Making a Film

     What goes into making a film? What are the steps I take as a filmmaker and director? These are questions you can ask yourself and others when starting to make a film. There are differences in techniques and styles that can shape your film. These techniques and styles will ultimately bloom into your own personal style of film.

When making a film you have to start with the story. I always try to start with the ending of the story. How do I want this film/story to end? From there I go back to the beginning of the story, where we are starting. I always think of the first shot, it will be a wide shot that introduces the scene and setting. This is so I can go right into telling the story, the establishing shot has been shot, so I can focus on my story. I then like to use medium shots to introduce our characters of the story, and possibly dialogue between them. I like to utilize tight shots when actions are being made by the characters. An example would be walking, or something as simple as grabbing a door handle. I like to utilize these tight shots to mix up the viewers screen a little bit. Along with that, I enjoy doing a lot of cuts, not excessive cuts but enough cuts to make the story feel more intense. This keeps the viewer attentive and focused.

    This leads me to my final point, the style of a director. Each director has their own style, most of the time you can detect who directed the film by just watching the style of the clips being shown. Based on the types of shots, the length of the shots and even the music. Just like every director, my style is unique. I like to add cuts, tight shots and long shots mixed with quick cuts. This makes my stories move along, this is the way I like to do it. My films have all been like this, so I claim it as my style. However, everyone has their own techniques and styles they use in film making, and they all work in their own way.