Are you a student filmmaker? Have you ever shown up to a shoot with no plan and everything goes wrong? Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us. But luckily, there’s a way to avoid the horrors of every student film set. Check out this masterclass video on how to keep your film on the rails and avoid common mistakes.
The video, created by the comedic YouTube channel Gus Johnson, perfectly captures what “every student film set” can be like. But fear not, with some decent planning and common sense, you can easily avoid the mistakes made in the video.
One of the first mistakes we see in the video is the director not being familiar with his camera. But with so many resources available online, there’s no excuse for not knowing your camera. Check out some of the best tutorials for your mirrorless or DSLR camera.
Another cardinal sin committed by the student director is not scouting the location beforehand. Location scouting is crucial for securing power, lighting sources, audio issues, actor blocking, and even travel and parking concerns. Don’t just show up, scout the location beforehand.
Compensating your actors and crew is also important. If you can’t provide monetary compensation, make it worth their time with food, snacks, credits, or an exchange of favors.
Running out of storage space or available battery power is beyond amateur hour. Take inventory of what you have and plan accordingly.
And finally, don’t rely on “fixing it in post.” Adding more work to the post-production process is the last thing you want to do, especially if you’re operating with a limited budget and time.
So, if you’re interested in a career in film and video, check out these great articles and resources to help you along your way. Don’t let the horrors of every student film set scare you away.
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