Moviemaking, in no way, is a child’s business. From the costumes to the locations, from the audio to editing, from the budget to the actors and the permits, film direction consists of numerous things that make it more and more complicated. While you need to have a crew assisting you through film making, you are the one who will guide them about what is required to be done.

So, to help you better, we have listed out 20 of the best tips and tricks that would help you to make your feature film of short film successful.’

1. Finalize And Close The Script First

Before your camera starts to roll, you need to have the final script in hand. This will help you plan your shots as well as decide on the type of sounds, lights, and gears needed. Also, a film is a story you are telling your audience, so it needs to make sense. If the story doesn’t make sense, all the investments, effects will be nothing but futile.

2. Decide Your Target Audience

Before you start shooting your film, you need to decide your target audience. This will help define the type of cinematography, effects, language, etc. you can use during filming. For example, if you are making a family film, you have to refrain from using offensive language, showing too much blood scenes or raw footage. This can, however, work if you are filming a short story or a series which will have a niche audience.

3. Decide On Sounds and Music

The audio element of your movie is as essential as the visual aspect. Hence you need to pay special attention to this. Choose high-quality music, use external microphones for better quality, and refrain from shooting in noisy locations.

Similarly, with music, try and find songs that fit the shot or scene perfectly. Chances are you will need to buy music rights for the song you wish to use in your film. There are external sources for music, or you can self-compose if you have the talent.

4. Learn the compositions

Work on your compositions. You need to learn about camera positioning, as well as, position of your subject so that your shot looks cinematic. For example, in case of a wedding, you could use a wide-angle shot to capture the grandeur of the wedding and then take close up shots of people to showcase emotions.

5. Decide the costumes

Costumes define the appearance, nature, and behavior of a character, and hence, you need to finalize the costumes before you start shooting.

6. Try indoor shooting

Indoor shooting offers a lot more control over light, sound, and background when compared to outdoor shooting. With indoor shooting, you won’t be bothered by external factors such as humidity or rain and also will be able to capture multiple shots in a single location, by merely changing backgrounds.

7. Be careful while choosing the locations, also avoid overshooting.

Opt for locations that are relatively less crowded and also match your film theme. Also, ensure that you are not overshooting.

New filmmakers often make this mistake of capturing a scene from all angles possible, which is nothing but a futile exercise. A minute of final video takes hours to film. Hence you need to be smart and pre-plan your shots before you shoot.

8. Use the tripod creatively and use sand for stabilization.

Learn how to acquire the maximum stability and get creative with your tripod. A bag of rocks and sands is the best way to keep your tripod steady during the windy climate.

9. Utilize the space and try shooting in simple backgrounds.

Use the over-the-shoulder shot while shooting in a small environment. Black and simple backgrounds will help you to edit easily in post-production.

10. Even Simple Equipment Can Do

You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars over a camera or a filmmaking device. People have shot films through their Handycam and delivered best in class experience to the audience. All you need is some knowledge about locations and shot placement, and this, combined with editing skills, can make you a great filmmaker.

While this list is in no manner the complete list of tips and there are other challenges in filmmaking you need to be prepared for. However, these are the most common things a filmmaker needs to be aware of. Do let us know in the comment section below if you think there are other things to keep in mind before shooting a film.