So, you’re ready to dive into the exciting world of filmmaking using just your smartphone? Awesome! Making a short film on your phone can be a thrilling and rewarding experience. But before you hit record, let’s go over some essential tips, tricks and things to consider that will help you create a masterpiece. We have defined and outlined the vital phases in making a film, from pre-production to post-production. We have also included some resources that we have sourced from Linkedin Learning or via the web to help you learn key skills in these areas. Remember, as a UAL student you have free access to Linkedin Learning so you can also search for things there.
However, before we get to the different stages of filmmaking, here are some fundamental principles that apply:
Time Management:
Planning is key! Before you start shooting, take some time to plan out your schedule. A well-organized shooting schedule will not only keep you on track but also ensure the quality of your film.
Collaboration:
Filmmaking is a team effort. Don’t be afraid to collaborate with your friends or classmates. Effective communication and teamwork are essential for bringing your vision to life.
Legal and Ethical Considerations:
Respect copyright laws and ethical guidelines. Always get permission before using someone else’s work or filming people in public places. Ensure you read the UAL guidance on film and photography in public spaces before you go out and about.
Filming in London Code of Practice
These Code of Practice provides filmmakers with guidelines for smooth shoots, promoting responsible practices while minimizing disruptions to communities and businesses. You can download the code from this page, and there is a flow chart to help you navigate the considerations. There are also some guidelines for sustainable filmmaking in London. You should read the codes of practice closely to ensure that you operate within the law:
Pre-production Phase
Pre-production is the initial phase in the filmmaking process, where all the planning and preparation take place before actual filming begins. This phase is crucial for ensuring that the production runs smoothly and efficiently.
Storytelling Basics:
Every great film starts with a captivating story. Develop a clear storyline with a beginning, middle, and end to engage your audience.
Scriptwriting:
A well-written script sets the foundation for your film. Pay attention to dialogue, action, and scene descriptions to keep your story flowing smoothly.
Storyboarding:
Storyboarding is different from storytelling. Storyboarding helps you visualize each scene before you start filming, mapping the flow of the story and deciding your camera angles. It will help everyone involved stay on the same page. Don’t skip this crucial step in the planning process. We have added some resources on the right that may help you with this process.
Storyboard guide
Here is a useful article on how to make a storyboard for a film by MasterClass:
Miro storyboarding template
Love Miro like we do? Luckily, Miro has a free storyboard template that you can use together.
Production Phase
The production phase in filmmaking is where all the planning and preparation from pre-production come to life through the actual filming of the movie. It’s the phase where the scenes written in the script are captured on camera
Lighting:
Experiment with lighting to set the mood of your film. Whether it’s natural light or additional sources, proper lighting can make a huge difference in the quality of your footage.
Sound:
Don’t overlook the audio quality! Clear and crisp sound is just as important as your visuals. Minimize background noise and use music or sound effects to enhance your storytelling.
Camera Techniques:
Get creative with your camera! Experiment with panning, tilting, zooming, and tracking to add depth and dynamism to your shots.
Making a movie on your phone
Can you make a movie on your phone? Watch this short linked-in learning video to find out more:
Borrowing equipment
You may be able to borrow useful equipment from the CSM Loans Store such as tripods, gimbals, lens clips for phones or video rigs. Equipment can be reserved through the Online Resource booking system (ORB)
Post-production
The post-production phase in filmmaking begins once the filming of the movie is complete. It encompasses all the activities that occur after the footage has been shot, leading up to the final version of the film ready for distribution.
Editing:
Become familiar with video editing apps to refine your footage. Learn how to cut, arrange, and enhance your clips to create a polished final product.
Post-Production Effects:
Explore filters, colour grading, and other effects to elevate the visual appeal of your film. Use these tools to add that extra flair to your shots, but don’t overdo it.
Exporting and Sharing:
You will need to consider where you will submit your film and what file type it should be. Size will be a consideration and you may need to compress your video if you are uploading it directly to Moodle. See our guide on how to compress your files on the right.
If you need to share your video you should look at hosting platforms. Panopto is one hosting platform we have access to on the UAL network. The other is MS Stream. MS Stream is now embedded directly into OneDrive and SharePoint. You can access your OneDrive at office.com.
Enhancing Accessibility in Your Film:
Make your film accessible to a wider audience by incorporating captions into your recordings. This simple addition ensures that all viewers can fully engage with your content. Hosting platforms such as MS Stream or Panopto will add captions automatically, but you may need to edit them to ensure their accuracy. MS Support have put together a guide on adding captions on video. You can find a link to in the resources on the right.
Editing on an iPhone
Here is a short linkedin learning video on how to edit on your iPhone from the course from the course Creating Online Video with iPhone:
Editing on an Android phone
This Linkin learning video is from the Creating Online Video with Android Phones course:
Using iMovie on a laptop
While it is possible to edit your footage on your phone, you may find it preferable to edit the footage on your laptop:
Premier Pro essential training
If you are keen to go further and have an Adobe Cloud licence. You can find the Linkedin Learning Adobe Premier Pro essential training at this link:
Compressing your video for assessment
If your video file is too large, you can find out how to compress a video on our Digital Learning website:
Guide to adding captions
For guidance on captions and transcripts in MS Stream, you can see this link: