Independent Film Production
Option 1 — Mise-En-Scene Remake
Choose ONE scene (2-5 minutes in length) from a film that you would like to remake
Your scene must copy the acting, camera angles, special effects, lighting, music/sound fx and dialogue of the original scene.
You are free to get creative (within reason) with your costuming and set design, but everything else must match it as closely as possible.
Option 2 — Character Film
Character Short Film Project
Create a short film (under 3 minutes) that shows a character of your creation without using any music or dialogue. Your emphasis should be to show characterization through action, face acting, and movement.
Option 3 — Monologue or Soliloquy
Film a soliloquy or monologue performance as your character that you have chosen/created, or pick a famous soliloquy to perform and film.
This performance should be 1-2 minutes in length.
Include body movement that matches your character
Speak in your character’s voice
Includes elements of your character’s backstory
Dress as your character (as closely as possible)
Memorized
Groups should include the following film team roles:
Talent (dependent on the scene)
Cinematographer
Director/Editor
Audio Technician & Boom Operator
Option 4 — Lyrical Long Takes
Choose a song with lyrics that tell a story
Take a portion of that song (or use all of it), and develop it into a short film (2 or more minutes in length)
THIS IS NOT A MUSIC VIDEO
You must develop dialogue and action within the film that matches the story of the song
You can use an instrumental version of the song throughout the film, or use the song as part of the soundtrack
Click Here for an example of how to make a short film inspired by music
Option 5 — Movie Mashup Screenplay
Take characters (this can be a specific character, or a character type) from a film and creatively drop them into a different genre of film to create a Movie Mash Up.
EXAMPLES:
Batman meets Legos: Lego Batman
Breakfast Club meets Fight Club: Breakfast Fight Club
PROJECT:
Option 1 - Famous Screenplay
Create a mashup screenplay that has a beginning, middle, and end (you do not need to do an entire 70+ page screenplay for a film, but you must have more than a few scenes)
Modify those scenes to contain characters from a different film
Mashup and cross cut dialogue between the two films to fit into a new screenplay
Option 2 - Original Screenplay
Write a screenplay that is 5-10 pages in length
Choose a film genre and place a character in that new genre
For example:
Western Film with Rambo as a western character
Horror Film with Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy as its protagonists
The Mandalorian is actually an old-west story, or a knight-errant story set in the Star Wars universe
Watch 2020 (a short film made during the Pandemic as a homage to 1917)
How to Make a Movie By Yourself
Pandemic have you stuck in your bunker? Is your group a bunch of jerkwads who don’t want to help? Are your group members COVID-infected zombies? Here are some tips to help you make your movie projects by yourself (or with limited help):
Tips for iPhone (or iPad and other Phone) Filmmaking: