I've always found getting a few mates or family on board to play extras really does wonders for adding production value. It makes the shots visually so much more interesting and you can help elevate tone too, say if a character is panicking, if other people are rushing around them or if you want to show that a place is boring to have the people who occupy that space look like zombies. The couple of days I've shot things with background actors have been some of the best days for rushes I've ever had. I think subconsciously, we're used to low/no budget films having barely any humans on-screen, so it makes the film feel bigger. I will say though, don't bother trying to get extras off casting groups though, no one's gonna work for free and not have anything to put in a showreel. If you're gonna hire someone who isn't already a friend, they need at least half a dozen lines.
1 month ago (edited) | 34
Invest in decent audio gear. A single mic attached to your camera will not suffice. Audiences will forgive bad video, but not bad audio.
1 month ago | 71
Regarding natural light exteriors: Use an app to track the position of the sun, and choose the location, camera placement, shooting direction, and shooting schedule in light of that. Use the sun as your backlight. Consider shooting in open shade. Try to avoid high midday sun unless you have an intentional reason for it in the story. Advanced tip: use diffusion, a bounce, and/or negative fill to help shape the light.
1 month ago | 7
Studying VFX/SFX can be a great deal. It lets you envision a large scale visual narrative for half the proposed budget if the work was outsourced. Natural light also is more than necessary 80% of the time. Learning how to bend light to your will is definitely going to benefit.
1 month ago | 9
It really does help to make two or three locations look like 1. Don’t always try and make 1 location work for everything. Additionally it pays off to ask your community for locations as you might just find a hidden gem
1 month ago | 16
From now on take your drinks in half dodgy bars with big windows. Get to know the tenant/owner and be good guests. After some time you may gain an indoor location to shoot in during the early hours of daylight.
1 month ago | 16
When writing your script try and have locations in mind where you know you can film in. As a low/no budget filmmaker, getting a good location at minimal expense is priceless.
1 month ago | 8
You can use the same room for multiple locations. Use board or wall hangings to cover windows, swap in or out plants, posters, furniture, change up the practical lighting, curtains for blinds, change your set lighting and colour temperature, a coat of paint on the walls, hanging light boxes to simulate windows. With careful shooting, you may get away with even flopping the shot in post to change the room even further.
1 month ago | 7
Finding the right spot in a forest or really most natural landscapes can be instant production value
1 month ago | 5
in my experience making shoestring budget shorts and music videos, one thing that will really elevate your production value is spending a lot of time on location scouting and then letting the environment dictate the story to some extent
1 month ago | 6
I dont make films, I'm just huge fan who loves to know the details of film making.
1 month ago | 4
I mean it’s more apart of the character of the city, but what Matt Reeves did in The Batman for lighting was keep the floor WET. Gotham is always raining so this makes sense, BUT this naturally doubled the lighting effect because it reflected all the other lights from the city
1 month ago | 3
Don't show the shark; if you're planning on doing something that you're not sure will look good and you think will look cheap, don't do it, work around it instead and find a more creative way to use your limitations.
1 month ago | 7
Not just the sun, but you can use the ambient lighting in a room (office, kitchen, bedroom, etc) to work as your fill so the key light is all you have to worry about. Just make sure the white balance is what you want.
1 month ago (edited) | 0
@DavidAlejandroMoraCampos-vn2pu
DON'T EVER BE AFRAID OR AVOIDANT WITH GOING GUERRILLA, GUERRILLA FILMMAKING IS FILLED WITH SPIRIT AND PERKS.
1 month ago | 3
Locations and a couple of cheap lights and or props make a huge difference. Choose great locations and shape your story around those.
1 month ago | 0
The low budget film "Without Warning" used a fog machine to hide lightning during night shots. Very spooky!
1 month ago | 0
If you want that noir American courtine look you can grab a White table with lines and make the light go through
1 month ago | 2
StudioBinder
We're asking for all your low-budget production hacks. No gatekeeping!
What tips can you share with the group in the following areas?
https://youtu.be/KWbcC_9LIBk
1 month ago | [YT] | 248