Approx. Reading Time – 15 min.
Learn the very basics of film making
If you are here, then definitely you want justified answers for your questions related to film making( I guess).
If you are a beginner in film making and want to know the very basics of film making, well here I shall try my best to help you. Let’s start the journey.
Steps of learning in basics of film making
| Steps of learning | ||
|---|---|---|
What is film making ?
Let’s start with the very basic question… What is film making ?
- Ans- Film making is a journey of many creative workflows, from story to editing.
[ Journey could be thrilling and adventurous or could be boring and tedious. ]
(It’s a very basic answer, not the technical ones, the technical answer will be given after some important information.)
- Note- Film making could be subjective or could be objective, most importantly it needs to be a truthful one. That’s how it finds its best expression.
It’s a combination of two words, one is, the film and the following one is, the making respectively…
Now the two important questions arise are – 1. What is film? and 2. What is making?
What is film ?
- Ans – well film is the capturing creative form of either only visual or combination of visual and auditory treatment/ expression/ representation of the story or the narrative.
OR
- The film is the medium of the only visual/visual and auditory ways of expressing or representing the story form.
(nowadays it’s a combination of both visual and auditory form of creation, so you can take that as you like)
Now come to…..
What is making ?
- Ans-Making means you have to go through a (work) process.
OR
Making is basically a work process or a composition of various work processes.
- Here, making represents the creative (work) processes that happen from story to editing.
What are the processes of film making exists to create a movie ?
Ans-Well, like in every (work) process there is a beginning part, a processing part and at the end, an ending part exists,
So does in film making there are a beginning part, a processing part, and off-course an ending part exists.
In the language of film making, filmmakers express them as –
- Pre-production process.
- Production process.
- Post-production process.
Now instantly 3 question arises –
- What is the pre-production process?
- What is the production process?
- What is the post-production process?
Let’s find the answer to what is the production process ? Once we find the 2nd question’s answer, the other two will be easy to understand.
Because “pre” and “post” are two prefixes, means- before and after,
So if we get, what is production? It wouldn’t be that much of it difficult to understand what happens before and after the production.
So what is production process, pre production process and post production process ?
Ans-Production process is basically the shooting process.
The pre-production process is the preparation for the “shooting process”.
(happens before the production process).
And,
The post-production process is where you use the shooting footage to make an appropriate and meaningful film.
(happens after the production process)
Why someone should do film making ? or What is the reason behind making a film ?
- Because you love to make films.( you emotionally feel comfortable and connected to film making process )
- With the help of what you love to do, you want to do some contributions to the entertainment process, also love to take responsibilities of what you are doing.
We as a human being have many needs, and all needs are not completely fulfilled by ourselves alone, particularly if you are living a social life many ways you are dependent on others, the clothes that you wear, the food that you eat, the house where you live, above all the air that you breathe..like these we are very much dependable with various other people or creatures or nature respectively. Various people are fulfilling our needs in many different ways.
So, when we say filmmaking we are choosing a professional platform to fulfill people’s need for entertainment.
It’s a responsibility at the same time a great opportunity to contribute your part to the society that you are living in.
To fulfill this responsibility you need to develop yourself with certain preparation and education.
And filmmaking is not only an educational platform for filmmakers but also it’s a great educational platform for the audience too, with the entertainment of course.
With the help of a visual expression platform, a filmmaker tries to entertain and educate the audience in many different ways.
So, we can say film making is not just for entertainment, it’s also for education.
A combination of education and entertainment in a visual medium is a great approach towards filmmaking.
So, with the help of entertainment and education, a filmmaker tries to contribute or make an impact on the audience’s lives.
This is why someone should do film making or this is the fundamental reason behind making a film. (reason could vary from filmmakers to filmmakers, but we make a film because there is an audience, that’s for sure)
Now, after all this information, if we want the real definition of film making then…
It has to be…..
- Film making is a medium of creating a visual and auditory representation of the narrative, where we go through various processes to entertain and educate the audience in a truthful way.
Now, let’s look at it more carefully whether it covers all the things we discussed or not.
- Film – a visual and auditory expression or representation of the narrative.
- Making- we go through a process or various processes.
- Reason for making the film – entertain and educate the audience.
- Way of film making-it’s better to be a truthful one. (technicalities could be the same, but the perception and the expressiveness are different)
- Technicalities included-
- The visual and auditory expression/representation of the narrative.
- Various processes.
If you think “yes”, then definitely it is the expressive and technical definition of “film making”.
If this is film making then what are the ways through we can make a film ?
Now let’s move towards different ways of representing films—
Suppose you don’t know anything, see your own life, one way, the experience of life that you experienced throughout your lifetime, they are realistic, and in another way, you imagine many things based upon the experience that you already have, doesn’t it happen?
- Human experiences find their own expressions in the different forms of stories and poetries. Some are based upon realistic and factual events, some belong to imaginary expressions.
- When it comes to film, based upon these two ways of stories or poetries some films belong to the realistic and factual events called “non-fiction film”, some belong to imaginary forms of films called “fiction film”.
- Further fiction and non-fiction are found two more different ways-
- Feature film
- Non-feature film
- These two ways of film making are divided according to the length of the time and the place to release a film. The film releases in a theater and has time length over 90 minutes belong to “feature films” and the films don’t release in a theater neither they have time length over 90 minutes belong to “non-feature films”.
Basically, there are two ways to representing films—
1.Fiction film
further, it finds two more ways –
- Feature film. (releases in a theater and has time length over 90 minutes)
- Non-feature film. (doesn’t release in a theater, neither they have time length over than 90 minutes)
And
2.Non-fiction film
further, it finds two more ways –
- Feature film. (releases in a theater and has time length over 90 minutes)
- Non-feature film. (doesn’t release in a theater, neither they have time length over than 90 minutes)
By using all these variations of films, according to our necessity and the way we want to make a film, we can make a film.
These are not restrictions that you have to make in this way or that way, you can make which ever way you want, you can create your own way of doing things no problem.
You can combine both fiction and non-fiction, and release through an OTT( Over the top ) platform with no restriction over time length.
Many ways are available or can be created a new one that is up to you.
The relationship between film making and the audience
We do film making because there is an audience, no doubt.
Like we all know, as human beings we all have five senses (seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and sensing the touch). our larger experience of life happens because of these five senses, and these five senses are connected to our five sense organs- eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and the skin.
When we say film making, where, as an audience, they experience the film through only two sense organs- eyes and ears,
If you love to eat something while watching a film then you use tongue also, that’s a different matter. But if a film in any sense impacts your life simply because of these two sense organs (eyes and ears).
Because of this, a filmmaker and all the creative crew members do their best through acting, music, costume and makeup, cinematography, editing, etc.
Because all these are combined together trying to give an alive a very much alive life experience to the audience through filmmaking. And the audience will experience it through their eyes and ears sense organs.
So combines all together the conclusion is the relationship between film making and the audience is exist because of our two sense organs, and film making will be alive till there is audience.
The relationship between a filmmaker and the audience
There is an unbreakable and unavoidable relationship between a filmmaker and the audience. We definitely can’t deny that.
So the point is a filmmaker shouldn’t try to avoid the audience (actually you can not), even if your film or way of film making is criticized by the audience. Because you are making a film for the audience, the response towards your film from them could be positive or could be negative.
We are not perfectionists, no one is, because we are not perfectionist there is always a possibility of development.
If something or someone is already perfect how come there is any possibility of development.
And when there is no possibility of development, the meaning and value of “creativity” is worthless. And When there is no value of creativity, what are you going to do within a professional creative field like film making?
So when largely the audience criticizes you, It’s not time to worry, neither the time to criticize them back. It’s time to learn because many times we miss to recognize our own mistakes.
It’s only applicable when a larger group of the audience reacts in that way. Because after making a film if you are expecting all audience are going to appreciate the movie, then that’s a foolish expectation (Expectations are always foolish) or a foolish way of making a film.
When criticizes happen, do not forget to look carefully at what they are saying, because if you do, with that approach you may miss something that you could have learned for your filmmaking.
If here and there some audience criticizes, then you have your choice whether to avoid them, reply them back or look it carefully if it’s true.
If it’s true, then you must not avoid the truth, because by avoiding the truth you will lose the very value of your life, forget about filmmaking.
Appreciate them for their truthful nature towards the film and your film making. So If the criticizes are true you should learn from it rather than be avoiding it.
Appreciation for the audience’s truthful nature towards filmmaking and you are actually going to help you with your creative workflow.
Combines all together the conclusion till there is audience film making and film makers will be exist, in this relationship more often conflicts may happen, face them truthfully is the best way to solve it.
What could be called, as the real creativity in film making ?
Ans – If the creativity is so smooth and flawless that when the audience (even if the technical experts) watch it they will fully enjoy the movie but completely miss the creativity. Then you can say that’s what we should call real creativity.
How does a filmmaker will know, that, what kind of response will come from the audience, whether they will like it or not ?
Ans – This is not the most valuable question for a filmmaker, but this is the most basic question a filmmaker faces before making a film. If your focus is too much on whether the audience is going to like it or not then how come you will focus on making a film, when you already lost the focus on making a film, things will happen, that definitely the audience is not going to like it. Now your fear becomes true.
Maintain your focus on what you are doing, and definitely if you love to do film making there is no need to say that because while doing film making you will enjoy every bit of it, you will live every bit of it, with this approach your focus is not going to be out of focus, you just have to maintain that with enjoying and living your work, that’s it.
And about the audience will like it or not, watch every scene by yourself before releasing the movie at least three times, if you feel bored, then what kind of creativity and making is that? which has lost its beauty after watching 3 times.
If you don’t feel bore after watching many times, after that you can go for the public platform. Because, what you made/create if that is not connecting you, expecting somebody else will connect to it and appreciate it is purely foolish.
How to overcome the fear of could be criticized for your film or film making, particularly if you are a beginner ?
Ans-if there is a fear of could be criticized for your basic knowledge and expecting no problem could come in your way and no failure will happen in your entire life, then you need to know, natural disaster happens within nature, which is the greatest failure for nature (in a way), at the same time it creates tremendous stability within the nature to move ahead, isn’t it ?
Like we all know destruction is the possibility of a new creation. Criticize is not the word that can stand in front of destruction, is it ? Then, is there any need to be fearful about your failure or could be criticized for your work ?
So first accept it, that you will definitely be (not could be) criticized for your work, accept it, that the percentage of your success is none, then and then you should try to make a film, after accepting this at least your focus is going to what you are doing not how the audience will react ?
After that when you release the film, if you being criticized then it is not the time to worry or be frustrated, It’s the time to learn a new lesson. It’s time to gather a new learning experience of your life.
If it’s largely criticized then the money problem is going to hunt you. The best solution for this kind of problem is – don’t let the problem to come.
Your preparation has to be in such a way so that it should enhance the quality of the audience’s lives rather than be diminish the quality of their lives, in a truthful way off course.
By trying again and again you will gather clarity through time. Without expecting the audience’s reaction, you need to do your work dedicatedly, sincerely, beautifully and of course wisely and truthfully.
How a beginner filmmaker can motivate themselves to succeed when there is no expectation from the audience ?
Ans – With trying again and again of course, well, expectation doesn’t lead to motivation and success, it leads to anger and frustration, it leads to a disastrous way of living, this kind of living definitely can’t give you a motivational and a successful way of living.
The expectation is always from others, which is not completely within your hand but trying and doing your work is always in your hand, 200% within your hand.
By trying again and again you’ll develop yourself throughout time because every step of your development will motivate you to move ahead.
Now with this approach, you by yourself will become a motivation for yourself. Isn’t it the best way to live ?
And throughout the time when you become clear and skillful enough, then you can try to jump on to go with the audience’s interests, needs and combine with your strength.
There is no way you can fulfill every audience’s interests, neither every audience will appreciate you or your work, throughout your journey of film making some particular audience you’ll gather. The sooner you accept it the better it is.
Still, if you’re thinking expectation is a good thing for you, then you should expect results on both +ve and -ve sides, and accept both as well.
How film making is important for a social structure ?
As human beings we always want to enhance our quality of life, no doubt.
Anything that we find it’s a great thing to spreading beauty in our life we want that thing or person or creature with us, don’t we?
When we are saying a social structure, a social structure has many needs, film making is a great possibility to fulfill the needs for entertainment, also for needy education with entertainment.
Because when you do spread some awareness about something in a social structure with film making, then we can definitely say it’s an education with entertainment ( with a scientific or an artistic representation), through a visual and auditory medium of course.
Education and entertainment has the capabilities to enhance the quality of someone’s life, but if you are thinking everything will be in an ecstatically beautiful way or in a shringaar way, no it will not.
There are other forms exits existentially like- krodh (anger), bhaynkara ( fearful, dangerous, horror, horrific, etc ), bibhatsha ( extremely nasty/ugly ), these all are happening within the social structure, these all qualities exists within a human being, within us. To combine all together a filmmaker tries to spread awareness in society.
And awareness has to be enhanced the quality of our lives in many different ways.
So if, as a filmmaker wants to spread awareness for any society then filmmaking is very much important for a social structure.
As an audience, you could gather that awareness according to your perception and necessity.
Questions and Answers.
It ( film making ) can be only for entertainment, but in my views it should be for both entertainment and education, again, it can be for specific age group but in my views it should be for all age group.
Because all the explanation here is just my own view towards film making, you may or may not want this kind of explanation, if you want to see other form of explanation when it comes to film making then there are four platforms where you might love to learn about film making.
These four platforms are
1.Youtube ( Completely Free ).
Well, doing business properly also is an artistic approach, every action that we perform has a certain artistic approach attached to it, how much mature and skillful we are is the only question ? As we all know maturity and skillfulness comes with our own experiences.
Though film making is an artistic platform it also needs an proper economical management to work seamlessly with so many artistic people and leadership. Art definitely comes first but economical needs and management can not be ignored.
So if film making is an artistic platform then business is also an artistic platform, I don’t find both can be conflicting with each other until and unless they are against human well being.
If your wealth means money then answer is definitely yes. Simply because it is also related with the business platform, so your expectation related to money would be there too. But where does that money comes from ? From the society or from the audience lives with in the society who watches your movies, right ?
If your film making contribute to the society for human well being then it will make the entire society to become prosperous and wealthy not only you or your film making, the only concern is, to make a film you need money, to recover that you also need to generate money after release it, though there is always a possibility of profit or loss.
If we look at it an another view I think the real wealth is exist with in you and that wealth is the real and honest artistic nature that you have, if you miss that in the name of wealth you only have money but with the cost of losing the real wealth.
It is like you will get a gold plate at the cost of losing your senses, now how worthwhile that deal will be you can use your common sense. Money adds certain sweetness or headache to your way of living that’s for sure ( depends upon your way of usage and living ).
If you use money to increase sweetness to your life it helps also if you use to increase headache still it helps as money does not have discriminatory power, the way you use it, it increases the quality of it that’s it, not just the way you use it but also the way you are choosing to have it also determines the quality of your life or the standard of your living.
Story, Screenplay writing, Story boarding, Film production company, Direction, Characterizations ( Actor and Actresses ), Cinematography, Light and Sound, Costumes and Make-ups, Action direction/choreography, Music and background score direction, Singing, Dance direction/choreography, Dancing, Foley artists, VFX ( visual effects ) and SFX ( sound effects ), Editing.
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