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I had a wonderful experience volunteering for the TIFF March Break Camp. It was great to see that both camps, Film FUN-damentals (ages 8-10), and Marker/Creator Camps (ages 11-14), focused on more than just directing. Kids get the opportunity to learn about all aspects of filmmaking, including building props, special effects, and online media.
This past Tuesday, the Maker/Creator kids built their own speakers in the morning, and Steve Wintercroft Low-Poly animal masks in the afternoon. Afterwards, they took photos wearing their impressive creations, and uploaded them to their own TIFF March Break Blog. Every now and then, the younger campers from Film FUN-damentals would pop in, showing off their gory special effect scars that they painted on themselves! Everyone was having fun with their creations, and I was inspired to build one of those awesome masks myself!
I think it’s amazing that TIFF, like Toronto Youth Shorts, is giving kids the opportunity to experience the filmmaking world at a young age. Film is a medium that captures the creative interests of all ages, and the more hands-on experience you can get, the better! Hopefully these campers will be inspired by their week at TIFF, and will have their films screened at Toronto Youth Shorts in the future! The TIFF March Break Camps run until March 18th.
If any of you TYS filmmakers have younger siblings who want to follow in your footsteps, you should definitely encourage them to sign up for next year's TIFF March Break Camps.
-Julia
This past Tuesday, the Maker/Creator kids built their own speakers in the morning, and Steve Wintercroft Low-Poly animal masks in the afternoon. Afterwards, they took photos wearing their impressive creations, and uploaded them to their own TIFF March Break Blog. Every now and then, the younger campers from Film FUN-damentals would pop in, showing off their gory special effect scars that they painted on themselves! Everyone was having fun with their creations, and I was inspired to build one of those awesome masks myself!
I think it’s amazing that TIFF, like Toronto Youth Shorts, is giving kids the opportunity to experience the filmmaking world at a young age. Film is a medium that captures the creative interests of all ages, and the more hands-on experience you can get, the better! Hopefully these campers will be inspired by their week at TIFF, and will have their films screened at Toronto Youth Shorts in the future! The TIFF March Break Camps run until March 18th.
If any of you TYS filmmakers have younger siblings who want to follow in your footsteps, you should definitely encourage them to sign up for next year's TIFF March Break Camps.
-Julia
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About a month ago, I had the pleasure of experiencing virtual reality video during Murmurs, a Toronto arts event held at The Grand Hall. Among various media related art installations, guests had to opportunity to relax on a big beanbag chair and watch a short 360-degree music video. The piece itself followed a man through several locations in Toronto, starting in the exact room you were sitting in in The Great Hall. I had heard how incredible VR was, but I could never have imagined what I experienced. Having the ability to look in any direction and be surrounded by video makes you feel like you are literally inside the story. Knowing that you are sitting in a room but really feeling like you have been transported somewhere else is truly incredible and seems like such a far fetched concept- until now. After this experience, it occurred to me that this maybe the future for filmmaking. As VR technology matures, from video games to animation to music videos, this has become more and more possible.
Although I was extremely impressed and mesmerized by my experience, I feel conflicted with this being the future of filmmaking. Films by themselves should already be an immersive experience through the story, the characters, the setting etc. without the need to feel literally placed in the story. As VR emerges in the film scene, the whole act of movie watching will completely change. Audiences will no longer be able to passively enjoy a story as an outsider looking in, and rather consistently feel “involved” in the experience. I see the appeal for the art department as set design and set locations take on a 360-degree format, allowing audiences to see all parts of a setting rather than the usual specifically framed area. As a result of this, production costs are going to skyrocket, not only from the specialized equipment needed, but from the cost of having 360- degree friendly sets and spaces. Moving to post productions, editing VR footage for an entire film would require specialized software, not yet available. In addition to this, I wonder how you can edit 360-degree video clips on a two-dimensional screen.
Immersive media experiences are the goal for many in the media industry, however film is a very old art that may struggle to fully embrace this level of immersion. In saying this, VR technology has a long way to come before it can be used for feature filmmaking. Only time will tell if this trend in technology will be picked up in the film industry- until then, we wait.
-Gabby
Although I was extremely impressed and mesmerized by my experience, I feel conflicted with this being the future of filmmaking. Films by themselves should already be an immersive experience through the story, the characters, the setting etc. without the need to feel literally placed in the story. As VR emerges in the film scene, the whole act of movie watching will completely change. Audiences will no longer be able to passively enjoy a story as an outsider looking in, and rather consistently feel “involved” in the experience. I see the appeal for the art department as set design and set locations take on a 360-degree format, allowing audiences to see all parts of a setting rather than the usual specifically framed area. As a result of this, production costs are going to skyrocket, not only from the specialized equipment needed, but from the cost of having 360- degree friendly sets and spaces. Moving to post productions, editing VR footage for an entire film would require specialized software, not yet available. In addition to this, I wonder how you can edit 360-degree video clips on a two-dimensional screen.
Immersive media experiences are the goal for many in the media industry, however film is a very old art that may struggle to fully embrace this level of immersion. In saying this, VR technology has a long way to come before it can be used for feature filmmaking. Only time will tell if this trend in technology will be picked up in the film industry- until then, we wait.
-Gabby
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Last week, Hot Docs announced their Special Presentations programme, consisting of films that explore food, music, dance and both the comic and tragic sides of life.
Highlights include:
Thank You Del: The Story of the Del Close Marathon: A tribute to the comedy giant, Del Close, who inspired the Upright Citizens Brigade improv group and taught such comedy icons as Amy Poehler and Bill Murray.
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You: A profile of the man behind groundbreaking sitcoms, including All In the Family.
Weiner: The Sundance Award winner about the ex-congressman's surprise comeback campaign in the New York mayoralty race that crashes and burns amidst new sexting allegations.
Gary Numan: Android in La La Land: This film follows the 80s electro-pop pioneer as he emerges from depression to return to the stage.
Strike a Pose: Features the dancers from Madonna’s 1991 concert doc Truth or Dare who open up about becoming queer icons at a young age.
What Tomorrow Brings: Optimism and excitement imbue a remote Afghanistan village’s first school to accept female students—an all-girls institution founded by an inspiring local woman. As U.S. troops depart, the next generation of Afghans study their past and dream of their future.
The Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival runs April 28 to May 8, 2016. The full lineup will be announced on March 22.
-Michelle
Highlights include:
Thank You Del: The Story of the Del Close Marathon: A tribute to the comedy giant, Del Close, who inspired the Upright Citizens Brigade improv group and taught such comedy icons as Amy Poehler and Bill Murray.
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You: A profile of the man behind groundbreaking sitcoms, including All In the Family.
Weiner: The Sundance Award winner about the ex-congressman's surprise comeback campaign in the New York mayoralty race that crashes and burns amidst new sexting allegations.
Gary Numan: Android in La La Land: This film follows the 80s electro-pop pioneer as he emerges from depression to return to the stage.
Strike a Pose: Features the dancers from Madonna’s 1991 concert doc Truth or Dare who open up about becoming queer icons at a young age.
What Tomorrow Brings: Optimism and excitement imbue a remote Afghanistan village’s first school to accept female students—an all-girls institution founded by an inspiring local woman. As U.S. troops depart, the next generation of Afghans study their past and dream of their future.
The Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival runs April 28 to May 8, 2016. The full lineup will be announced on March 22.
-Michelle
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Maybe you dedicated this weekend to frantically binge-watching the new season of House of Cards on Netflix. Or maybe you spent the weekend avoiding Twitter for fear of having House of Cards spoiled. Or maybe you don’t care about House of Cards at all. But even if that’s the case, there has probably been a time where somebody ruined the ending of a movie or TV show that you were planning to watch. And it was probably pretty aggravating. But while spoilers are annoying, they’re also an unavoidable – and even more so now that social media gives people the platform to share their instant reaction to everything as it’s happening. The internet can sometimes seem like a spoiler minefield. However, I’d like to argue that spoilers actually aren’t such a big deal. And short films are a great example as to why.
While I personally think that it’s generally ideal to go into a movie know as little about it as possible, it doesn’t mean that knowing more (or even virtually everything) about a movie ruins the experience. Even the most plot-driven thrillers should have much more to offer than just a few main story points. That’s why good movies still hold up on a second viewing, even after you know how everything plays out. It’s also why movies based on famous real-life events like Apollo 13 or Zero Dark Thirty can still be exciting and worthwhile films, even though virtually every viewer goes into it knowing what will happen.
A lot of the pleasure of a good movie can come not from finding out what ultimately happens, but in the viewing experience you have getting to that point. Many short films illustrate this perfectly, since they work on a compacted timeline. Sometimes the plot synopsis of a short film tells you the bulk of what will happen in the film, but because of the format, no one would really claim that to be a “spoiler”. In a lot of cases, it’s more about the way the story is told – through sharp writing, evocative acting, dynamic cinematography, etc. – rather than the story itself.
So why is it any different in a feature-length film or a television series? Is it because we invest so much more time into watching six seasons of The Sopranos than we do into watching an 11-minute short film? Probably. And maybe that’s fair, since there is more room to develop storylines and ensure that the audience gets attached to the characters. But by focussing solely on the ultimate conclusion of a film or TV series, it seems to me like that actually undermines all of the craft that goes into making that final punch have the impact it does.
Someone could say that they don’t need to watch The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford because the title of the movie already tells them how it ends. But, as is obvious to anyone who has seen the movie, that’s not really what it’s about. And I think that’s the case with a lot of movies. To boil them down to who dies, who falls in love with who, and who turns out to secretly be the bad guy is to miss the point. No matter the format – a short film, a feature, or a series – we should take the piece as a whole. Not just cherry pick the flashy bits as the only parts that matter.
-Colleen
While I personally think that it’s generally ideal to go into a movie know as little about it as possible, it doesn’t mean that knowing more (or even virtually everything) about a movie ruins the experience. Even the most plot-driven thrillers should have much more to offer than just a few main story points. That’s why good movies still hold up on a second viewing, even after you know how everything plays out. It’s also why movies based on famous real-life events like Apollo 13 or Zero Dark Thirty can still be exciting and worthwhile films, even though virtually every viewer goes into it knowing what will happen.
A lot of the pleasure of a good movie can come not from finding out what ultimately happens, but in the viewing experience you have getting to that point. Many short films illustrate this perfectly, since they work on a compacted timeline. Sometimes the plot synopsis of a short film tells you the bulk of what will happen in the film, but because of the format, no one would really claim that to be a “spoiler”. In a lot of cases, it’s more about the way the story is told – through sharp writing, evocative acting, dynamic cinematography, etc. – rather than the story itself.
So why is it any different in a feature-length film or a television series? Is it because we invest so much more time into watching six seasons of The Sopranos than we do into watching an 11-minute short film? Probably. And maybe that’s fair, since there is more room to develop storylines and ensure that the audience gets attached to the characters. But by focussing solely on the ultimate conclusion of a film or TV series, it seems to me like that actually undermines all of the craft that goes into making that final punch have the impact it does.
Someone could say that they don’t need to watch The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford because the title of the movie already tells them how it ends. But, as is obvious to anyone who has seen the movie, that’s not really what it’s about. And I think that’s the case with a lot of movies. To boil them down to who dies, who falls in love with who, and who turns out to secretly be the bad guy is to miss the point. No matter the format – a short film, a feature, or a series – we should take the piece as a whole. Not just cherry pick the flashy bits as the only parts that matter.
-Colleen
- Published on
Conventional wisdom says that the nominees for the Academy Award for Best Picture skew toward a balance between critical acclaim and box office success. Among the 2016 nominees, the average Metacritic score was 84.25, and the average U.S. box office take was $98 million. Art house fans know that even the most lauded films need to reach a significant audience in order to make the cut -- Carol and 45 Years were this year's most glaring casualties -- but less commonly acknowledged is a corollary: that highly-praised, widely-seen films risk being excluded if they don't fit the Academy's image.
The table below includes the 8 Best Picture nominees (highlighted), the 5 highest-grossing films of the year, and the 5 best-rated. Because those categories overlap, the total number of films comes to 16. Mad Max: Fury Road and Spotlight, both nominees, were also among the year's top 5-rated films. Inside Out was among both the biggest money-makers and the most acclaimed, though it was not nominated.
The table below includes the 8 Best Picture nominees (highlighted), the 5 highest-grossing films of the year, and the 5 best-rated. Because those categories overlap, the total number of films comes to 16. Mad Max: Fury Road and Spotlight, both nominees, were also among the year's top 5-rated films. Inside Out was among both the biggest money-makers and the most acclaimed, though it was not nominated.
Among the films here not nominated for Best Picture, three stick out like sore thumbs: Inside Out, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Creed. Each received acclaim on par with the nominees, and each outperformed the nominees' box office average, but none gained the necessary traction within the Academy to receive a nomination. At this point, it's well-acknowledged that Pixar films, despite routinely running circles around the competition at the box office and with critics, are not considered Best Picture material by the Academy. And while it's also rare for a "genre" film -- which both Star Wars and Creed are, to different extents -- to receive nominations, Mad Max and The Martian would seem to indicate that that rule may be not be so rigid. Rather, in the year in which filmgoers recognized that #oscarssowhite, the most obvious thing Star Wars and Creed have in common is black protagonists.
Of course, any given year might be too small of a sample for us to draw conclusions about the Academy's biases. On the flip side, given that that they chose to only nominate eight films for ten available best picture slots, maybe it's not.
-Paul
Of course, any given year might be too small of a sample for us to draw conclusions about the Academy's biases. On the flip side, given that that they chose to only nominate eight films for ten available best picture slots, maybe it's not.
-Paul
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The Canadian Film Festival is back for their 2016 edition at the end of March and they will be screening 8 features and 17 shorts, all produced by Canadians. Their Opening Night film is How to Plan an Orgy in a Small Town, directed by Jeremy Lalonde and starring Jewel Staite of Firefly fame.
Everyone should come out and support the amazing Canadian talent on display. Amongst the short film lineup is Worst. Day. EVER. by Adam Goldhammer (dir. Jesse, TYS2015) Cody Campanale (dir. Roofies and Romance, TYS2011) will be hosting the Toronto Premiere of his latest feature, Jackie Boy.
For tickets and more details, visit http://www.canfilmfest.ca
-Henry
Everyone should come out and support the amazing Canadian talent on display. Amongst the short film lineup is Worst. Day. EVER. by Adam Goldhammer (dir. Jesse, TYS2015) Cody Campanale (dir. Roofies and Romance, TYS2011) will be hosting the Toronto Premiere of his latest feature, Jackie Boy.
For tickets and more details, visit http://www.canfilmfest.ca
-Henry
- Published on
Myself and fellow Toronto Youth Shorts girls, Michelle and Julia, were at the Lightbox to catch this animated feature that is tagged for Oscar gold. It is one of the best I've seen all year.
Boy and the World comes all the way from Brazil, and opens with dizzying, hypnotic patterns that undulate before our eyes. We sink in them to follow a small boy making his way in a strange, but familiar world that soon grows in scale and complexity.
Opting for the simplicity and universality of the cartoon, our protagonist is very simply drawn. A large rounded head, a couple of lines suggesting a body and limbs. His eyes, two vertical stripes. I do not get the feeling that this is a story about a very specific boy, but one that could easily be about any boy in the world. We start off in a lush garden but it isn't very long before the tone changes from a celebration of discovery to become a lament.
There is a boy and a train and a journey. It takes the boy far from home, to a new modern world where man cedes to machine. The colours are not as stark or bright here, but the complexity of the drawings grows until there are so many pieces and details in the world surrounding our character as to overwhelm him. The world is big and easy to get lost in. But it is here that we also find the most beautifully drawn scenes. Like a man who secretly weaves beautiful tapestries and makes music out of trash, and a beautiful phoenix given life by the colourful song of tireless singers.
My favourite scene goes like this: man and boy climb through the slums, up endless stairs, step by step, set to Brazilian hip hop, with the windows from the favelas setting the mountain alight, glittering like a Christmas tree.
At the end of this film I feel an overpowering sense of loss. A black eagle guns down a phoenix, formed out the many-coloured voices of singing people. They travel on with no destination in sight, maybe forever.
-Sia
Boy and the World comes all the way from Brazil, and opens with dizzying, hypnotic patterns that undulate before our eyes. We sink in them to follow a small boy making his way in a strange, but familiar world that soon grows in scale and complexity.
Opting for the simplicity and universality of the cartoon, our protagonist is very simply drawn. A large rounded head, a couple of lines suggesting a body and limbs. His eyes, two vertical stripes. I do not get the feeling that this is a story about a very specific boy, but one that could easily be about any boy in the world. We start off in a lush garden but it isn't very long before the tone changes from a celebration of discovery to become a lament.
There is a boy and a train and a journey. It takes the boy far from home, to a new modern world where man cedes to machine. The colours are not as stark or bright here, but the complexity of the drawings grows until there are so many pieces and details in the world surrounding our character as to overwhelm him. The world is big and easy to get lost in. But it is here that we also find the most beautifully drawn scenes. Like a man who secretly weaves beautiful tapestries and makes music out of trash, and a beautiful phoenix given life by the colourful song of tireless singers.
My favourite scene goes like this: man and boy climb through the slums, up endless stairs, step by step, set to Brazilian hip hop, with the windows from the favelas setting the mountain alight, glittering like a Christmas tree.
At the end of this film I feel an overpowering sense of loss. A black eagle guns down a phoenix, formed out the many-coloured voices of singing people. They travel on with no destination in sight, maybe forever.
-Sia
- Published on
It’s mid-February, and the Canadian winter has finally caught up to us. If you don’t feel like going outside in the bitter cold, why not cozy up to some great winter-themed movies? They can remind you of how fun winter can be, or that it could always be worse. Here is a list of my favorite snowy day flicks. Not all of them are ranked fresh on rotten tomatoes, but hopefully this list covers whatever you’re in the mood for: something silly, scary, moving or musical!
1. Frozen (2013): All the ingredients needed for a snowy day film. An icy-cool queen, an eternal winter, a talking snowman, a song about building a snowman, an ice palace, and a reindeer.
2. Force Majeure (2014): If you are in the mood for a sophisticated, foreign film, this Swedish drama is an excellent choice. The film pairs gorgeous imagery of the French Alps with a thought-provoking story about a father’s reaction to an avalanche, and the unravelling effect it has on the family dynamic.
3. Score: A Hockey Musical (2010): An endearing genre hybrid that’s 100% Canadian! The singing-as-talking format is quite cheesy, but that’s what makes it fun! It’s pleasing to see movie that was not only filmed in Canada, but actually takes place in Canada, combines our national sport with song and dance numbers, and features some great Canadian celeb cameos.
4. Happy Feet (2006): Cute penguins singing and dancing to popular songs. What more could you ask for?
5. Breakaway (2011): Yes, another Canadian film about hockey! The film’s focus on a Sikh-Canadian hockey team trying to make it big is a wonderful representation of our country’s multiculturalism. And while the story doesn’t actually take place during the winter, the Bollywood inspired figure skating scene in front of the Taj Mahal is pretty cool!
6. Edward Scissorhands (1990): One of the best Burton/Depp collaborations, the film is told as a bedtime story explaining where snow comes from. Watching Edward carve his ice sculptures makes you feel as whimsical as Kim does dancing under the falling ice shavings. Plus, any reason to watch this classic film is a good one.
7. The Shining (1980): Seeing Jack Nicolson go crazy with cabin fever in the dead of winter will hopefully prevent you from going crazy yourself. At the very least, someone is hating the cold more than you are.
8. Ice Age (2002): The perfect film to cheer yourself up after realizing it’s way too cold to leave your house. It’s fun, it’s light, and has a touching story. And who can forget Scrat, the loveable squirrel who just wants his acorn? That never gets old.
9. Snow Day (2000): Every kid’s dream: school is cancelled, it’s a snow day! This film is fun to watch because it reminds you of the advantages of growing up in Canada: getting that precious day off because of the snow. An Added bonus: this movie was filmed in Alberta and features Canadian actress Emmanuelle Chriqui!
10. Blades of Glory (2007): A great film to laugh the winter blues away: Will Ferrell and Jon Hader figure skating together. It’s your typical over-the-top Will Ferrell movie, but it’s hilarious and perfect for winding down after trudging through the snow to and from school or work.
I hope these films inspire you to have some winter-time fun, or give you something to do while you stay nice and cozy indoors!
-Julia
1. Frozen (2013): All the ingredients needed for a snowy day film. An icy-cool queen, an eternal winter, a talking snowman, a song about building a snowman, an ice palace, and a reindeer.
2. Force Majeure (2014): If you are in the mood for a sophisticated, foreign film, this Swedish drama is an excellent choice. The film pairs gorgeous imagery of the French Alps with a thought-provoking story about a father’s reaction to an avalanche, and the unravelling effect it has on the family dynamic.
3. Score: A Hockey Musical (2010): An endearing genre hybrid that’s 100% Canadian! The singing-as-talking format is quite cheesy, but that’s what makes it fun! It’s pleasing to see movie that was not only filmed in Canada, but actually takes place in Canada, combines our national sport with song and dance numbers, and features some great Canadian celeb cameos.
4. Happy Feet (2006): Cute penguins singing and dancing to popular songs. What more could you ask for?
5. Breakaway (2011): Yes, another Canadian film about hockey! The film’s focus on a Sikh-Canadian hockey team trying to make it big is a wonderful representation of our country’s multiculturalism. And while the story doesn’t actually take place during the winter, the Bollywood inspired figure skating scene in front of the Taj Mahal is pretty cool!
6. Edward Scissorhands (1990): One of the best Burton/Depp collaborations, the film is told as a bedtime story explaining where snow comes from. Watching Edward carve his ice sculptures makes you feel as whimsical as Kim does dancing under the falling ice shavings. Plus, any reason to watch this classic film is a good one.
7. The Shining (1980): Seeing Jack Nicolson go crazy with cabin fever in the dead of winter will hopefully prevent you from going crazy yourself. At the very least, someone is hating the cold more than you are.
8. Ice Age (2002): The perfect film to cheer yourself up after realizing it’s way too cold to leave your house. It’s fun, it’s light, and has a touching story. And who can forget Scrat, the loveable squirrel who just wants his acorn? That never gets old.
9. Snow Day (2000): Every kid’s dream: school is cancelled, it’s a snow day! This film is fun to watch because it reminds you of the advantages of growing up in Canada: getting that precious day off because of the snow. An Added bonus: this movie was filmed in Alberta and features Canadian actress Emmanuelle Chriqui!
10. Blades of Glory (2007): A great film to laugh the winter blues away: Will Ferrell and Jon Hader figure skating together. It’s your typical over-the-top Will Ferrell movie, but it’s hilarious and perfect for winding down after trudging through the snow to and from school or work.
I hope these films inspire you to have some winter-time fun, or give you something to do while you stay nice and cozy indoors!
-Julia
- Published on
I'm currently in my fourth year at Ryerson's Radio and Television Arts program. Over the past few months, I've been working on the final project of my academic career: a short film. What I learned is that filmmaking is more than an art; it is a business and very laborious work. I may not be an industry veteran but as a film student working on her thesis short film, I can definitely say they do not teach you everything in school. Like many professions, the most fruitful learning is accomplished when you get that hands on experience in the field. Here are 10 things I have learned about short filmmaking over the last 6 months.
1. Everything takes longer than you think.
During production, you are always fighting with time. There just never seems to be enough hours in a day to get everything done. Between hair and makeup, technical difficulties, lighting changes and wardrobe malfunctions, time seems to just slip away. In saying this, always give yourself more shoot days than you think you need. It is worth the added cost.
2. Your estimated budget is truly an estimate.
Everything costs money. No matter how much you may plan, there will always be unexpected costs involved. In my own experience, our estimated budget covered most of our costs, however things like gas reimbursement, postponed shoot day rental costs, food and overall equipment rental put us over. I definitely do not believe that money is the most important thing in a production, but it definitely makes the whole process easier when it is less of a worry. Investing in your own film, crowd funding and seeking investment are all things to consider before you get started.
3. Just because you like an actor, it does not mean they are best person for the part.
The audition process is one that can feel very long and hopeless. Seeing one audition after the other, and nothing feeling right can really put a damper on your whole team. Despite this, you really have to audition a ton of people in order to find that perfect person. If they are not perfect and you have any doubts, you need to keep looking. The extra time is worth it, rather than questioning your decisions while re-watching all of your footage in postproduction.
4. You need to feed your crew… and feed them well.
Hungry people are grumpy. Grumpy people are difficult to work with. Good food makes people happy.
5. A vehicle is possibly your most needed and useful tool.
As students living in downtown Toronto relying on TTC for all of our everyday transportation, cars were rare but absolutely necessary. From transporting equipment to picking up crew and talent, a vehicle is potentially the most needed piece of equipment in the production.
6. Background talent are not actors.
On small productions, often the background actors are going to be your beloved friends and family who have donated their time to help you out. It is easy to forget that these individuals are not trained actors and do not necessarily know what they are supposed to do while in the background. Simple things like not looking in the camera can easily be forgotten and possibly ruin a beautiful shot. It is very helpful to have one person designated to dealing with background and watching them throughout to ensure the whole shot is panning out well.
7. People are very helpful. You just have to ask.
Getting anything free is absolutely amazing for any small budget production. You won't be able to find these deals unless you ask for them. There is no harm in talking to people, telling them what you are doing and seeing where that takes you. You will be surprised how many locations you can film in, discounted equipment you can get, free food you can get and donated products you can get if you just ask.
8. Plan a rain day for your rain day.
When you are filming in Canada, always plan multiple rain days. The weather can be very unpredictable, particularly in the Winter months. It is easier to have 2 days set aside and planned with your talent and crew, than trying to scramble everyone and everything together in restricted period of time.
9. Sleep is very important but very rare.
Working long hours is a given, and lack of sleep is inevitable. Actually getting some sleep though, rather than running 3 hours overtime to get a shot will likely be a better choice. You are less observant when you are tired and will mess up small things and ultimately not get the best footage and shot you could get.
10. PAs are a necessity.
There is always a shortage of hands on set. Getting PAs on set to do pretty much any odd job you need is an absolute must. We had a lack of this on our own set and ended up having to take on too many jobs each. If everyone sticks to their own assigned job, every job will be done and done well.
For those who are still working on their films before our submission period, hopefully these tips will be useful!
-Gabby
1. Everything takes longer than you think.
During production, you are always fighting with time. There just never seems to be enough hours in a day to get everything done. Between hair and makeup, technical difficulties, lighting changes and wardrobe malfunctions, time seems to just slip away. In saying this, always give yourself more shoot days than you think you need. It is worth the added cost.
2. Your estimated budget is truly an estimate.
Everything costs money. No matter how much you may plan, there will always be unexpected costs involved. In my own experience, our estimated budget covered most of our costs, however things like gas reimbursement, postponed shoot day rental costs, food and overall equipment rental put us over. I definitely do not believe that money is the most important thing in a production, but it definitely makes the whole process easier when it is less of a worry. Investing in your own film, crowd funding and seeking investment are all things to consider before you get started.
3. Just because you like an actor, it does not mean they are best person for the part.
The audition process is one that can feel very long and hopeless. Seeing one audition after the other, and nothing feeling right can really put a damper on your whole team. Despite this, you really have to audition a ton of people in order to find that perfect person. If they are not perfect and you have any doubts, you need to keep looking. The extra time is worth it, rather than questioning your decisions while re-watching all of your footage in postproduction.
4. You need to feed your crew… and feed them well.
Hungry people are grumpy. Grumpy people are difficult to work with. Good food makes people happy.
5. A vehicle is possibly your most needed and useful tool.
As students living in downtown Toronto relying on TTC for all of our everyday transportation, cars were rare but absolutely necessary. From transporting equipment to picking up crew and talent, a vehicle is potentially the most needed piece of equipment in the production.
6. Background talent are not actors.
On small productions, often the background actors are going to be your beloved friends and family who have donated their time to help you out. It is easy to forget that these individuals are not trained actors and do not necessarily know what they are supposed to do while in the background. Simple things like not looking in the camera can easily be forgotten and possibly ruin a beautiful shot. It is very helpful to have one person designated to dealing with background and watching them throughout to ensure the whole shot is panning out well.
7. People are very helpful. You just have to ask.
Getting anything free is absolutely amazing for any small budget production. You won't be able to find these deals unless you ask for them. There is no harm in talking to people, telling them what you are doing and seeing where that takes you. You will be surprised how many locations you can film in, discounted equipment you can get, free food you can get and donated products you can get if you just ask.
8. Plan a rain day for your rain day.
When you are filming in Canada, always plan multiple rain days. The weather can be very unpredictable, particularly in the Winter months. It is easier to have 2 days set aside and planned with your talent and crew, than trying to scramble everyone and everything together in restricted period of time.
9. Sleep is very important but very rare.
Working long hours is a given, and lack of sleep is inevitable. Actually getting some sleep though, rather than running 3 hours overtime to get a shot will likely be a better choice. You are less observant when you are tired and will mess up small things and ultimately not get the best footage and shot you could get.
10. PAs are a necessity.
There is always a shortage of hands on set. Getting PAs on set to do pretty much any odd job you need is an absolute must. We had a lack of this on our own set and ended up having to take on too many jobs each. If everyone sticks to their own assigned job, every job will be done and done well.
For those who are still working on their films before our submission period, hopefully these tips will be useful!
-Gabby
- Published on
Last weekend the TIFF Next Wave 24-Hour Film Challenge launched, which made me think about our annual T24 and just how important this is for young filmmakers to participate in.
To develop, shoot and edit a film in such a short period of time challenges your creativity, time-management skills, quick-thinking and your ability to adapt to new situations. All successful filmmakers have these skills. It is equally important to have a dedicate team behind you to collaborate with.
I strongly encourage emerging filmmakers to participate in 24 hour challenges as it forces you to take risks and think outside of the box. You will learn more about yourself then you expect.
Toronto Youth Shorts has been running a 24 hour challenge for the past six years. If you have any ideas for us, send us a message!
-Michelle
To develop, shoot and edit a film in such a short period of time challenges your creativity, time-management skills, quick-thinking and your ability to adapt to new situations. All successful filmmakers have these skills. It is equally important to have a dedicate team behind you to collaborate with.
I strongly encourage emerging filmmakers to participate in 24 hour challenges as it forces you to take risks and think outside of the box. You will learn more about yourself then you expect.
Toronto Youth Shorts has been running a 24 hour challenge for the past six years. If you have any ideas for us, send us a message!
-Michelle