Q&A for How to Make a Short Film

Get the equipment(camera,lighting etc.) and get your crew and cast and location. Then you are good to go.

As there is no set film making license, no license is needed. However, you do need written permission to use the locations you use, as well as from the people who will be in your film (even the ones in the background). You will also need to obtain permission to use any material that has a copyright.

For filming: A simple script; local and easily accessible locations; actors and basic camera and audio recording gear. For editing: Simple movie and audio editing software and royalty-free sound effects and music. Royalty free generally means copyright free, so you can freely upload your short film to social media sites without being slammed for copyright. Depending on the file sizes of footage, you may need reliable external storage device to free up your computer's hard drive. It's also suggested you read this article.

Consider sending your idea it to a director or producer if you think it's unique, interesting and likely to be of interest. Talk to friends first, to gauge their thoughts on its worth.

There is a lot of free editing software out there. Start on Windows Movie Maker or Mac's iMovie to get the feel of editing. However, these tend to be very limited and will not give you good results. Hitfilm 3 Express is a great editing software with lots of options so you'll be able to do what you want and it's free!

Ask your them to sponsor you. Maybe you could strike a deal and use one of their products for a sponsorship.

Start with asking your friends, or find a local community/club where people are interested in acting.

Yes. This can help you learn the basics of cinematography before investing in more expensive cameras.

Yes, that's okay. You do not need a camera to film; you can use whatever you want tablet, iPhone, etc. The key is to know how to use the device to the best advantage possible, so read the instructions relevant to the device you're using.

Base the script on things you would say in real life during the time period the film is in. Figure out how many characters there are and write lines per scene. See further: How to Write an Effective Screenplay for a Short Film .

Maybe start of with YouTube or any of your social medias. You could also put your short film on a CD and maybe sell it.

Try writing it out or talking to someone. It can help you elaborate on an idea or get feedback.

Yes, in fact there is a whole genre of movies that are recorded handheld.

It doesn't matter what you use to write the script. You could even hand write or use Google Docs.

Nope, you can use your camera to do it. Once you become experienced and learn the general ropes of film, you can invest in a higher quality camera that has the features you'd like to experiment with.

You need a video editing program. You could use iMovie (Apple), or you could download a program such as Final Cut Pro or an Adobe program.

Of course. You could use iMovie or CuteCut, they are both free and quite useful.

You'll have to direct from behind the camera, which can be challenging but is possible.

You can search on search engines for movie scripts. Try to find one that doesn't have many actors and doesn't require special effects.

Most short films range from minutes to just under an hour. The length of time it takes to shoot the film depends on many factors, including its run-time and how detailed or involved the film will be.

Festivals typically have a submission process that you need to follow. Visit the festival's website to see what theirs is and follow their directions.

There probably are. Most brands shown in movies are because of advertising. I recommend that if you are going to include these major brands, try to cover up the logos. You could do this by turning the Coke logo away from the camera, or having the Pizza Hut box open, so people do not see their logo. You goal is to keep all products hidden from the audience so they cannot identify them easily.

Probably Tupi animation for simple animation. It's very easy. Another one is Blender, which is great, but difficult to master.

The internet is really useful, but you could find a family member or a friend who has the right equipment and skills. If not, maybe take a film class.

If you have an iPhone, you can shoot on that, or just ask around local camera/electronic stores what the best cameras are in your price range that do what you want.

Imagine you are simply writing a conversation. Make it as realistic as possible, and describe sounds and locations.

Use a tripod to capture still shots, or edit it to be still during post-production. Either of these methods will help you create good film shots.

You can edit small clips together to form a cohesive short film. Shooting scenes first may help you understand how to create a longer film though.

Most cameras and recording devices these days have a mic in them already. If not, you can purchase a mic off of Amazon for the top of your camera as an add on, or roll with the natural audio and correct it in the editing stage.

Of course not, it is never too late. It will be later tomorrow than it is today. Don't worry, if this is what you like to do, don't stop until you reach your goal. Learn what you need to know, get hardware and software, get started. Most of all: have fun!