48-Hour Film Festival Survival Guide: From Pre-Planning to Final Cut [5 Min Read]

FIND PEACE AND CREATIVITY IN CHAOS

The 48-Hour Film Festival isn’t just about making a movie—it's about creating something that’s raw, real, and memorable in a time crunch. It's about bringing together a team of people who believe that maybe—just maybe—we can turn sleepless nights and a ticking clock into something truly special.

Here's my take: go into it with passion, flexibility, sense of humor and most important humility! Things will go wrong—props will break, lines will be forgotten, and shots might get missed. But that’s okay. That’s part of the charm of making art in a whirlwind. Stay close to your team, lean on each other’s strengths, and keep the vibe positive, even when it’s 3 a.m. and the coffee’s running low. Some of the best scenes come from unexpected moments, and some of the strongest connections are made when you're all exhausted but still pushing to get the shot.

Team IP Media during film wrap at The Circa Resort and Hotel in Las Vegas NV. BTS courtesy of Alejandro Garcia.

Be proud of every second you capture, every frame you edit, and every little piece of magic you create along the way. Remember, the 48-Hour Film Festival isn’t about perfection—it’s about heart, hustle, and the crazy, chaotic love of storytelling. This is more than a challenge its a crash course on preparation and patience. Do a post-mortem review after the weekend stress wears away and understand how your apprach to narrative or commercial filmmaking can be improved. Learn. The apply these items to your professional (hopefully paid) projects.

5 Pre-production Tips for Team Leads:

  • ROLE CLARITY & ASSIGNMENTS: Understand your teams strengths and more importantly desires. Just becasue someone is good at a role does not necessarily mean they want to do that. They may be interested in learning a new aspect of the filmmaking process. Creative work better in roles they enjoy, especially when they have loose guidelines. Distribute information to the team systematically. Find one tool that works best Slack, Whatsapp, Email, Text Chat, or Instagram. Things move quickly and information flys left and right. Provide vital bits of information thru a single platform and during the weekend chaos, appoint a single person to be in charge of updating the team. You may have a location change last minute, a need for additional props or extras. Assign this to a single person/role.

  • CHEMISTRY: Create enviroments for your team to gel and mesh together before the event commences. It saves precious hours, remember you are only given 48 of them! Learn from previous experiences in how your team members like to be directed or work with other creatives. Ask to understand, not impose expectations.

  • LOCATIONS: Give yourself time to secure good locations. Dont shoot from the hip. Really challenge yourself and reach out to new connections and local businesses. Get Permits!

  • EQUIPMENT: Secure the equipment you need for the shoot and do a gear check and test before the Friday Kickoff. Reserve rentals in advance, dont wait until the week of. Ensure your editing computer is ready to go and wont crash during the render.

  • SHOTLIST: Take the time to create a shot list. The time spent on this during script development helps save SO MUCH TIME with editing. Plug and play. Good luck and godspeed.

AT THE END OF THE DAY. CHALLENGES SIMILAR TO THIS SHOULD FUEL YOUR PASSION AND NOT MAKE YOU QUESTION YOUR SANITY OR DETER YOU FROM FUTURE FILMMAKING. KEEP THE LOVE. ALL THE BEST & GODSPEED!

The Power of Creativity: Hollywood's "The Creator" & Sony's FX3

In the realm of filmmaking, creativity knows no bounds. From grand Hollywood productions to indie films that burst with artistic ingenuity, the magic of storytelling can be captured in myriad ways. One compelling testament to the versatility of modern filmmaking is the use of commercially available cameras, like the Sony FX3. By harnessing the power of these compact and affordable cameras, filmmakers are redefining the possibilities of cinematic storytelling.

The Sony FX3: An Affordable Cinematic Tool

First things first, the Sony FX3 is a commercially available camera that has taken the filmmaking world by storm. It's worth noting that the FX3 isn't the most high-end or expensive camera on the market, but it's a prime example of how filmmakers can create cinematic magic without breaking the bank.

The concept of making a movie with a budget-conscious camera like the FX3 is a testament to the democratization of filmmaking. It allows aspiring filmmakers, indie directors, and creative souls to create visually stunning narratives without the hefty price tag typically associated with big-budget productions. The affordability of the FX3 provides filmmakers with the opportunity to allocate resources elsewhere - like investing in a compelling script and gathering a skilled crew.

The Core Elements of a Great Film

When it comes to filmmaking, a substantial budget and the latest gear can certainly enhance the final product, but they're not the keys to success. The true essence of a great film lies in its narrative, characters, and the experience it delivers to the audience.

The Story is King: Regardless of the camera used, the backbone of any great film is an engaging and well-crafted story. The narrative is the heart and soul of a movie, and it's what captures the hearts and minds of the audience. A captivating story can transform a low-budget production into a memorable cinematic experience.

Characters and Acting: The cast and their ability to breathe life into characters are crucial. Compelling performances and well-developed characters can elevate a film beyond its technical limitations. Talent and storytelling go hand in hand.

Crew Collaboration: Even with a more affordable camera, a skilled and passionate crew can work wonders. A dedicated director of photography, a talented editor, and a sound team can add depth and polish to the final product. It's a reminder that filmmaking is a collaborative art.

The Director's Vision: A director's unique vision and perspective are what give a film its identity. Their ability to translate their ideas onto the screen is invaluable. A great director can transform an ordinary scene into something extraordinary.

A Memorable Experience: At its core, a movie is about creating an experience for the audience. The emotional journey, the impact it leaves, and the lasting impression are what define a great film.

In essence, a camera like the Sony FX3 provides the tools to capture the magic of storytelling. It can produce visually stunning images, but it's the filmmakers themselves who hold the power to craft stories that resonate with the audience.

Embracing the DIY Spirit

The spirit of filmmaking has seen a significant shift in recent years. With the availability of affordable and high-quality cameras, more and more filmmakers are embracing a DIY approach. They are driven by passion, creativity, and a desire to share their stories.

Filmmaking is no longer confined to big studios with vast budgets. Independent filmmakers, using commercially available cameras like the FX3, are proving that limitations can inspire innovation. Instead of being hindered by budget constraints, they're propelled to find ingenious solutions, experiment, and push creative boundaries.

The future of filmmaking looks incredibly exciting. With accessible technology, we can expect to see a more diverse range of voices and stories in the cinematic landscape. The emphasis will continue to shift from the gear to the experiences we create on screen.

Courtesy of Oren Soffer, Cinematographer on “The Creator”.

In summary, the Sony FX3 and cameras of its kind are not just tools; they're enablers of creative storytelling. A limited budget or the absence of a high-end camera should never deter a filmmaker from pursuing their vision. The essence of great filmmaking will always be rooted in the power of the story, the authenticity of the characters, and the emotional resonance of the final experience. So, grab your camera, ignite your creativity, and tell the stories that the world is waiting to hear. The magic of cinema is in your hands.

Texture of Light

As a director of photography, one of my primary responsibilities is to manipulate light design in order to create a specific mood or atmosphere in a scene. In this blog, I will discuss various techniques for manipulating light design in filmmaking with a focus on adding texture and movement.

One way to add texture to light design is through the use of light modifiers. Light modifiers are devices that are placed in front of or around a light to change the shape, quality, and direction of the light. Some examples of light modifiers include umbrellas, softboxes, grids, and barn doors. By using light modifiers, we can create a sense of depth and dimension in a scene, making it appear more textured and interesting.

Another way to add texture to light design is through the use of light-shaping tools such as snoots, flags, and gobos. These tools can be used to control the shape and direction of light, allowing us to create specific patterns or textures on the set. Snoots are cone-shaped devices that are placed over a light to create a narrow beam of light, while flags are used to block light and create shadows. Gobos are stencils that can be placed in front of a light to project patterns onto the set.

In addition to adding texture, we can also manipulate light design by adding movement. Moving lights can create a sense of tension or excitement, while stationary lights can create a sense of calm or stillness. Movement can be achieved through the use of moving lights or by moving the camera. One way to achieve this is by using a panning or tilting light head, which allows the light to move in a specific direction. Another way is by using a dimmer, which can be used to gradually increase or decrease the intensity of the light.

We can also use light direction to add movement to a scene. By adjusting the direction from which the light is coming, we can create the illusion of movement even if the subject is static. For example, by using a key light and a backlight, we can create a sense of depth and dimension in a scene, making it appear more dynamic.

Light quality is also important when adding texture and movement to light design. Hard light creates sharp edges and deep shadows, while soft light creates a more natural and diffused look. To achieve a soft light, we can use diffusers such as softboxes or umbrellas. This will help to spread the light out and create a more natural and even illumination.

I was DP and Gaffer for a boxing film we did recently. Here was a light check I took with my phone. The Director was Raymond Planas.

In conclusion, there are many ways to manipulate light design in filmmaking to produce a cinematic mood. From using light modifiers, light-shaping tools, movement, light direction, and light quality, the possibilities are endless. The key is to experiment with different techniques and equipment to find the right combination that works for your specific project. By adding texture and movement to light design, we can create a sense of depth and dimension in a scene, making it appear more interesting and dynamic.




DIY Project: Film Scrim Light Modifier under $50 [4 Min Read]

This extension of the DIY movement into mainstream, popular culture, like any cultural upheaval, is a significant area for digital marketers to address. The greatest aspect of DIY projects is that importance is placed on individuality and personalization, overpricing. It’s all about Ingenuity. As a weekend filmmaker, I love film hacks. Today I will share one that I used in a recent music video. Sun Scrims!

A scrim is a light modifier used by photographers and the film industry to reduce the intensity and harshness of the light. The medium used is often semi-transparent fabric such as white muslin, polyester, and nylon. The light that reaches the subject is diffused and creates a flattering light. Check out my other posts on the basics of lighting for a good foundation of what we are doing here.

Things you will need to create your 6ft x 6ft Scrim AND Frame:

  • 30ft of PVC Piping Schedule-40, 3/4" Diameter (Three 10ft Pipes, PVC Pipes are readily available at many Home Improvement Stores). - $3.64 * 3Qty = $10.92

  • Grommet Making Kit - $6.48

  • Eight (8) Pack of Ball Bungee Cords. -$7.98

  • Two (2) PVC T Shaped Connectors with screw and slip ends. For 3/4" Diameter Piping - $1.03*2Qty = $2.06

  • Four (4) PVC 90deg Slip Connectors. For 3/4" to 3/4" Diameter Piping. - $1.51*4Qty = $6.04

  • 72"x72" Frosted Shower Curtain Liner (Or similar-sized alternative). YES SHOWER CURTAIN. - $9.96

Cut two of the PVC Pipes into 6ft and 3 ft Lengths. Scrap the remaining foot of PVC Pinign or use for another project.

  1. Cut the last pice of PVC Piping in two 3ft Lengths.

  2. Use the two 6ft Length Pipes for the top and bottom. Add a 90 Degree Connector to each end of the pipes.

  3. Between both of the 3ft Length Pipes add a T Shaped Connector to allow for easier connection to a C-Stand or structural support. Attach these pieces to the 6ft Pipes using the PVC 90 Degree Slip Connectors.

  4. Use the Grommet Kit to add reinforced holes to each of the sides of the Frosted Shower Curtain Liner.

  5. Using the adjustable Bungee Balls attach the shower curtain to the overall frame. You are done. Now just find a good light source whether natural or a video light and use the diffuser to modify the light on your subject.

3 Challenges of a Film DP [2 Min Read]

The film production process, as a Director of Photography (DP), is a complicated and multidimensional activity that poses a myriad of distinct problems. In this blog article, we will look at three major issues that DPs face on set and provide suggestions on how to overcome them.

Lighting and Camera Movement

Lighting and camera movement synchronization is one of the most difficult problems that DPs face on site. The lighting conditions on set are always changing, and it is a must to have a thorough grasp of lighting technology and how to regulate it. This may be especially difficult when working with natural light, as the location of the sun and the weather conditions can alter the lighting and overall aesthetic of the photo. Furthermore, camera movements, such as dolly shots, crane shots, and Steadicam shots, are important in the ultimate output of the shot. A director of photography must have a thorough awareness of the technical elements of camera movement and how to match it with lighting for a desired effect. To address this problem, you must have a thorough grasp of lighting theory, including the use of reflectors, diffusers, and other tools to shape and control light. You need also to be well-versed in the technical elements of camera movement and how to integrate it with lighting to get the desired visual impact. Have familiarity with the most recent technologies, such as the usage of remote-controlled lighting and camera movement, and white balancing in order to gain more accurate control over the resulting video.

Time Constraints and Budget Limitations

Working under time and financial limits is another key problem. Film production is a fast-paced and frantic atmosphere, and DPs must be able to work swiftly and effectively to guarantee that the shot is caught within the time period specified. Furthermore, budget constraints might have an impact on the equipment, resources, and personnel available, making it difficult to produce the intended visual impression.

To overcome this issue, directors of photography must be able to operate fast and successfully, which includes being knowledgeable about the equipment, having a strong shot list, and making rapid choices on set. Furthermore, be knowledgeable with the most recent technology and equipment, such as the usage of drones and cinema cameras, wireless follow focus, audio transmitters, encoders, and prores recorders in order to produce the desired visual impression while maintaining within budget constraints. Furthermore, be able to anticipate potential issues and have a plan in place to address them, including having backup equipment and a contingency plan in case of unexpected issues.

Collaboration and Communication

Collaboration and communication save a nation. From the director, the camera crew, and the lighting crew to the actors. Each person has their own vision and ideas, and it can be challenging to bring everything together to create the final shot. You must be able to communicate effectively with all members of the team, including the director and the actors, to ensure that the final shot meets the director's vision and achieves the desired visual effect.

6 Modern Approaches for Managing Creative Teams [4 Min Read]

Directing a film from cradle to grave is a highly involved process that requires a balance of patience and collaboration. A director is in charge of the creative and dramatic components of a film, as well as visualizing the concept and leading the technical team and performers in carrying out that vision. Film projects come in a variety of sizes and often involve working and collaborating with dynamic teams that evolve often. Consider a 48hr film project where you have to conceptualize a script, cast, shoot, edit and submit a film project over the course of two days. It is quite exciting and daunting at the same time. As a director how do you manage multiple creatives? Especially when you don't have the luxury of time on your side to develop deep connections quickly. Here are a few tips to help you extract the greatest from each of the individuals on your team.

Servant Leadership. Your role is to inspire your team through genuine engagement and empowerment. Be attuned to the physical and social state of your team. Good communication with your team is characterized by listening first.

  • Creativity in this space isn't about unbridled freedom but more of flexible constraints. Define the box so your team can find ways to operate within that space and provide them the ability work with some flexibility. Ensure your guidelines are clear and consistent.

  • Emphasize collaboration by making sure everyone can operate as a shareholder and contribute. Dispel notions of competition. Everyone loses when the family feuds. Find ways to incorporate everyone's creative inputs or curate their suggestions to fit the project.

  • Work WITH your creative plan to support timely deliverables (meeting deadlines), offer regular updates on progress, answer questions, and organize brainstorming sessions. Facilitate engagement. These are all great evolved approaches to project management.

  • Provide Role Clarity. Educate the team on each members responsibilities. This will benefit the team by promoting greater cross-departmental communication and respect for the members the form the dynamic business.

  • Quite micromanaging! Instead put your faith in your creatives abilities and aptitudes. The most challenging aspect of managing engineers, cinematographers, teachers or chefs (the list is endless) is relinquishing power and bowing to your team's deeper experiences/knowledge.

What is one thing you have learned working with creative teams?

Color Theory: How You Can Elicit Emotions with Colors [5 Min Read]

Color Theory asserts that, in addition to language, plot, and performers, color perception and lighting are crucial attributes that filmmakers use to orchestrate emotional undertones. Understanding the pragmaticism of color grading extends beyond technical understanding, it’s one thing to produce good colors but it is a completely different thing to have the color palette serve the plot. The use of color extenuates beyond films, and marketing advertisements but also interior design to promote productivity within your home.

Have you ever heard of the color wheel?

Color theory is a practical application of art and science. Isaac Newton developed the color wheel when he mapped the color spectrum onto a circle. Two hues that are opposite each other on the color wheel are considered complementary.  This color combination has strong contrast and high effect — when these shades are combined, they seem richer and more prominent. Analogous colors, reference adjacent colors, while triadic uses three colors equally spaced.

Colors are shaped by hue (color), saturation (intensity) and brightness (the darkness/lightness). Each characteristic influences the index value.

A color's emotional undertone is unrelated to film and specifically relates to our own inherent psychology. The sensations that any particular hue evokes in a person are the same whether they read the phrase, hear people speaking, or see it physically on film.

COLOR MEANINGS

  • Aggression, happiness, love, and passion are all represented by red colors. It is often associated with movement, ambition, strength, violence, and femininity.

  • Orange is a color that signifies happiness, creativity, exotic, sociability, and excitement.

  • Yellow is considered a happy, lively, sick, and upbeat hue.

  • Green is commonly associated with nature, healing, corruption, and relaxation.

  • Blue is frequently associated with coolness, isolation, cerebral, and tranquility.

  • Purple is a color that exudes regal undertones, elegance, refinement, power, mystical, ethereal, and authority.

  • Black conjures up images of sadness, dread, mystery, and evil, yet it can also conjure up images of simplicity, tradition, and refinement.

  • White has become the conventional hue for purity and innocence, faith, honesty, and happiness.

  • Brown conjures us images of roughness, firmness, and hardness, as well as authenticity.

Organization: How To Make a Shot List [3 Min Read]

By this point I am sure you have checked out some of my other blog posts highlighting some of the preproduction phases of film making, everything from narrative work to instructional videos. Whats next? Shot lists! Dont worry they are simple to create.

A shot list serves a crucial purpose. It is a document that maps the clip compositions for every scene within a film. Consider it a functional checklist for the production team to provide general direction and facilitate efficiency on set. It is developed by the Director and Cinematographer, depending on the size of the team one person may be doing both roles. Be sure write out every scene out in complete detail. Mentally visualize the entire video in your head and write it down. In my experience this document has been the glue that helps small production crews come together during brainstorming think tanks.

What information is captured on a Shot List:

  • Identify Scene (i.e. "Breakfast in Kitchen").

  • Assign Reference numbers for each clip within Scenes (i.e. Breakfast in Kitchen 001).

  • Scene Description - List the action sequence details, what is happening in the scene inclusive of props, actors, animations and summarize dialogue.

  • Camera Equipment (ie. Camera Model and Lens Needed)

  • Camera Movement (Zoom, Pan, Arc, Dolly)

  • Camera Angle (High, Eye-Level, Ground, etc.)

  • Audio Design (Voice-over, Boom, Lavalier, etc)

  • Shot Framing (Wide, Medium, Tight)

Pro Tip: Google Sheets and Excel are great places to organize your shot lists. Take a stab at it and let me know if you need help.

Log Footage: The Warm Up

For those unaware of what color grading is, don’t fret. Its the application of a coordinate colorway to a video to influence the perceived style. Before you can get to the fun stage of diving into a color correction and non-linear video editing application such as Da Vinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere, or Final Cut Pro you need to capture the log footage appropriately. Take everything you learned about Lighting, Camera Angles, and Framing to set the scene. Next, we need to dive into setting up the camera for taking Log Footage. The goal of Log footage is to capture highlights, shadows, and mid tones with the greatest latitude possible by leveraging the dynamic range of a given camera. The colors, however, are absent in this recording profile. As a result, color grading the Log footage in post-production is required to construct a proper image.

DaVinci Resolve

Each of the major camera brands has proprietary log color profiles.

  • Panasonic: V-LOGL or Cinelike D

  • Sony: S-Log (preferably S-Log2 or S-Log3)

  • Canon: C-Log or Canon Log depending on the System Model

  • DJI UAV Drones: D-Loge

  • Nikon: N-Log

  • Fujifilm: F-Log

Here are a few things to consider on your next shoot to get the best Log-Format Footage you can:

Elect for Higher Color Bit Depths - If available set your footage to shoot in the highest color bit possible 10bit over 8bit to expand the available color information in the highlights and shadows to minimize the potential of artifacts and banding in the roll-off edges. Reference the color table to see the difference in visible light (color spectrum) for the different color bit depths.

Use Color Checker Cards - Colors are reproduced in a variety of ways depending on the lens, camera system, and sensor used. Variable lighting conditions further change these pairings. These can frequently generate hues that are discordant with how our eyes perceive color. Using a color checker in scenes serves as an accurate color reference, allowing postproduction color correction procedures to be more efficient. Many Non-Linear video editing software has the ability to recognize color checker cards and alter footage to match the reference board.

Use Histogram & Exposure Meters - When shooting Log-Format footage I have found the value of Histograms and Exposure meters irreplaceable. The histogram is a graphical depiction of an image or video's tonal range, and its evaluation of the tonal range offers an accurate monitor for exposure metering. The variation of tones on the histogram and represented by the color black on the left end and extends to the color white on the right end. The height of each of the color areas depicts the number of color pixels in a given range (Y-Axis). The X-Axis is labeled below to show the color ranges from Blacks, Shadows, Midtones, Highlights, and Whites. Expose your image to be as far to the Right as possible without overexposing or clipping your highlights (an abundance of white in the image). If you are using an exposure meter consider shooting about 1-2 stops above a zero exposure. This will allow you to retain the maximum amount of shadow detail while respecting the highlight rolloff transition.

Write: Drafting a Director Treatment [3 Min Read]

A treatment is a documented framework that specifies all aspects of a film, music video, commercial, or production in detail. A film director is usually the one who drafts this document. It is a vital tool for video professionals to pitch ideas to producers, financiers and prospective talent. Much of these points are inspired by Diego Contreras.

Step 1: Sell the Vision

The best tip for enhancing your treatments is to start with a clear and well-defined vision for the project. Visualize your thoughts, then notate your ideas for the project. Incorporate all ideas that make it uniquely yours. Write down everything from lighting inspiration, summarized dialogue, key camera angles, dynamic movements and unknown/under-represented locations.

Step 2: Curate the Visual

This step is more fun. Avoid large collections of reference images for only filling blank space. A treatment that has a lot of gorgeous, evocative, and cinematic images but is ultimately unrelated may appear crowded. Curate your images to be highly specific and augment the aesthetic appeal of your written treatment notes. Colors matter. If possible try to keep the same color palette across all your images. If you're going to devote a whole page to mood references, make sure that the pictures are properly arranged to demonstrate your vision and convey the storyline. When reference images are absent create your own.

Step 3: Be concise and convey why YOU matter

A director's treatment is essentially a longer elevator pitch. Your reader has approximately 5-10 minutes to buy into your idea. If this is for a commercial that a company has developed a script for over months they are looking for you to present an original approach to their concept, not make a linear narrative. Understand that your treatment is subject to creative input or restriction from your prospective client. Be open and flexible. Enjoy the process.

Visualize: How to Mold a Music Video Storyline [4 Min]

Project management approaches and principles are extremely effective in evaluating and executing any size project. Film projects are no different, each requiring a dynamic balance between resource utilization and talent allocation. The majority of my recent side work has been related to weddings and events, it hasn't always been this way, but I have found these to be enjoyable. These momentous occasions are usually fast-paced and operational timing is critical. While it’s been fun I've decided to take on a new weekend passion project and shoot a narrative music video for a local artist. To be fair, between planning, shooting, and editing this may take a few weekends. However, it remains a new experience overall.

Perhaps you are a marketer, fellow creative, filmmaker, public relations agent, or are a curious engineer on the weekend and have an interest in how to make a campaign video for a person or brand. Perhaps my approach will help you get a start on developing your script or visual storyline.

Skipping beyond the context of my initial interactions with the artist I was asked to come up with a visual treatment. Here was my thought process.

  • Listen to the song on repeat for a substantial period of time, close your eyes for this part.

  • Pausing the repeated song periodically to jot down ideas and concepts that come to mind. Depending on the song you may visualize a few different storylines.

  • Look for any centralized concepts in your notes to see if a general story emerges. Note: (1) A narrative film must have a beginning, middle, and end, however, they do not have to be in that sequence necessarily. (2) A minimum of one character will engage/connect to the audience through ideas, emotions, and experiences that occur throughout the plot. (3) While the interpretation of art is subjective, a relationship between the music and the content should exist.

Within the music video genre, there are three distinct categories of narratives: illustration, amplification, and disjuncture.

Illustration - Directly connects to the song. Visuals are direct and literal representations of lyrics. One simplistic example would be a character singing about buying a coat while the video shows him doing this activity. One example is Lil NasX - "Old Town Road" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2Ov5jzm3j8&ab_channel=LilNasXLilNasXOfficialArtistChannel

Amplification - Uses visual aids to replicate the meanings of lyrics directly and indirectly. Interpretation is fairly easy for the audience to understand. One Example is Taylor Swift’s "Love Story" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xg3vE8Ie_E&ab_channel=TaylorSwiftTaylorSwift

Disjuncture - This is a more abstract and experimental visual aid that has little to no connection to the music. One Example is Childish Gambino's "This Is America" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYOjWnS4cMY&ab_channel=DonaldGloverDonaldGloverOfficialArtistChannel

Performance - This is as simple as it sounds, the artist is performing the song in front of the camera, and the focus is on their singing and musical talents. One example is Masego - "Yebo/Sema" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjpTZwfU8IY&ab_channel=MasegoMasegoOfficialArtistChannel

Build: 4 Tips for Short Film Character Development

A film's soul is its characters. The physiology, psychology, and sociology of good personalities captivate audiences. Here are some great tips to creating

An excellent short film usually revolves around a character who is confronted with a situation and then makes an action that results in an outcome. While it seems generic, captivating stories don't always dedicate a lot of time telling character backstories. However, these should be developed to assist actors with knowing how their subjects would behave and react in different situations. Ensure that the initial information you share about your characters is adequate and substantial in order to keep your audience interested.

Make your characters' ambitions clear and precise. What do they truly desire? Sometimes this is opposite from what they claim they desire. Make it tough for your characters to achieve their objectives.

Your characters should evolve over the entire plot and learn along their journeys, whether it's about themselves, or the way in which they perceive themselves or the world around them.  

End Notes:

  • How do your characters interact with society?

  • What motivates them? What do they fear?

  • What flaws do they have? Are they aware of them?

  • How do they communicate?

  • What makes them unique? Know them through and through, like your best friend.