Directing An Unpaid Crew & Are Shorter Films Better?
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- Опубліковано 30 лип 2024
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Something I've found helpful to get my creative juices flowing (when they've stopped) is to start adapting a book I like into a screenplay. Almost invariably I'll start to get ideas for something original, then I can switch to working on that.
I have a short screenplay due tomorrow for a screenwriting class I'm taking... honestly I was surprised at how fast the ideas came when I was forced to work with a deadline haha
Dude, I love it when my guys/gals helping on a film make recommendations. It's a team sport, filmmaking, and I am only one guy.
Good idea for a monthly challenge: cliffhanger short film.
Love your work guys! Keep it up!
Great stuff, as always! I'm starting on the ground floor of a short film. I have no idea what the story will be, but I can't wait to put all of your educational material to use!
I have been a fan for years now... I took a bit of a hiatus watching your videos cus I got stuck with my regular life stuff. But I'm back in the saddle working on my next shotmrt film. So of course I'm binging on Film Riot content cus you guys always give me great ideas to add production value to my work. Just wanted to say thanks
I haven’t been this early in a long time.
I needed the advice since I’m shooting today and having trouble keeping the attention of the crew while balancing their opinions. Thank you!
Really needed this. I want to become a director and will soon be starting short films with my friends after I finish the screenplay but I also considered how effective and fun short film production is vs movies. I prefer writing tv scripts vs movies because tv shos allow for smaller budgets, better development and a better understanding of how effectively to tell a narrative due to a longer duration and the attention span of modern day people
Just finished a short horror film with the help of an unpaid crew! I think the key is to surround yourself with friends, no matter their experience level, and definitely follow Ryan's "No A-hole" rule. Another thing I like to do is try new things with every shoot. If you tell your crew, hey, we're going to try something new this time... whether it be with VFX or shooting style or color grading, etc. they're willing to jump on-board because it's a learning experience for everyone.
ua-cam.com/video/zXQXrIz1SJc/v-deo.html
Thanks for touching on working with unpaid crew. I worked on a feature film with a producer who was PGA. The film was to benefit a local cities preservation project, and because of this the cast and crew were all volunteers. Said producer was the director also and just continued to push the production bigger and bigger and overextend the cast and crew. The schedule I created was 14 days. I had to leave by day 15 and it ended up going like 2 months.
Pay. Your. Crew. Even if it's only gas money and some food. With the exception being in school or fresh out of school people looking to just get their name on something. Exposure doesn't pay bills. And more often than not, the video won't even reach enough people to warrant saying they will get exposure. There's a lot of content out there these days.
Stephen Schmidt SAME FOR ACTORS!
Definately food, to much starving artist mentality out there and if your not paying them prolly no one else is too. Bags of apples,water, bread and ham(or pbj) make a shoot better.
Might I add: Don’t overdo it on the pizza. Pizza gets old quickly. Find out if your crew has dietary requirements (ideally ahead of hiring, so you don’t get stuck with someone with difficult needs) and provide options. And don’t skimp on craft service. Provide crafty 1/2 hour before call time and replenish in the afternoon when people start lagging.
Stephen Schmidt I haven’t taken an unpaid gig yet...
Very interesting and valued your attitude towards treating the acting crew with respect , would imagine your good to work with , thank you for this
Been watching your stuff for years. And, I always back.
Hey what's up Ryan. I watched this video and I thought it was incredibly awesome and on point especially when it comes to using your friends and family for cast and crew for making short films and basically showing them the ropes of how to act and or shoot a camera and that overall being a director comes with the responsibility of how you can talk to the cast and crew, It can make or break your relationship with them. I was shooting a scene with my grandmother for the short film of anti-bullying and I would act and direct at the same time while talking to her about how to do this and that with respect and we would have fun. Thank You Ryan for showing me how to direct and not having a hard time shooting the short film. Keep doing great work and keep inspiring young adult kids to be a great filmmakers like you :)
Can you make a video about making a short film with a GoPro and how to set up Camera rig and also shoot a short film with it
More great content! Thanks so much, keep it up!
My first short film ever was about depression, and it won an award. So I definetly think that newcomers can tackle heavy topics. If you have an idea or vision, chase it. If it sucks, you will still have learned a lot from your mistakes
Pls do more practical effect tips
To tag onto the creativity question. What helps me is this question: "Why am I CREATING in the first place?" Making good work that effects and touches or reaches doesnt happen by 'A filmaker' 'sitting down' and 'deciding' "i want to make... SOMETHING.. because "I" am a film maker.. now what is it".. it needs to be driven by something WORTH sharing or making. When a topic is important enough it lights a flame within you. When a fictional story SPEAKS to something that is WORTH it, you'll never be at loss for what to make and how to make it. If you are just wanting to flex your filmmaking skills just to do it, the REASON turns into something often selfish, to show off, to impress.. that's META. if the entirety of the reason you make films is merely only a MEDIUM to deliver something greater, something that needed a FILM to come to light you land on PURPOSE, and purpose has a way of giving you everything you need and illuminating you. so don't try to think of WHAT to create when you are feeling creatively dry, think about WHY it is important that you make it and find that THING worth sharing and you will bloom with drive and inspiration and those guidelines will sort of come up naturally in the moment becasue the reason is bigger than YOU- the film maker.
Very insightful, have a great rest of the day! :)
Really good man. Enjoyed!
nice video , i learned a lot as a beginner, thank you
Sup mate love your work. Hope to see more comady
Thank you, really useful
Im so proud of the Film Riot guys.
Can you suggest the configuration for a laptop where I can use fcp, after effects, Adobe audition to edit 4k videos. Thanks in advance.
You picked really interesting questions that I had 99% of them in mind too, haha!
When you put out the music pack can we use the music on our projects or videos as long as we give the proper Credit or would we get a Copyright Strike.
Cubase! Yay!!! My DAW for ten years now. So proud of you Ryan! 😎
this color grading really nice... make ur eyes stand out. is this availabe in your cine luts?
Hey, brahman noodle. I was recently an extra on a popular netflix series (just to see how they do things), and we shot an exterior school scene set in the "morning". We shot all day until the sun started going down. I watched as they brought out their huge arri light and threw some cto on it and kept adjusting it each take as the sun was going down to mock the sun. How in the world do you swing this in post with changing shadows and light throughout the day to keep it consistent? - Will W.
Hey Ryan! Love your work. I was wondering if you could tell me how to deal with actors(or friends) who want a bigger role or even the main role. I'm working on a short tragedy film right now where at the end everyone dies and one of my actors wants the main role and doesn't want to die. Can you help me out?
Our 1 min short film is coming along. Almost ready to submit it :-)
love your content, thanks
Peter Zejda Fitness love the 6 pack
WRT CREW MANAGEMENT,
Working with a green unpaid crew isn’t easy, but it comes down to communication and set etiquette. You need to establish the norms ahead of time in a very clear way. Think of it as something you’re giving your crew: training in real world set operation, a skill required when they start getting paying gigs. Yes, your volunteers are doing you a favor, but they’re getting something in exchange.
Also, an experienced AD can be a real boon with a green crew. Even if they’ve only PAed before and are moving up by working your shoot, that experience is invaluable. If you trust them, let them be the one to give the set etiquette talk to the crew (although you probably want to be there, too).
Don’t be afraid to fire someone that continues to be disruptive after you’ve talked to them once. You’re actually doing them a favor by giving them a painful learning opportunity. Take them aside and tell them why you’re firing them, tell them you hope they are able to learn something from the experience, etc. There is a respectful way to do it without taking more than 5 minutes. Again, you probably want to bring your AD in on this.
That said, there are appropriate times for a crew member to yell out on set, like when a curtain next to a 2k tungsten is about to catch fire.
Unfortunately all my projects up to now have been with an unpaid crew because budgets have always been so tight. But thankfully the people that I've worked with believe in what I'm doing and that's why they support my projects. Of it's completely true what Ryan said that you gather people that you work well together and then stick to them because the crew that I've been working with are fantastic. They have learned what they do they like what they're doing and we're completely in sync and have good communication. Literally the projects we have done would not have been completed without them because I would have had such a harder job. So to be fair any earnings from projects that we did I have always put aside to a fund that is used to better the equipment not into my own pocket and whenever we do get a project that does pay a little more I always use this crew and pay them. Also these are all people I know friends and family to whom I've always been willing to give a helping hand whenever they needed it and will always to so they have no problem helping me and have an it-resting day filming something.
So it always works out great both ways.
Actors are sensitive flowers. I like to give them ideas for reasons to get a specific emotions. Try to get real emotions.
I don’t say. Look sad. I say. Imagine your dad just died. He just died is in front of you. You’re confused. You don’t want to believe it. You’re desperate. Take a minute. Got it? Sound camera rolling? Action!
For the filmriot competition can we use a film we have already made and released?
thanks again ryan...hope all personal stuff is well..
3:49 well said and 100% agree!
Hi ryan, got a question.I'm in the middle of making a short film but I don't know if i should make trailer for it or not.Any advice?
When does the contest end? I didn’t find the date in the link in the description
I help as an unpaid boom operator mostly just because I enjoy helping out (Not a lot of people care to be a boom operator) and I will give my input when I see a problem, but I select the moment that is obvious I need to tell my concern for the good of the project. Some director is insecure and will be annoyed by it and see it as a challenge... If they do, it their problem, I really don't care as he is the one who is going to have to live with it in post. As a boom operator, most of my time is spent waiting, observing and absorbing stories. I'm not saying all my suggestions are good, which is why I try to keep my concern as short as possible and expand on it if director ask. I try to tell initially the problem I see rather than what should be done instead to fix that problem. I also try to help a lot the DOP/Grip before recording start or between shot on small crew setup. I never got included in the pre-production process so far, so I just show up and start booming, making me more of an audience test. But just with how the question was asked, I feel a lot of condescending toward boom operator and PA. It likes discarding a janitor coming to you saying they keep finding broken bolt on the floor of the factory and discard him because he is the janitor and not an engineer. All that said, I'm not an average type of person, so maybe I'm an exception and "all" other PA or boom operators are annoying, but I do get that annoyed vibe from a director right from the bat, but it takes a few moments for their denial to pass and for understanding to kick in and be more attentive to my comment later on. If it doesn't happen, the director might be insecure or a really bad director where he should actually just step down and let someone lead, but in the free gig I've done, the goal is for all of us to have fun together doing something we like while trying to give out our best to the director who has assembled us together to do something amazing. If he can't make that magic happen, either by his lack of skill, bad crew or technical reason, it is going to be a learning experience for everyone as long no one being a jerk ! I was just thinking that maybe PA or boom operator giving comment is annoying is the fact that they are generally quiet on set, and when they do give input their voice seem louder and more important, and that why director feel annoyed(threaten) by them ;) Like if you have a character in a movie that doesn't speak and out of no where, begging speaking.
When is the Deadline for the filmsupply challenge? I can nowhere find that date...
The new music that is going in your pack--can it be used in UA-cam videos with a "copyright" claim coming up?
This is a usefull piece as I'm use to working with large productions over the last 40yrs. These days I'm working on small private projects and small inexperienced crew/actors and trying to shoot two new series. It's been a very difficult experience. You mentioned not working with people you don't click with...totally agree. That's why film making is considered such a cliguey group...and it works. But what do you suggest about people you suspect of stealing from the set when there unpaid crew or actors.
I teach film production and I often recommend watching your videos. You've come a long way since starting and I wish you the best in the future.
Keep your gates spinning...
R.G.
IAWFilmWorks
Hey Ryan, what is your opinion on experimental films? What do you suggest is the best way to do it?
How about a video on working with an inexperienced crew? My crews rarely have any experience, I'm usually the only one with any skills or knowledge. XD
Maybe you could do one?
Floyd Looney Yeah that's actually a good idea, thanks! I'll do that!
Nice channel, by the way.
Floyd Looney Thank you! :)
Echo Productions Honestly that’s pretty much the same for me too. I also don’t exactly have the luxury of a big crew. I’m almost always doing 3 to 4 roles on set. It’s usually just my actors & me, but I feel like I can get a more genuine performance like that.
haaaa! you talk about the Spielberg Doc right after I watch it. for once I got there faster than Film Riot's suggestion. yayy me!
Any short films coming?
Can someone send a link to we're you insert you vid.
3:25 now, I want to make a dramatic film about Waffles.
Pancake V Waffle: Dawn of Breakfast
Hey dudes at Film Riot. Just wanna let you guys know you rock and help me out so much. Thanks!
Great video, thank you :D
With the unpaid crew, I didn't take every suggestion from everyone there but we did do takes I didn't plan on doing at the time. I actually ended up using some of it. Allowing people to flow with ideas on set can be tricky depending on your crew but for us it was great. We really had far more fun. As director though, I did have last say if we did the shot or if we moved on because it in no way could help the story. You could always look at the person and say 'I tried that in this film but it ends up not working for me. thanks.' Or 'Sure, let's try that but we don't have time to change things up on these other shots. Wish we could but maybe you could if you get a chance to shoot a film I'd love to help.' :)
What i find worse than a bunch of unpaid people chiming in with direction help is people who show up, phoning it in, and then screwing off. I can deal with the direction bit. I just let people know who's the boss, or I actually needed the help. But people not trying is worse. It's hard to motivate someone who thinks "Well, i'm not getting paid, so this doesn't matter". I had someone like that. Showed up late, didn't do any prep we agreed upon, and refused to look at the storyboards, saying that "My vision of the project will be a set back on set".
But back at the everyone wanting to direct part, in film school they wanted to make sure people knew who's set it was. I only gave some directing advice ones... to the actor, because he kept dropping the ball, and the actor was letting it slide focusing on lights and camera. The scene was like one guy is talking and then the other person cuts him off. The flaw was the actor who gets cut off, had it in his mind that he had to get cut off at the same time. so he would say "I know but-" then pause before the person cut them off. So i said "just make up the rest of the sentence. and keep going, until he literally cuts you off"... and it worked. Lighting was never fixed, but hey, i can't solve every issue... (I'm obviously kidding)
0:31 literally my name lol
Where can I find the details of that
What’s the music for your intro
im ganna try that challenge
Thanks FilmRiot!!!
In film school you're working with everyone who wants to be the leader lol sometimes people have great ideas, but if you listen to those ideas it might set up the rest of your film for failure. Starting out I forgot that I put everything this way for a reason. Making comedies you might change something so slight and then realize later that you completely messed up the set up of the following joke.
Do you still plan on making Outsiders? I was hyped for it until I found out it was cancelled
Hey Ryan! I was wondering a way to make an awesome and convincing energy ball, that comes out of someone's hands. (Dragon ball style). Love your show
Render a beaming light source of some sort (a white circle with Adobe's ray effect will do it) and then render several circles around it (feathered circle mask will get the job done) which you will scale up and down as shockwaves. Make those a sequence, then track the hand movements by moving that sequence around on the frame. Look at my "movie magic teaser" on my channel to see something like what I'm describing. You can get creative with blurs, noise, etc. to make it look less artificial.
Great episode!
Working hard on the 1min short.
Adventures in Nostalgia Thanks!, I will share it with you if you want.
Bluer Arts share it with me aswell, I'm interested in viewing
Gerald King Will do! Thanks for your support!
Gerald King Hey, are you still interested?
I will probaly be uploading it to my youtube channel once the contest period is over (next monday, the 20th)
Bluer Arts yeah of course! I can't wait to see it
Directing is getting your actors to tell a story, in a collaborating way, that fits the script.
How do I write a short film? I have never made a short film before, but I am now getting one started. The only people on set are my family and friends, and I plan on directing, shooting, and writing, with a bit of help with my friends.
Well I made my first short on just no budget with my family and friends.
But before that, I read bunch of screenplays by my favourite directors; when you’re alone and with nonprofessional actors and crew, your descriptive screenplay does Job for you.
So,
-plan a story line-(how you want your story to flow.)
-Build strong characters (give them a backstory and depth)
- keep location in mind while writing.
-as you’re working with nonprofessionals; keep in mind and try to write expressions what your want from your actors right into screenplay. And camera angles too, as while handling everything all alone, we tend to forget many things.
All the best with your short.
Thanks m8
I've been a filmriotier since 2012. 5 years later, my question final makes it into the mailsack episode! This is huge for me!!!! My name is Jeevan Rego by the way..... OMG I need to breathe.
very helpful
Have you ever considered doing a filmmaking podcast?
I'm making a film, and this is very helpful
Best ways to find short films to watch?
Where's my popcorn? Time for some knowledge bombs.
Hey Ryan, fellow Texan here(Just a couple of hours from you guys). I'm trying to get a weekly creatives get together to help with networking and bounce ideas off each other. Have you ever been part of something like this or do you have any recommendations on how to get this started?
What's happening with intercept?
It's good 👏👏👏
how do you start filmmaking as a 13 year old? love the content, keep it up!
Grab any camera, point and shoot. Make it up as you go. Write an outline if you want but all that you need to make a film is a story and the means to record it visually. Your first films may suck but every film will get better than the last one. Don't worry about others, do it for yourself.
Haha "No A-Hole Rule." Love that!
I'm a film student and I use my peers and friend to act or help me with gear. I take them out to dinner at some restaurant. I don't have much money I try to thank them and give as much as I can to them. Because they can end up giving me 6+ hours of their time.
I just completed my first short film (releasing online next week) and would love some feedback if you have the time. Thanks for always publishing such great content!
Can the film be longer than 60 seconds or is that the max?
Nice one :)
I want a ipad stabilizer
What about director and also be a actor at the same time
Hi ry guy!!!!!
I would say "wanna'be filmmaker" is an apt term for a certain type of jerk who is possibly on the periphery of the industry, but still pretty much unknown that drops names every chance they get, and talks down to anyone "not in the industry" like they know everything, yet these guys have never actually made a film.
Lukaku
ay
No A-O Rule - Good rule!
the deadline tip didnt help andrew with intercept i guess :D
Only people 18 or older can participate in the Film Supply Challenge :(
im here
Where blood october?
Hey ryan my sister is an filmmaker so can you check her channel out its lili bootmann and youll see a film called without a goal you cant score
Wannabe filmmakers is what 98% of people roaming the internet for knowledge are. It's definitely something I think people don't like to address; people just proudly label themselves as "filmmakers", just because they shoot and edit stuff, regardless of their level of competence. There certainly is a line that separates the work from a wannabe filmmaker from that of a proper filmmaker, regardless if he/she is doing it professionally or not - and we are all able to tell the difference between a piece of work that feels right from one that's not quite there yet.
Would you work with all Ryan crew... Like actors Ryan Gosling and Ryan Reynolds. You are Ryan, Ryan too... I'm not Ryan. Why Am I asking it from you.
Just a thought that might help. See if you can do a review on Kenfinity Terra cinema camera with 6k , 4k models. They are relatively cheap. Under 10k and has 12-14 stops of dr, ef mount, s35 sensors, 12bit and almost all the accessories are included. Oh and they weigh as much as a 5d mkii www.kinefinity.com/shop/terra/?lang=en
HEY RYAN .. PANCAKES OR WAFFLES???
Don't be a bastard and always pay your crew!
Not paying someone for their time and labour is the most unprofessional thing you can do! Just safe up a bit more at least pay your crew something.
I refuse to work for free!
Noice