Learn Filmmaking With My Step-by-Step Ebook

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This ebook guide will show you how to make great short films and videos.

Detailed 163-page PDF
Over 400 illustrations
Secure instant download
30-day money-back guarantee

Making a short movie can seem like a big challenge. What equipment should you buy? How do you tell stories with film? How can you make sure your movie makes sense? Start Making Movies takes you step-by-step through what you need to know.

Starting with the basics, the book explains the filmmaking process, what you need, and how to plan, shoot and edit your movie. You’ll learn about the different kinds of shot you can use; lenses and focus; light, colour and movement; and how to combine images and sound to tell your story.

Start Making Movies is written in clear, easy-to-understand language by experienced film teacher Tom Barrance. It’s packed with photos, screenshots, film stills and diagrams.

Extras include story ideas, a detailed glossary, and links to online short films and planning templates.

“Gives you everything you’d need to begin making films” J Daniels, USA
“Easy to read…full of great tips and advice.” Deborah, Australia
“A great visual primer…Highly recommended”Peter Hearns, UK

Read all reviews

Click on the image thumbnails to see full size versions.

What it includes

Filmmaking Step by Step

The five stages of filmmaking
How to plan, organise, film and edit your movie

Equipment

What you need to get started
Types of camera and features to look for
What else you need
Editing programs and apps

How Films Tell Stories

Anatomy of a short movie
The key elements of film language: shots, sequences and sound

Picture: Planning and Filming your Shots

Camera settings
Using different shot sizes
Where to put the camera
How to arrange things in the shot
Using lenses, focus and zoom settings
Working with light
Using colour to tell your story
Using movement in your movie
Filming on your own or as a team

Sound

Using sound to tell your story
Recording sound
Which microphone to use
Starting with sound: adding video to audio

Sequence

Coverage: getting all the shots you need
How filming extra shots can make your movie easier to edit
The Continuity System: how to film sequences that look natural
Montage: Combining different shots to create an impression

Time

Different kinds of film time
Parallel editing: showing action happening in two places at once
Time shifts: flashbacks and flash forwards
Time effects: slow motion and timelapse

Essential Scenes

How to film six different kinds of sequence:

Piece to camera
Interview
Demonstration or explanation
Journey
Dialogue scene
Live performance or event

Editing and Sharing

The editing workflow
Editing programs
Editing sound and image
Planning your soundtrack
Colour correction
Compositing: combining different layers of video
Is your movie finished? What to check
Sharing your movie

Extras

Fifteen ideas for fiction movies
Links to downloadable templates
Glossary
Index

About author Tom Barrance

Tom Barrance has taught filmmaking for over 25 years. He’s provided filmmaking workshops and training for hundreds of organisations including the British Film Institute, University College London, schools, nonprofits and multinational companies. Tom runs the popular film education website www.learnaboutfilm.com

“Tom Barrance understands how to take the mystique out of film making and make it accessible to all”
Chris Whitney, Literacy and Film Education Consultant

“One of the most experienced film and media educators in the UK”
Mark Reid, British Film Institute

ISBN 978-1-9164073-1-2

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