Filmmaking Web Sites

Any search for "filmmaking" or "how to make your own movie" on Google or YouTube will turn up a dizzying list of resources. There are some real gems among a gazillion bad videos and articles, so I will post those I think will help or inspire you most to make your own great short film. If you find any good resources that are not here, please send me a link!

Film & Filmmaking

The Power of Film articles and excerpts from Howard Stuber, Professor Emeritus on Recall, UCLA film school

No Film School is full of articles and videos with practical advice and instruction in every aspect of filemmaking.

Vimeo, sort of a YouTube competitor, now hosts a great site called Vimeo Video School with tutorials to help beginning filmmakers make better videos. A good place to start is their Video 101 page with videos about camera selection, shooting, and editing basics.

Scary Cow is a filmmaking co-op in LA and San Francisco. They have many great articles on their blog including many nice videos.

Screenwriting

Movie Outline great articles and resources on screenwriting.

How to Write a Treatment, from the web site mentioned above.

No Film School web site has a great post about free and inexpensive screenwriting software. Scripts have a very strict format that must be followed to the letter so screenwriting software can be a lifesaver.

Shooting

Robert Rodriguez's 10 Minute Film School Videos, part 1 and 2, are great illustrations how many shots can be combined to make a coherent and exciting scene:

More to come...

Nice Shorts

In this class students will make their own 5-minute short films. "Five minutes? Piece of cake!" you exclaim. Five minutes is nothing: the time it takes to eat lunch, to get your books out for school, to pester your mom for a little more ice cream. Don't be fooled. A good 5-minute film can take many days, if not weeks to make. But doesn't anything worthwhile take planning, hard work, perseverance and follow-through, especially if you want it done well?

Shorts Films make up a significant genre in the art of filmmaking. Every year thousands of short films compete in dozens of film festivals all over the world. Short films are not just for beginning filmmakers - film students and Seasoned professionals make them all the time. For the beginning filmmaker, short films offer a great way to learn how to make movies. Why? Because the key to making good movies is making movies. Making your own short films gives you invaluable experience cheap. Robert Rodriguez—American film director, film producer, writer, composer, cinematographer and film editor—made short films from early childhood. Making short films taught him how to think through a story, shoot compelling scenes and action, light difficult shots, work with actors and assistants.

We learn a lot from watching the successes and failures of others. Below are links to some great short films on YouTube. Some are made by professionals. Others are starving amateurs with a story to tell. Watch good short films with attentive eyes and ears to learn and get ideas for your own film. While watching a short, jot down your thoughts. What did you like and dislike? How does the film open? Is the story carried throughout the film? Are there places where it loses you? Watch camera angles, how often the filmmaker cuts from one scene to another, the use of wide angle and closeup shots.

I will add more as I find them. If you find any really good short films, send me a link!

Sign Language

I love this film. The main actor is very good with subtle expressions. The filmmaker zooms in so close and we're drawn into the character's world.

Seconds

A life can change in a matter of seconds. Thought-provoking story of a moment in time.

Signs

A sweet romantic story.

Table 7
A very clever twist on a lovers' spat.

'Love Sick'

Cute romantic comedy.

The Black Hole

A quiet comedy.

Validation

A heartwarming, delightful film with some known actors.

Bedhead [1991] - A Short Film by Robert Rodriguez