How to Get Started as a Filmmaker... More or Less

The First Steps Toward a Passion

In this field, as with many other professions, the best teacher of film making is experience. No amount of theory or lectures can improve a skill like going through the trenches of film production. Of course, from my own personal experience, suddenly just starting on this path is quite daunting to say the least. Suddenly you have a lot more questions, such as how to make a film and why certain cameras work better than others. In the digital age we live in, you are more than likely to find filmmaking tutorials. As such, here are a few examples that I have used in the past.

More or Less. (techfellows.uaa.alaska.edu)

 

Tutorials (How to Get Your Feet Wet)

Although it has ended its programing, Indy Mogul was the one place an up-and-coming filmmaker could go to. Ranging from prop building tutorials to camera techniques, Indy Mogul had it all. There are no longer any new videos that will be released, but there are still plenty of videos available to see.

(wikipedia.org)

Another tutorial place to hit would be Film Riot. The format of each episode would be to present a comedy sketch that would include a tutorial or technique taught in the same episode. Besides teaching filmmakers how to do things, it would also provide challenges to its viewers to encourage film making. For example, one challenge was to create a scene reminiscent of Spielberg.

Extra Knowledge

Like the two websites above, Film Maker IQ provides tutorials for films. However not only do they address how to perform certain film techniques, but they also address why it should be done so. The website also provides brief history lessons about the film industry, such as the history of popcorn as a movie snack.

These places are a great way to start learning if you have trouble. However your perfect film cannot be made unless you take action. Thus, take that first step.