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myMovie 2: Cast Crew, Sets and Props

We know you're anxious to go out and start shooting your epic, but before any serious filming starts, you need to figure out just what kind of film you'll be making.

In our previous article, we took stock of the hardware and software we'd have available. Now, it's time to take a look at the other resources available and needed. You may know what kind of movie you want to make (horror, sci-fi, comedy), or you may be trying to think of one. Either way, taking stock of your realistically-available resources will help you shape your ideas.

Cast and Crew: Whether you're planning to work behind the camera exclusively, or star in your own production, you're probably going to need the help of others to put your shoot together.

1. Do you have actors or crew available? Always a good place to start. Think seriously. Do you have people with enough free time and enthusiasm to help you out with your project, and see it through? If there's one thing we've learned in all of our years developing projects like this, it's that no one will share your level of enthusiasm if there's no money involved. If even one person (especially someone on film) quits halfway through the project, you'll have to do a lot of extra work.
2. What parts are they right for? If you need someone to operate the camera, can he keep everyone in shot and in focus? If you need romantic roles, can they kiss on screen without breaking up? Think about the people you want to use.

Costumes, Sets and Props: Sure, you want to make Lawrence of Arabia meets Blade Runner in the world of The Matrix, but let's take a look at what we actually have to work with. Some of this may seem obvious, but it's still a good idea to take a practical look at what you have to work with.

1. Costumes - It's hard to film an elegant dinner party when everyone's in T-shirts. Likewise, it's hard to make a movie about a monster if you've got the gloves and head, but are missing the body (though heaven knows people have tried). Think about the outfits you have available (or better yet, the ones your actors have available themselves), and how that'll affect your movie.
2. Sets - If you're setting this in an office, do you have an office available, or a room you can make look like an office? On the other side, do you have an unusual location nearby that you can (legally) use that might make for an interesting shoot? After all, there's a reason so many low budget horror movies are shot in the woods or in old cabins. An abandoned barn on your uncle's farm might make for an interesting horror locale (just make sure it's safe to work in). Most parks won't say anything to people shooting inconspicuously, but if fifteen people show up in caveman costumes, expect some odd looks and perhaps a visit from the park police.
3. Props - What props do you have access to? What can you build or acquire? A gritty police drama will probably require guns at some point, and your story about a haunted grandfather clock is going to run into a problem if you don't have a grandfather clock...haunted or not. Again, let your mind wander and think of interesting things you can do with the stuff you have on hand, rather than thinking about how much you can spend to acquire something. If you're involved with an Airsoft league (realistic-looking paintball guns), then you've got props and a potential cast for a war movie (not to mention potential access to sets).
4. Special effects - There are iMovie add-ons that will let you add everything from outlandish explosions, lasers and lightsabers to more subtle lighting, color and transition effects to your finished product. But don't forget about stuff you can do with simple camera trickery. Foreshortening (placing one object near the camera, and one far away) takes advantage of the camera's two-dimensional vision to make small objects look huge. If you're thinking of a martial-arts epic where people have superhuman powers, one trick still being used is showing someone starting to jump, followed by a shot of him leaping over the camera, or someone "looking" at him overhead, followed by a shot of him "landing." Remember, a lot can be done by the power of suggestion. It's cheaper, faster and, in some cases, more effective. Does anyone remember The Blair Witch Project? Or, as with us, did Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 make you want to forget?

Edition 3: Day of the Lagomorph: A Tale of Domestic Terror

Edition 1: Introduction to myMovie

Bill's been using Macs since the late 80s. When he's not making smartass remarks to amuse Kirk Hiner, he enjoys fighting for the user.