Step 1: Get The Equipment

To make a film, basic supplies needed are a camera, editing software, location and help.

1) Camera: A camera is necessary so that the movie can be taped. Cameras for beginners vary from $100 to $200. Those who are really into making movies should get a camera between $500 and $800. For lower quality movies, for example school projects, a cell phone will get the job done.

2) Editing Software: Two very common editing softwares are iMovie and Windows Movie Maker. Windows Movie Maker is used for PC computers and iMovie is for Mac. These two softwares will help mix sound, crop videos, import audio, import photos and do voice overs.

3) Location: Depending on the film, finding the perfect place can be hard. To make it easier, write down what the background of each scene that is going to be in the film. Then, pick out the best location to get those scenes.

4) Help: Making a movie is exciting, but it is also hard work. It is better to work with people then alone in this process, so this would be the time to recruit friends, family or classmates. If no one wants to help, ask over social media about wanting actors and actresses. It is imperative to have people to fix the lights and record the film.

Step 2: Write the Script

There is a lot of writing for individual movie makers, and to write a script there has to be three things: a visual idea, expansion on the idea and construction of a screenplay.

Screenplay: This is to break up the script into scenes, and this will make it easier to film and edit.

Dialogue: The words that the characters are going to say need to be written down.

Storyboard: Storyboards make everything come together in a visually appealing and smooth way.

Step 3: Look and Feel

Shots: This is a very important part because this will be a critical factor in how the movie looks. Consider things like if the camerawork should look fluid or shaky.

Set: This is the same as the location. If the location is not good enough, consider if additional sets need to be built. Most films have a main building with some props added.

Wardrobe: The characters have a personality that can be shown through the clothes they wear throughout the film, so choosing clothes is often overlooked yet important part of making a movie. 

Lighting: The lighting is critical. Consider whether the film needs soft or hard lighting. Hard lighting is good for action and realistic films, while soft is good for dreamlike films.

Step 4: Casting

The cast is the most crucial part of moviemaking. The main people needed are a cinematographer, the cast, those in charge of set design and those in charge of sound and music.

“The cinematographer [is the] person [who] will be in charge of the lighting aspects of the film,” famous blogger Florence NG said.

Set Design:  These people are important to ensure that the set is in line with the vision for the movie, and that the set is created smoothly and kept tidy.

Sound and music:  This person is in charge of the dialogue in the film, sound effects, and mixing and editing any of the music in post production.

Cast: The characters of your film are going to have to look the part and be able to do what your movie scenes require of them.

Step 5: Film and Edit

Filming is when the actual video is created. Once the filming is done, it is time to upload the video to iMovie or Windows Movie Maker and edit the movie. See if anything needs to be retaken, and edit. Once everything is combined together, upload the video to YouTube or another site.

“I would feel excited because I can make any movie that my friends and I can think of,” senior Brittney Zuidema said.

For more details about these steps, go to: https://blog.udemy.com/make-your-own-movie/.