Microfilm Production - Tips for Beginners

*Prepared by Ong Chao Hong, Ngee Ann Polytechnic Associate Lecturer

First mission: A script

1. Study other microfilms to get a sense of the story structure and production scale.
2. Study the 3-act structure:
• Setup: introduce characters and setting
• Confrontation: a series of obstacles or challenges the character faces
• Resolution: The problem is resolved after a series of struggles


3. Avoid being overly melodramatic and avoid stereotype characters.
4. Keep the plot within reason but beyond expectations.
5. Keep dialogue economical. Every line should either:
• reveal something about the character and/or
• move the plot forward.


6. Keep the film visual and don’t rely too much on talking heads.

Pre-Production

1. Form your crew. A basic film crew might include:

1. Producer: Organizes and manages the production
2. Director: the “artistic director” of the film; proviides guidance to actors.
3. Director of Photography: In charge of the camera and lights.
4. Sound Recordist: Records sound on set.
5. Production Designer: designs the overall visual style, source for props and costumes, dresses the set, oversees makeup and hairstyle
6. Editor: manages the postproduction of the film.

Production

1. Always check your focus and set your white balance.
2. Do not overuse zooms and camera movement. Know why you are using a specific effect before using it.
3. Compose each shot as a painter would compose a painting.
4. Casting is important. Choose actors of the appropriate age for each character.
5. Choose appropriate props, costumes, hairstyle, set dressing, etc.
6. Good, clean sound is important.
7. Avoid continuity mistakes.

Post-Production

1. Consider “cutting on action” to make sequences flow more smoothly.
2. Avoid fancy transitional effects. Again, know why you are using a specific effect before using it.
3. Observe the 180 degree rule, screen direction and other continuity rules.
4. Reaction shots during dialogue scenes make the scene more interesting and dynamic.
5. Select appropriate music to suit the mood, pace, cultural flavor of the scene.
6. Consider adding appropriate sound effects to enrich the sound design.
7. Add English subtitles if your film was in Mandarin and Chinese subtitles if your film was in English.
8. Ensure you have the right export settings before exporting.
9. Watch through your film after exporting to ensure that there are no glitches.

Ong Chao Hong: I believe there are no definite rules in filmmaking and certainly no right or wrong way. You don’t have to follow everything I say, or agree with everything I say. What's more important is that you believe in your own choices. Nobody ever said that an overexposed shot is "wrong", but you have to be prepared to explain why you chose to use an overexposed shot. You are the artist. You have the choice of expression. Make the choices wisely!