Watching other short films can often give you some great ideas and maybe just provide some inspiration for your own films.
Check out the short films on FILMINUTE; an international one-minute film festival, or the ATOM My Story My Content short film competition. |
Check out the following links for some great film making tips and tutorials.
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Ready to write the script? Celtx is a free scriptwriting program that will have you developing scripts like the pros!
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Want to make your movie poster look like the real deal? Head to the Classification website to download the Australian ratings logos.
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INSPIRATIONWhere do ideas come from, and what do you do with them when they arrive? Legendary filmmaker David Lynch (Mulholland Drive, Twin Peaks, The Elephant Man) explains in the video below.
Modern Motorcycle Diaries filmmaker Alex Chacon spent 600 days on the road visiting 36 countries to create this amazing video 'selfie'.
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SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUTDirector Robert Rodriguez (El Mariachi, Once Upon A Time in Mexico, Spy Kids, Sin City) explains how to become a filmmaker, tips for low budget film making, and offers a few ideas to consider.
In analysis of a scene from Breaking Bad, the cinematographer has used the camera in a very specific way to introduce a plot twist.
The motto of this scene analysis: "move the camera to help tell the story ... not just because you can". |
Ever wondered what your mobile phone was capable of? Watch this black and white documentary about the luxury car company Bentley. It was filmed entirely on an iPhone 5s and edited on an iPad air. While the film-makers have obviously spent some money in the rugs and lenses of rate iPhone (you can see these at use in 'the making of' section at the end of the video), the fact that it was filmed on a small device
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Here's another example. This short narrative was filmed entirely on a Nokia N8 mobile phone, and was the winner of the 2011 Nokia Shorts Competition. Again, stabilisation methods, rigs, and lenses are at work here, but it's wonderful to see that even with the most basic filming equipment, a beautiful story cab be told. More often than not, it's not so much about how great it looks, but about the creativity and the story that is told.
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SOUND & MUSICSound is an important aspect to film that some film-makers either ignore, or do not think about enough. Click on the link below to watch a tutorial on sound for indie / beginning film-makers. There are some great tips about how you can change, or work around issues on your set to achieve the best possible sound for your film.
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Need sound effects?Is your film lacking diegetic (realistic) sound? Do you need some interesting sound effects? Check out the websites below, but as always, please make sure you read the terms and conditions, or copyright restrictions.
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During the pre-production stage you would have no doubt started thinking about the use of music for your film. Sure, you could use a Beyoncé song, but then you would need to go through the tedious, and sometimes unsuccessful chase for Copyright clearance. Instead, we have a few suggestions:
If you're not sure about what's involved in the use of copyrighted music and sound, head to the following links to get a little more information.
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A great film deserves great music! However, finding great music which is also copyright / royalty free can often be a tiresome and tricky task. But the links and information below are here to help you.
Keep in mind, that often some of the best, and most accessible sources of music are right under our noses. If you're not a musician, do you have a friend who is a talented musician? Is there a band of students at your school? Perhaps they would be willing to allow you to use their own original music for your film. Start thinking about the people around you, and how they may be able to add to your film. |
Creative Commons is an international non-profit organisation that provides free licences and tools that copyright owners can use to allow others to share, reuse and remix their material, legally.
There are a few rules here though (in terms of exactly HOW you use and reference the music) so just make sure you read the licenses properly. |
AUDIO NETWORKAudio Network was the Official Production Music Partner of Tropfest 2013. There are over 64,000 tracks to choose from, and every track is pre-cleared for worldwide, multi-platform use.
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triple j unearthedAnother idea might be to have a look at the Triple J Unearthed website. Please note, that the music here is not copyright free - you will need to seek permission from the bands / artists before planning to use their music in your film, but many of these unsigned bands are always looking for ways to get their music out there, and your short film might be a great start!
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MOBYGRATIS: FREE MUSICMOBYGRATIS is a resource for independent and non-profit filmmakers, film students, and anyone in need of free music for their independent, non-profit film, video, or short.
Moby has made a selection of over 150 tracks from his huge catalog of music available to licence for free, via a simple online application system. |
ROYALTY FREE MUSICAs always, when using Royalty / Copyright Free music websites, ensure that you have thoroughly read the terms and conditions, or any licensing or usage rights information. There are a few rules associated with exactly how you use and reference the music in your product, so be sure to double check.
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FILMING LOCATION PERMISSIONThinking of filming in the city bit not sure what the restrictions are? Check out the link below to find out what's involved.
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Now this video is just for fun, but it might just give you some ideas on tittle sequences for your film. It doesn't have to be animated, but you may find it inspiring.
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