PAUL’S TIPS FOR CHALLENGERS

Well, look, you may have a pretty good idea. You may even semi-know what you’re doing…But if you miss any of the following during production, the results could be unintentionally dull and the experience unnecessarily painful.

Step 1
Test all of your equipment.
You want to see this film and so does everyone else. Does your recording device record pictures and sounds? Are they the pictures and sounds you want? Find out! Does your editing software work? Do you or your designated editor know how to make it work? Can you get your movie out of the camera, through the editing process and onto a USB stick? Will it play in someone else’s machine? Find out! Sure it will be exciting to leave it as a surprise for everyone on Sunday but, you know, there are two kinds of surprises…

Step 2
Plan and make a production schedule.
It’s not as important as step one, no, but still pretty useful. How long will everything take? Can things happen at the same time? Who is going to do what? Where is that going to happen? Will someone be required to operate heavy machinery? Won’t they need some sleep? Will your team be more inclined to work together if they get something to eat? How long will it take to generate a file? Wouldn’t you rather find this stuff out now and be able to leave enough time for that to happen and for it to be delivered? And so on. Really, you want to be using these 48 hours to be making creative decisions, waiting for the right light, solving plot holes, hiding continuity errors and placating divas. Perhaps. Anyway.

Step 3
Make sure you have enough memory/disk space/tape to record on.
You may want to organise this well in advance. Safeguard against a sudden and unexpected demand for the very medium you want to use, particularly if you’re a Tasmanian-based Challenger.

So that’s about it, really. We’ll email you with any further information you might require and, again, you can ask any questions in the Facebook group.

But a final note for those who have never made a film before, or if it’s just been a really long while….Welcome! This is a great way to get real experience.

Remember….

• Everything in film production is likely to take twice as long as you think. Maybe four times as long. Plan wide and plan for a sudden, unexpected ending. Your film is only allowed to be five minutes long or less.
• People sometimes start acting weird when they get this close to the glamour of filmmaking. This can’t be helped and may not be avoided. These people may still do amazing work.
• More about people. First-time actors get bored when they’re not acting. This happens when other things are being shot or you’re working stuff out. Keeping them in sight may save you spending more time tracking them down and getting them to return. Provide a variety of food (with consideration for dietary requirements) or get it delivered. Providing immediate access to various human comforts (toilet, shower, somewhere to nap) will assist and make you well-liked. Suggest that your actors bring something (that doesn’t make noise) to entertain themselves with during these inevitable breaks in the action. Filming the scenes from the most populous through to the least populous can help with people wrangling.
• Everything can go wrong, including stuff you thought was solid and sometimes stuff you didn’t even know you were relying on and can’t replace. That’s okay. Be devious. Make drastic changes. Keep moving. Actually, a little time out can really help with most everything, except for the proximity of that deadline. Plan! Extra time means you can take these breaks but this time will not return.
• Even a grotesque and laughable mess can have its sublime moments, which may not be immediately obvious to the filmmaker. Please don’t deprive the world of your film if you’re not happy with your work. This particular audience will understand (they will still laugh) and you’ll have a funny story to tell. You will also be a better filmmaker next time. And the festival won’t put your film up online unless you agree to that, so there’s no need to fear global humiliation.
• A practice run on something simple is a spectacularly brilliant idea! Really! Do it! From camera to stick. Go!
• Finally, it’s not the end of the world. It’s only 30 bucks. Dignity be damned. Finish the film and bring it in. Totally.

Good luck!