Making short films

Making short films:

The world is changing and so is the media world. If you look at any social media and even bill board advertising it is all about moving image.

So I have been playing with my nikon D800 and started to put together some short films. I am using a pretty basic kit list. The only add ons have been a monopod with a film head. An external mike and a viewer for the back screen. Off I go, into the field to see what I can create.

I am loving the challenge of a new medium. When I start to approach  the job it is a similar way to how I would in the stills world. You try to find individual beautiful shots, aswell as to tell a story. I find the narrative of the piece the hardest. The short films are only a minute 20 long so it needs to be very concise. Market research has pointed to the fact that anything longer people lose interest. And it is amazing how much content you can get in that time. The trick is learning what to keep and what to discard.

My subject matter has been mainly outside and I have used my National Trust farm contacts to get willing subjects. The best one is the most recent (luckily) a film about an apple juice maker in Lancashire. It has a lovely feel and the quality is there. There have been some mistakes on the way. I did a whole mornings film without switching the mike on! Luckily I noticed before leaving and recovered the situation. Before I bought the few little bits, I had focus and wobble issues. The thing I am enjoying is the journey it is taking me on and the storytelling.

I am also having to learn about editing using Adobe Premiere Pro but this will be an on going lesson that has some months yet to go I feel.

If you want to see the film I attach the link here. https://vimeo.com/190084040