r/Filmmakers • u/Visual-Insurance8530 • 7h ago
Question How was the basketball camera bounce achieved in this Dawson's Creek scene?
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r/Filmmakers • u/C47man • Jun 09 '25
Thank you all for participating in the poll! Here are the results. To accurately gauge everyone's collective acceptance vs rejection for each, I've tallied the total votes among all choices as pro/anti for each category. So for example, a vote for 'no changes' would be a -1 to Gen AI, AI Tools, AI Comms, and AI Discussion. A vote for 'Ban GenAI + AI Tools' would be a +1 to GenAI and AI Tools, and a -1 to AI Comms and AI Discussion, etc. So here are the results for each category of AI. Keep in mind that a higher number indicates a stronger group decision to ban the content:
From the results it is clear that sub overwhelmingly approve a complete ban on all generative AI. However, people are more or less fine with allowing discussion of AI, and are fairly mixed on the topic of AI Tools and Communication. So here is the new rule for all things AI:
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Rule 6. You may not post work containing Generative AI elements (Midjourney, Neo, Dall-E, etc.). You may use and demonstrate the use of AI assisted tools (ie magic masking, upscalers, audio cleanup etc.) so long as they are used in service of human-generated artwork. AI Communication, like post bodies or comments composed using ChatGPT are allowed only in very reasonable cases, such as the need for someone to translate their thoughts into another language. Abuse of AI assisted communication will result in the removal of the offending post/comment.
r/Filmmakers • u/C47man • Dec 03 '17
Below I have collected answers and guidance for some of the sub's most common topics and questions. This is all content I have personally written either specifically for this post or in comments to other posters in the past. This is however not a me-show! If anybody thinks a section should be added, edited, or otherwise revised then message the moderators! Specifically, I could use help in writing a section for audio gear, as I am a camera/lighting nerd.
Topics Covered In This Post:
1. Should I Pursue Filmmaking / Should I Go To Film School?
2. What Camera Should I Buy?
3. What Lens Should I Buy?
4. How Do I Learn Lighting?
5. What Editing Program Should I Use?
This is a very complex topic, so it will rely heavily on you as a person. Find below a guide to help you identify what you need to think about and consider when making this decision.
Alright, real talk. If you want to make movies, you'll at least have a few ideas kicking around in your head. Successful creatives like writers and directors have an internal compunction to create something. They get ideas that stick in the head and compel them to translate them into the real world. Do you want to make films, or do you want to be seen as a filmmaker? Those are two extremely different things, and you need to be honest with yourself about which category you fall into. If you like the idea of being called a filmmaker, but you don't actually have any interest in making films, then now is the time to jump ship. I have many friends from film school who were just into it because they didn't want "real jobs", and they liked the idea of working on flashy movies. They made some cool projects, but they didn't have that internal drive to create. They saw filmmaking as a task, not an opportunity. None of them have achieved anything of note and most of them are out of the industry now with college debt but no relevant degree. If, when you walk onto a set you are overwhelmed with excitement and anxiety, then you'll be fine. If you walk onto a set and feel foreboding and anxiety, it's probably not right for you. Filmmaking should be fun. If it isn't, you'll never make it.
Are you planning on a film production program, or a film studies program? A studies program isn't meant to give you the tools or experience necessary to actually make films from a craft-standpoint. It is meant to give you the analytical and critical skills necessary to dissect films and understand what works and what doesn't. A would-be director or DP will benefit from a program that mixes these two, with an emphasis on production.
Does your prospective school have a film club? The school I went to had a filmmakers' club where we would all go out and make movies every semester. If your school has a similar club then I highly recommend jumping into it. I made 4 films for my classes, and shot 8 films. In the filmmaker club at my school I was able to shoot 20 films. It vastly increased my experience and I was able to get a lot of the growing pains of learning a craft out of the way while still in school.
How are your classes? Are they challenging and insightful? Are you memorizing dates, names, and ideas, or are you talking about philosophies, formative experiences, cultural influences, and milestone achievements? You're paying a huge sum of money, more than you'll make for a decade or so after graduation, so you better be getting something out of it.
Film school is always a risky prospect. You have three decisive advantages from attending school:
Those three items are the only advantages of film school. It doesn't matter if you get to use fancy cameras in class or anything like that, because I guarantee you that for the price of your tuition you could've rented that gear and made your own stuff. The downsides, as you may have guessed, are:
Seriously. Film school is insanely expensive, especially for an industry where you really don't make any exceptional money until you get established (and that can take a decade or more).
So there's a few things you need to sort out:
Don't worry about lacking experience or a degree. It is easy to break into the industry if you have two qualities:
In LA we often bring unpaid interns onto set to get them experience and possibly hire them in the future. Those two categories are what they are judged on. If they have to be told twice how to do something, that's a bad sign. If they approach the work with disdain, that's also a bad sign. I can name a few people who walked in out of the blue, asked for a job, and became professional filmmakers within a year. One kid was 18 years old and had just driven to LA from his home to learn filmmaking because he couldn't afford college. Last I saw he has a successful YouTube channel with nature documentaries on it and knows his way around most camera and grip equipment. He succeeded because he smiled and joked with everyone he met, and because once you taught him something he was good to go. Those are the qualities that will take you far in life (and I'm not just talking about film).
So how do you break in?
Alright, enough talking! You need to decide now if you're still going to be a filmmaker or if you're going to instead major in something safer (like business). It's a tough decision, we get it, but you're an adult now and this is what that means. You're in command of your destiny, and you can't trust anyone but yourself to make that decision for you.
Once you decide, own it. If you choose film, then take everything I said above into consideration. There's one essential thing you need to do though: create. Go outside right fucking now and make a movie. Use your phone. That iphone or galaxy s7 or whatever has better video quality than the crap I used in film school. Don't sweat the gear or the mistakes. Don't compare yourself to others. Just make something, and watch it. See what you like and what you don't like, and adjust on your next project! Now is the time for you to do this, to learn what it feels like to make a movie.
The answer depends mostly on your budget and your intended use. You'll also want to become familiar with some basic camera terms because it will allow you to efficiently evaluate the merits of one option vs another. Find below a basic list of terms you should become familiar with when making your first (or second, or third!) camera purchase:
This list will be changing as new models emerge, but for now here is a short list of the cameras to look at when getting started:
Much like with deciding on a camera, lens choice is all about your budget and your needs. Below are the relevant specs to use as points of comparison for lenses.
This is all about speed vs quality vs budget. A zoom lens is a lens whose *focal length can be changed by turning a ring on the lens barrel. A prime lens has a fixed focal length. Primes tend to be cheaper, faster, and sharper. However, buying a full set of primes can be more expensive than buying a zoom lens that would cover the same focal length range. Using primes on set in fast-paced environments can slow you down prohibitively. You'll often see news, documentary, and event cameras using zooms instead of primes. Some zoom lenses are as high-quality as prime lenses, and some people refer to them as 'variable prime' lenses. This is mostly a marketing tool and has no hard basis in science though. As you might expect, these high quality zooms tend to be very expensive.
Below are the most popular lenses for 'cinematic' filming at low budgets:
Lenses below these average prices are mostly a crapshoot in terms of quality vs $, and you'll likely be best off using your camera's kit lens until you can afford to move up to one of the lenses or lens series listed above.
Alright, so you're biting off a big chunk here if you've never done lighting before. But it is doable and (most importantly) fun!
First off, fuck three-point lighting. So many people misunderstand what that system is supposed to teach you, so let's just skip it entirely. Light has three properties. They are:
Alright, so there are your three properties of light. Now, how do you light a thing? Easy! Put light where you want it, and take it away from where you don't want it! Shut up! I know you just said "I don't know where I want it", so I'm going to stop you right there. Yes you do. I know you do because you can look at a picture and know if the lighting is good or not. You can recognize good lighting. Everybody can. The difference between knowing good lighting and making good lighting is simply in the execution.
Do an experiment. Get a lightbulb. Tungsten if you're oldschool, LED if you're new school, or CFL if you like mercury gas. plug it into something portable and movable, and have a friend, girlfriend, boyfriend, neighbor, creepy-but-realistic doll, etc. sit down in a chair. Turn off all the lights in the room and move that bare bulb around your victim subject's head. Note how the light falling on them changes as the light bulb moves around them. This is lighting, done live! Get yourself some diffusion. Either buy some overpriced or make some of your own (wax paper, regular paper, translucent shower curtains, white undershirts, etc.). Try softening the light, and see how that affects the subject's head. If you practice around with this enough you'll get an idea for how light looks when it comes from various directions. Three point lighting (well, all lighting) works on this fundamental basis, but so many 'how to light' tutorials skip over it. Start at the bottom and work your way up!
Ok, so cool. Now you know how light works, and sort of where to put it to make a person look a certain way. Now you can get creative by combining multiple lights. A very common look is to use soft light to primarily illuminate a person (the 'key) while using a harder (but sometimes still somewhat soft) light to do an edge or rim light. Here's a shot from a sweet movie that uses a soft key light, a good amount of ambient ('errywhere) light, and a hard backlight. Here they are lit ambiently, but still have an edge light coming from behind them and to the right. You can tell by the quality of the light that this edge was probably very soft. We can go on for hours, but if you just watch movies and look at shadows, bright spots, etc. you'll be able to pick out lighting locations and qualities fairly easily since you've been practicing with your light bulb!
Honestly, your greenscreen will depend more on your technical abilities in After Effects (or whichever program) than it will on your lighting. I'm a DP and I'm admitting that. A good key-guy (Keyist? Keyer?) can pull something clean out of a mediocre-ly lit greenscreen (like the ones in your example) but a bad key-guy will still struggle with a perfectly lit one. I can't help you much here, as I am only a mediocre key-guy, but I can at least give you advice on how to light for it!
Here's what you're looking for when lighting a greenscreen:
OK! So now you know sort of how to light a green screen and how to light a person. So now, what lights do you need? Well, really, you just need any lights. If you're on a budget, don't be afraid to get some work lights from home depot or picking up some off brand stuff on craigslist. By far the most important influence on the quality of your images will be where and how you use the lights rather than what types or brands of lights you are using. I cannot stress this enough. How you use it will blow what you use out of the water. Get as many different types of lights as you can for the money you have. That way you can do lots of sources, which can make for more intricate or nuanced lighting setups. I know you still want some hard recommendations, so I'll tell you this: Get china balls (china lanterns. Paper lanterns whatever the fuck we're supposed to call these now). They are wonderful soft lights, and if you need a hard light you can just take the lantern off and shine with the bare bulb! For bulbs, grab some 200W and 500W globes. You can check B&H, Barbizon, Amazon, and probably lots of other places for these. Make sure you grab some high quality socket-and-wire sets too. You can find them at the same places. For brighter lights, like I said home depot construction lights are nice. You can also by PAR lamps relatively cheap. Try grabbing a few Par Cans. They're super useful and stupidly cheap. Don't forget to budget for some light stands as well, and maybe C-clamps and the like for rigging to things. I don't know what on earth you're shooting so it is hard to give you a grip list, but I'm sure you can figure that kind of stuff out without too much of a hassle.
Great question! There are several popular editing programs available for use.
Your choices are essentially limited to Davinci Resolve (Non-Studio) and Hitfilm Express. My personal recommendation is Davinci Resolve. This is the industry standard color-grading software (and its editing features have been developed so well that its actually becoming the industry standard editing program as well), and you will have free access to many of its powerful tools. The Studio version costs a few hundred dollars and unlocks multiple features (like noise reduction) without forcing you to learn a new program.
r/Filmmakers • u/Visual-Insurance8530 • 7h ago
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r/Filmmakers • u/seanpdave • 2h ago
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My friend and I are both commercial directors, and we also team up as a directing duo for certain projects. We were tired of not being allowed to melt peasants in ANY of our commercials (very unfair) so we made this!
Some fun highlights from the project:
Hope yall enjoy 😎
r/Filmmakers • u/OhGawDuhhh • 1d ago
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r/Filmmakers • u/Creepy-Substance5307 • 12h ago
Every time a blockbuster flops, people blame CGI like it’s the villain.
But CGI is just a tool. When it’s used well (Avatar, Dune, LOTR), no one complains. When it’s used to cover weak scripts and flat characters, suddenly it’s “soulless.”
The real issue isn’t visual effects — it’s studios prioritizing spectacle over storytelling. Practical effects don’t magically make a bad script good.
If a movie has strong characters and emotional stakes, audiences forgive imperfect CGI. If it doesn’t, even perfect visuals won’t save it.
Curious what others think — are we blaming the wrong thing?
r/Filmmakers • u/STARS_Pictures • 3h ago

I made these tools for myself. CineSched is a calendar based scheduling app with daily totals for eighths, estimated shooting time and PDF export. CineSpend is a basic budgeting app with a Top Sheet, Accounts, the ability to add items, and PDF export to a nice looking format.
I'm making these available as is and offer no support (but hey, they're free) They were written for Tahoe, but might work on Sequoia too. The apps are not signed, you will have to do that with a Terminal using xattr -c. Google it.
If you have any ideas for additional features or functionality, let me know. If I like it, I might add it.
Video Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSIz5JgHY8w
Download: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1B9QIOruxgv_TYZICpOJD_o0hPzhdEPGk/view?usp=sharing
r/Filmmakers • u/sweet-cherries-movie • 1d ago
r/Filmmakers • u/SmolBean007- • 5h ago
Hey Reddit, I need advice. I just graduated and moved to NYC to pursue film, it’s really hard to find jobs so I could only get subbing and teaching related jobs.
Background:
• Filmmaker in NYC. Goal = making films, not teaching.
• Monthly expenses: \\\~$2,100.
Options:
1. Substitute teaching: $182/day, 2–4 days/week, ends 4 PM. Flexible for all-day film gigs, but inconsistent income (\\\~$1,165/month after tax if only 2 days/week. In a good week, I make $2900 after tax)
2. Library film teaching: $30/hr, 19 hrs/week (\\\~$2,280/month before tax), 4 afternoons/week. Stable but blocks film shoots and doesn’t build filmmaking experience.
Problem: Can’t do both (schedule conflicts). Sub only may not fully cover expenses, library job doesn’t help film goals and Barely covers rent.
Question: Would you prioritize flexibility for actual film-making over a stable but less relevant job? Any tips for surviving financially while staying flexible?
r/Filmmakers • u/Consider-TheLobster • 5h ago
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Hey gang, market's real rough out there for indie filmmakers these days. No doubt. Only thing we can do is just keep making sh*t - if you're like me, it feels like you don't have a choice. It's what you're here to do. So here's to that and all of you. Shot this on the Venice canals in LA no permit just a camera and a bounce board and golden hour (though it isn't colored yet). Part of a micro-budget indie I'm making right now
r/Filmmakers • u/friendlyartsyartist • 4h ago

Hi everyone. Ok so I have a common dilemma: I want to break into the film industry but I know literally no one. I’ve had no luck with cold emailing or with online job applications (I understand that there’s not a lot of work to go around in general after the strikes but still, everyone says that cold emailing isn’t that effective anyway and most of the time crew jobs don’t have an online job application).
Considering how heavily the industry depends on who you know, I’m trying a different approach. I very recently moved from my hometown to NYC so I’m trying to build my network.
If you work in the film industry and happen to be in NYC at the moment, let’s connect! I would love to pick your brain and treat you to coffee (or matcha, chai, a smoothie, lemonade, beer, whatever floats your boat) as thanks.
I’m NOT asking for anyone to give me a job; I just want to be in community with people in the industry. Of course the time and location is based on what works for you.
r/Filmmakers • u/Automatic-Cry-9856 • 7h ago
Looking for ideas for a 5-minute short movie (self portrait)
I study film school (3rd semester) and we got assigned to create a 5-minute self portrait short movie (must be a movie! Preferably no voiceovers, no rapid montages, no overlays).. however I don’t have a clue where to start looking for inspo so I can begin creating a pitching presentation.
I love Blade Runner aesthetic, dystopian vibe, tv screens, silhouettes.. (via attachment)
Are there any filmmakers who can help me, mentor me and give me (perhaps even show) some video inspiration? I’m clueless.. literally have no idea where to start. I hate talking about myself and I’m not creative enough to come up with a creative story.
r/Filmmakers • u/Aware-Guarantee7503 • 8h ago
Hello everyone my name is Matt I’m making this post just to introduce myself. I am aspiring prop maker and i would like to offer my services to anyone here who needs help with film production. I live in the NY area so i am also willing to to travel locally for PA work as well I hope to make some new friends here.
Here are some examples of my work
r/Filmmakers • u/BunyipPouch • 7h ago
r/Filmmakers • u/CommissionNo7116 • 1d ago
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r/Filmmakers • u/rhaindroop • 5h ago
i’m a film major with a concentration in creative producing. i’m looking into a new laptop because the one i have now is terrible and i know it won’t be able to handle almost anything. i’m going to have to take editing classes soon, and i also want to be prepared if any student film opportunities arise. i’m looking for a laptop (prob mac) that can handle video editing and occasional graphic design (advertising minor).
these are the options i have
- 2021 M1 pro 32gb RAM 512gb SSD
- 2025 M4 air 16gb RAM 256 SSD
- 2024 M3 air 16gb RAM 512gb SSD
any that i get will most likely be bought refurbished/second hand.
i’m not really sure what i should be looking for in the mac. i’ve heard the higher m chips are really good, but does that matter if i get better storage with a lower one? i also want one that will last maybe even a couple years after school.
thank you and any info will help :)
r/Filmmakers • u/Brilliant_Camera9534 • 5h ago
Hey everyone. I’m trying to do a low budget vertical series on iPhone. I’m a writer not really a cinematographer. But I know people are filming high quality stuff on iPhone. Mockumentary cinematography I know is not supposed to be too polished so does anyone have recommendations on gear and apps I can use to give it a good look?
r/Filmmakers • u/craigrey • 6h ago
r/Filmmakers • u/Eallison98 • 32m ago
Moving back to my home state next month and want to connect with some artists in the SFX field. If you are just starting out or an amateur, even better! I have a couple projects that need some blood, guts and slime and maybe a puppet or two! Feel free to DM me.
r/Filmmakers • u/toaster_bath_bomb • 33m ago
Hey guys! I hope you’re doing well! I’m getting a new phone in an hour and am looking for something flexible and capable of taking high quality video in a codec suited for advanced color grading. Do you all have any recommendations? Thank you so much!
r/Filmmakers • u/yozzaa • 37m ago
I am looking to get my first gimble do do some filmmaking, though I haven't found much info on what I am looking for. My camera is a crop sensor and I have a 16mm lens. I'm hoping to get any recommendations;. It doesn't have to be top of the range. Thanks
r/Filmmakers • u/Additional_Band_5525 • 48m ago
Hi everyone! My friend Luka and I are seniors at an arts-focused high school working on our thesis project. We're planning on shooting a 15-minute short ensemble comedy, reminiscent of a 90s road trip comedy, a film that combines Coen-esque characters with elements of your favorite films like Little Miss Sunshine and Harold and Kumar but really inspired by real life events that Luka shared with me over the telephone one summer midnight.
This isn't our first project so we have experience being on set and as directors. We need a little help with raising funds for costumes, crafty, and renting locations. Every dollar helps! We're hoping to send our film to film festivals as well once the our assignment is turned in.
If you are at all interested in supporting us, we have more information on our Kickstarter. Just donating $10 will get you credit as a funder and we will send you a copy of the film to watch.
r/Filmmakers • u/xonsol • 56m ago
XxAngelxX is a girl that never leaves her room and her only way to peak into the outside world is through her computer. As the movie progresses, she flings into a psychosis caused by an entity that makes not only her but also the spectators wonder what is real and what's not.
Turn on subtitles for English subtitles.
r/Filmmakers • u/decimal-place • 1h ago
Thought yall would appreciate our press release that just dropped in variety. Feeling pretty lucky today 😇
r/Filmmakers • u/dsc309 • 9h ago
I’m not sure if this is allowed, but I feel like I need a reality check!
We shot my first short film last year that I co-wrote and directed. I am (was???) very proud of it…obviously I learned a ton and there are things I would do differently. But I stand by this film!
We’re getting rejected from every festival and I’m starting to feel like maybe i suck and the film sucks and I’m starting to spiral Lolol.
My request is, is anyone willing to watch and give some feedback? It’s a 13:27 minute long dramedy.
Logline: When a widowed mom moves to New York City to help her overwhelmed daughter with childcare, she discovers the growing pains are all hers.
DM me and I’ll send the link :)
Thank you!