The Dos and Don'ts of Successful Filmmaking Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistakes are easy to make, but often difficult to undo. The greater the knowledge and experience a filmmaker has, the fewer mistakes are made by them. This introductory-level guide to filmmaking teaches effective preproduction, production and postproduction with a focus on many of the common mistakes made and how to avoid them.

Filled with practical advice and information on the process of successfully making a film, Patrick Winters guides you through the whole process from preproduction to postproduction, teaching how to plan a shoot, accomplish that shoot and then follow the steps needed to edit and mix your film, highlighting key considerations and potential pitfalls to avoid along the way. The book covers everything from getting your story production ready, securing funding and budgeting appropriately, casting actors, assigning crew members, developing production design, shooting efficiently and effectively, technical and aesthetic camera and lighting choices, sound considerations, picture and sound editing and mixing, to the final stages of distribution and exhibition. Drawing on Winters' years of filmmaking and teaching experience, this book provides you with all the technical and aesthetic knowledge required to make a film, highlights common mistakes to avoid, and explains where to put your time and money into where it shows, resulting in a successfully made film that will stand out from the crowd.

A combination of what to do and what not to do, this is ideal for introductory-level filmmaking students, as well as independents just starting out.

The online support material includes deal memo templates, walkie-talkie lingo, camera and sound reports, first AD roll call, distribution and exhibition and additional information on booming.

PREPRODUCTION; 1 INTRODUCTION; 2 STORY & SCRIPT; 3 FUNDING & BUDGETING; 4 CAST; 5 CREW; 6 PRODUCTION DESIGN; PRODUCTION; 7 DIRECTING; 8 PRODUCING; 9 THE SHOOT; 10 CAMERA; 11 LIGHTING; 12 LOCATION SOUND; POSTPRODUCTION; 13 PICTURE EDITING; 14 DIALOGUE & ADR; 15 SOUND EFFECTS & DESIGN; 16 MUSICAL SCORE; 17 MIXING

Patrick Winters has worked in the film business for 25 years and has taught filmmaking for the last 13 years in New Zealand and the United States. He has experience working on short films, documentaries and major motion pictures including Good Will Hunting, Psycho (remake), Finding Forrester, To Die For and Far from Heaven. He especially likes the challenge of stretching film budgets to achieve the highest production value possible. He is currently operating his own postproduction studio and is the author of Sound Design for Low & No Budget Films.