Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

Do you really want to be a director if you're leaving dealing with the actors to someone else while you select the shots?

There are lots of cases of theatre directors who successfully make a first feature film because they know how to direct actors, while the shots are mostly worked out by the DP. It doesn't usually work the other way round and if could be the cause of conflict and given your questions, I suspect may risk being pushed off directing your own film and effectively becoming the writer/producer.

Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

Oh okay, I just felt it could be worked out the way around, since theater directors do it that way sometimes.

I feel that since I want to get into directing though, that I might as well direct it though. I feel that my ideas to make things easier are always thought of as bad ideas though. Like I suggest co-directing, so someone else can take a load off, and others say it's not a good idea. But what I am suppose to do then, if the best option is to be full on director deciding everything without any input from anyone?

Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

You don't seem to understand the director's role, they will be getting "suggestions" and "advice" from various people. It's their job to select, steal, adapt, ignore or otherwise the crew and cast inputs. as required. to create their vision of the story.

A director has to make decisions.

Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

Okay but I made decisions on my previous shorts, so I am capable of doing that, aren't I?

Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

You should've finished with a full stop before "aren't I?"

Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

Only you know Ryan, but your responses in every thread are the same - you have a problem, and use the phrase, "I've been told" and often they told you complete rubbish. You then try to second guess everything. You say, "so what you're saying is..." and we say no, we're not saying that. we point things out and instead of discussing them you say, thank you - then move on and we're always concerned you misunderstood, or didn't get it. We try to help, and spend considerable time doing this - but when we point out something wrong, you frequently say the actor wouldn't;t do it, or yes, it's bad, but you had to rewrite in a hurry, and you make excuses to justify the errors. This is really bad for a film maker with keenness but no understanding of people, or proper planning. You see a problem and capitulate. Months ago, we tried to help with your mic booming. Be honest, how many times have you gone out with a recorder and boom and your headphones and practiced improving your skills? Your aspect ratio question, millions of pages back - have you actually been out to some of your locations and shot the same scene in the ones you are considering? Have you viewed them and decided which is a possible and which is out? On the location front - is you feature location ready? You chose the most bizarre second best location for the one we watched, could anywhere have been worse? Surely there was a plan, with a plan B location, or even a plan C?

You don't seem to learn - which is such a shame as you are so keen. You don't check. You don't review, you are reactive, not proactive. Why did your location fail on shooting day? We have zillions of questions, but you rarely have answers. I know it must feel like we're negative, but proper planning of the smallest details is what makes a good movie - the tiny details.

Please tell us you have decent actors. They're the key to success. If you had to give them an A to E grade, using a professional movie actor as the best with the A, where do they come. Let's use the Hanibal Lecter character as the A. Forget Anthony Hopkins - the Lecter character. Real acting, Hopkins IS Lecter. The girl ij your example. Her acting is dire. She has no characterisation at all. We see the actress playing herself. Anthony Hopkins is acting, She's reciting lines and standing unnaturally, and while she could be worse, on my scale A-E, she's probably a D. How many D people are on your call sheet?

We started with aspect ratio - and the answer from the hundreds of posts is simple - the filmmaker picks the most appropriate aspect ratio. We then opened up to all sorts, and in a way, what we're doing is talking about movie 'quality', and amateur film making, where the end product is the Holy Grail, but the slope up to it steep, and full of pot holes.

Do you see this?

Please do not reply starting "Oh OK" because this tells us you dismissed it all again, and didn't learn anything

Low budget does not mean low production standards. You have lofty goals, but a team who have none of your enthusiasm, or interest. Dealing with actors isn't hard. They're babies, and have needs. The need to be appreciated. The need to be mollycoddled. The need to feel good, and the need to feel superior because their personalities are fragile. The actor manager needs to understand all this, and mop the brows, make the tea, make subtle suggestions and be very, very clever to get your own way - making them feel they did it, when it was you.

They are often children. I've had to have a conversation with a distressed female about what to do with a suppository - doctor gave it to them, but they didn't know it wasn't to be swallowed. I've had one walk into the rehearsal, sit on the chair, miss it and dislocate their shoulder, and deal with that. I've had fits (medical ones and temper ones), I've had domestics to sort, I've been up till 2am reading in so they could learn lines, I've had to advise on skirt lengths and point out things they cannot do.

You are too young I think to know how to deal with all this rubbish - but you need to start learning.

Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

Okay well what if I decided to make a movie using none of the advice other filmmakers told me and not using any inspirations from other movies, and just try to do something completely original in terms of how it's shot, lit, etc, and I would be doing it to try to serve the story best, rather than going by any previous examples or filmmaking formulas that may have worked for other movies, but not mine.

Would that be better?

As for locations I was not able to find a B or C. I only had two weeks for to make that film for pre-production and production, since it was a film school assignment that was do in two weeks, and no other locations were available in that time, when the first one got scrapped. But for the feature I will have a lot more pre-production time, if that helps. I will also have a lot more time to look for better actors if that helps to.

I also don't meant to imply that I say thanks and move onto something else, without discussing it further, it's just that I've been told on here that I discuss things too much, and repeat myself, so I was trying to not to do that, if that's the case...

Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

It's better that you make it according to your personal vision, because it's your film and you're paying for it.

I would read more on producing a feature film, because most film schools are poor in that regard, there's a mass of paperwork that's required if you plan to sell it.

It's not a matter of if it helps, it's more about what needs to be done.

Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

Okay then, thanks, I wanted to hire a co-producer, or a executive producer to help with that, if that's the best thing to do as well.

But I think if I can get a really good DP, sound and crew, and really good actors involved that will help determine if it's worth making as well.

Oh and as for if I have tested out some of the things I talk about, I do do a lot of sound recording in the field on other people's projects, and have one coming up.

I also tried playing with aspect ratios in similar locations, but I feel I need to do actual scenes with actors and blocking, in order to really know, rather than just doing it on my own, it seems.

Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

I've been looking for a location for a project for nearly a year. I've been to dozens. I've spent hours on google earth and so far, nothing is working. I thought I'd found the ideal spot over the weekend, but the visit proved it useless - even in a light breeze, too much noise to get clean audio.

Forgive me but is a cop out. Your solution was not serving the product well at all. I really cannot believe there was nothing better.

Totally mystified by the notion you need actors to assess aspect ratio. Actors are predictable shapes - if you really cannot imagine a scene with them in it, to make these decisions, maybe this is not the industry for you to work in. It's a feeble excuse Ryan. You've got a topic with hundreds of posts, yet you can't imagine people in a video frame?

I have no idea what you think a co-producer is, or an executive producer - because in my head, one finds you money and the other is in overall charge, which means you are not!

Can you afford the kinds of day rate really good DP and crew will cost, or will you end up with volunteers/

Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

Yeah I wanted to pay them acceptable rates for sure.

What if an actor is only available for a certain time period though, before they had to do other parts that would require them to change their appearance though? How long are actors expected to wait for a location to be found though?

For example one actor I worked with had to be in a different city in a few weeks, for another gig, so I had to get everything shot by then, so isn't it normal to send an end date goal for everyone?

Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

I would buy a book on production management and do a lot of reading about producing a film, because it sounds like you haven't got a clue. A forum isn't the place for learning this type of stuff and people can't spend time going into details because you can't be bothered to research what you're doing.

Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

I can do that but why can't I also hire producers and production managers to assist with that though?

Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

The actors employed by us have appearance as part of their contract. If they have a beard at audition, then if offered the contract, they need permission to shave it off. If the contract is longer, then they may need to remain clean shaven. If you want Johnny Depp, you might need to shoot around his schedule. If you advertise for jobbing actors who get paid, they work around you.

Ryan - you're revealing more and more that you're not ready for this. Please - as it's your hard earned money funding this, make some decisions.

Produce a proper budget proposal detailing everything. prepare contracts, audition people and tell them if they cannot commit to these dates, then thanks for coming and goodbye.

If you book amateur actors and promise them money - then they need to do the job, but equally you need to then honour your side.

I do production management and I would NOT work for you because I would need you to understand my job role and all it entails and you have no clue - none at all! Directors rarely hire producers, producers hire directors.

What do you think these people will be doing? I'm serious - what would the producer actually do?

Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

Oh well in the past I found it was better to get things done by a certain end date, rather than have it ongoing because one time I couldn't even finish a short because the location kept changing so much. So I thought it would better to finish things in a not so long amount of time, before someone becomes unavailable or a location becomes unavailable. That is how I make decisions unless that's the wrong way of going about it.

Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

You need to know their roles, especially in the very low budget production you're doing. You don't have the budget to hire people, so you'll have to either do the job yourself or oversee inexperienced people attempting to do the job.

It's pretty obvious that you'll be heading towards failure unless you change your approach, because at the moment you appear dangerously naive, assuming you're seriously proposing to direct a feature film.

Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

I feel that way too sometimes...

I am doing some jobs myself to save money such as being my own editor and recording all the post production audio, so far.

Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

I feel like you want to make a film so badly that youre not truly thinking of the almost infinite ways it could go wrong. Perhaps telling yourself “somehow itll work out.” I would say a better thought process is quite the opposite. You should be scared, terrified of all the problems you could run into (actor issues, location issues, script problems, etc.), and thinking “how could this possibly go right?”. Think of it like a leaky boat; every potential failure point is a hole with water pouring in. Start listing and finding solid solutions to all of those holes. When youve got a plan (a good one) for every one of those issues, and probably a backup plan, and perhaps a secondary backup plan, then, maybe youre ready.

The others are right about reading up and taking classes etc. Look at it this way...youve been asking questions for 6-9 months now. Surely in that time you could have read several low budget filmmaking books (sorry I dont have specific recommendations) that cost probably less than $40 each. A class in acting maybe costs a few hundred? So for, say, $80- $400 you could potentially save yourself from blowing $20000. Wouldnt that be worth it?

Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

I am terrified but I don't know what else to do cause I do not have any more money to make more short films and even if I did, people would still tell me later not to make it.

I took a film school course, and acting classes, and read some books so far, but don't know what else I can do at this point but just go out and make it.

Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

Brian and I are trying to get you to focus on the important things, but I fear we're not getting through.

Ryan -
why do you want to make a movie?
What will the benefit to you actually be?
What will the people in it see for their work?
Do you have the skills?

To be honest, the last one is a concern. From what you have told us, you are inexperienced at everything.

If you filled in a form, and it asked what you are most experienced and competent at - what would it be. Sound, Directing, Managing, Editing - you don't seem to understand the basics at all. I know you are really keen, but you've not shown so far any areas where you could excel?

You've made some really odd decisions and you've not been able to analyse and draw conclusions. It's always other people's faults.

Have you made a short you are proud of? One that has a story, got completed properly and people really like? or are you going to spend your money on the hope that the much more complex product will buck the trend and be amazing.

What have you decided to answer this topic. What aspect ratio is the project going to be in? By now, that's fixed I would assume.

Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

I want to make a movie because it's the career I want to get into, and I feel it's time I took the plunge and accomplished the career goal I set for myself finally. Hopefully it will be a success. If not distribution perhaps people will like it enough to hire me for other jobs.

As for what the people in it will see for their work, well the actors will have had a payed job, that they can show off after hopefully, as well as the crew.

I think I have skills, as I have worked under other filmmakers mostly doing editing and sound, with the occasional acting part, but they keep asking me so I thought I must have something. I feel I have skills as a director, and want to improve on them.

Do I say it's always other people's faults though? I asked what I could do before to help direct the actors better. I blamed a location for not being available at the last minute, but do I say it's other people's faults?

The last short film I made I am proud of and it has most people liking it so far who see it. I wasn't overall proud of the others though.

Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

If you wish to improve your skills as a director, you don't need to make a feature film, making say a half hour drama would do that. it's still a short but you can sell it as a one of TV drama. It has the advantage that many of the longer form aspects come into play, plus your budget isn't so strained that you can't afford good actors.

Locations not being available at the last minute is an issue that directors can face, the real world intervenes all the time on film productions and you have to think on your feet. You can't use it as an excuse because the audience won't know this, they only see what's on the screen, so you adapt to the new location and make full use of it. If you've got a good script it will hold up, the shots may change, but that doesn't matter as long as you've got the performance from the actors and the new location doesn't run totally against the world in the story.

Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

Well the reason why I feel I would do a lot better on the feature is because I have a lot more money to spend on it. I was told by others that I need to get better actors and better crew, and then the quality would go way up. And the money would more likely acquire those assets and the money would more likely have location owners more interested I think.

There is a group of filmmakers I helped on a feature and it was much better than their last feature. But they also had almost 100K more to make with it, so they could afford a lot better talent compared to the last one, which was made for extremely dirty cheap.

So I feel that having the talent would make for a better product. Isn't there truth to that at all?

Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

20k isn't a lot of money for a feature film, it'll just about cover the food, transport, the insurance, hiring some equipment, cheap locations and paying some actors at minimum rates for a couple of weeks at the most. The crew will be working for free, so this is a dirt cheap feature film. It's not a quality going way up budget, if it was a short film it would be, but not a feature film.

I know a first time director who made a horror film for roughly that type of budget about 15 years ago (But I suspect it was higher by the time it was all finished), but he had experienced production people as his friends working for free and a free crew who did it as a what the hell, this is crazy enough to do during a dead part of the year. He also had name actors, who were working on another film for the producer (he was making a funded feature film, but not a big budget production, back to back) and had a lot of down time, so their fees were covered by the other film. The schedule was based on their availability and this changed by the hour, fortunately it was mostly shot on one location.

All this required the director to get things done through the force of his will and personality, something you don't seem to be demonstrating. He was also very, very lucky and grabbed an opportunity when it came his way and the experienced production people kept him from crashing. Which would've been very likely if left to his own thoughts on doing things.

Has he made more feature films? No, but be still does fine art video installations and paintings (he's an artist), which what he did before..

It's worth noting that these productions tend to run out of steam after a week to ten days of continuous filming, the logistics and availability tends to run out at that point.

Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

Okay thanks, but I was told to use 20k in case it didn't turn out well, that way, I won't be spending a much bigger amount.

But the features I have worked under for other people, a couple of them were shot for even less than that. The producer was of those features, was interested in my script, and so I thought if I could get him on board, maybe he would know how to help coordinate the money wisely, since he has done it on his own projects for less.

Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

You can do a film for less, but you're got little control over events and don't expect a large leap from what you're doing, unless you know some good actors willing to work for free.

Sounds like that producer is more a production manager, since a producers main job is to get the all the required funding in place and if it's less than 20k, they haven't really done that.On a feature film with a producer that feels more like the development budget.

Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

Oh okay, he's his own producer, director, production manager, and wore all those hats on his features, so he would be coming on board with mine as a PA more so, since he's interested he said.

Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

Sounds like he'll be more than a PA, a production manager sounds closer to the job description.

Re: How does a filmmaker decide which aspect ratio to shoot in?
 

Oh yes sorry I meant production manager.