Filmmaking Tips for a 13-Year-Old Beginner

[dreyn]

I'm 13 years old and I'm very into cinematography but mainly editing and producing. I want to make a film but I need tips and stuff. I research film and like to go up into my woods and film nature. Any tips would be helpful!
Thank You,
Dillon Reynolds

 

[MarkG]

Simple answer: get hold of a DV camera and a computer with Firewire input and an editing program (most have some kind of free software and Avid certainly have a free basic DV editing program you can download) and go shoot stuff with your friends . That should be cheap enough that you can make lots of mistakes and learn from it.

 

[dreyn]

Ya, I have all that, I just wanted some tips, ya know. My camera right now is a Panasonic camcorder that I got for like 500 dollars, so it works, but I am saving up for the Canon GL2.

 

[MarkG]

What kind of tips? It'll be easier to make suggestions if you can narrow things down a little .

 

[dreyn]

Well, I wanted to make a horror film about 3 kids who beg their parents to let them go camping alone and they let them and one kid is possessed, his name is Aiden... idk, just an idea I thought up. Just give me some tips on what I can do. Thanks a lot for your help!
Dillon

 

[MarkG]

Well, you start with a good script .

In terms of cinematography, you'll probably be pretty limited in lighting if you're shooting a camping trip. Odds are you'll have to make do with reflectors (e.g. polystyrene boards) to bounce light back onto the actors and maybe flashlights at night: the latter can be surprisingly effective, the 16mm short I shot a couple of years ago was almost entirely lit with a D-cell Maglite, though having your actors also do all the lighting during a scene can be tough . Also you do pretty much end up with an 'either it's lit or it's black' look.