know it, all your friends and a whole lot of strangers will think youre some kind of magician. Alakazam!

Youll have us to thank, because Cheap Movie Tricks is less expensive than film school and a lot easier to swallow than that giant budget you dont have. Who can afford that crap anyway?

But hold on. Theres something you should know about being a filmmaker. Before we can even get started we need to be in agreement. About what, you ask? About the fact that filmmaking isnt an easy process. Theres just no easy way through this career path. Better go sell paper dolls or make mud pies for a living if you want something mindless to do with your oodles of creative energy. If you really want to be a filmmaker, you must solemnly swear to stay committed, to be incredibly focused. Above all, you must have a positive outlook no matter what.

Got all that? Not in the closet anymore? Are you on your feet? Good. Dust yourself off. Dance around with this book in your hands. Go ahead. Were excited, too! Thats because youre about to start learning how to take the short film process from the beginning of a project all the way to the film festival circuit. Its a long road, but not as long as you think. And if we can do it, you can, too.

Heres what you need to do. Think of Cheap Movie Tricks as a reference guide to help you have a better understanding of all indie filmmaking processes. Youll learn tips about locations, story and script, budgets, sets, costumes, talent, crew, special effects, makeup, filming and editing tricks, sound and light, promotion, and the film festival circuit.

Did we mention Cheap Movie Tricks is about to blow your mind? Youre probably already saying, Where the hell has this book been my whole life? Why didnt I give these guys a hundred bucks for all these great ideas?

Dont worry about it. Just follow us on all those fancy social media sites and well call it even.

...

Wait a minute. Is that doubt we see creeping across your face again? Now you want to know whether you should even make short films if you have this book with so many great filmmaking secrets!

So why short films?

Simple answer: Short films are a constructive way to get you into the film industry. A solid short film is a stepping stone, one that will grant you the potential to get noticed by producers willing to fund your next film (short or feature length). Of course theres a caveat. Your work has to be good. Maybe even great. It will take more than a few tries. Thats another reason you dont want to start with a feature film. You dont want to invest all kinds of money, time, talent, etc. into a film, and then afterwards suddenly realize, I should have started smaller, much smaller. My skills arent up to speed. What was I doing when I emptied my bank account into a film I cant sell?

The short film process helps you hone your craft and works your filmmaker muscles in ways you cant imagine. Learning the process on a small scale turns your creativity into a focused lens rather than a sloppy mess. Lets say you want to build houses. You build a small model of a home to show people that you can actually build a house. They like your architectural style. They say youre great at it. They want you to start building houses. Think about it. If you didnt take the time to make that model home they might not have hired you. Now, instead of a model home, we need to see what youre capable of doing with filmmaking on a smaller, more manageable scale. Get it?