The Indy Trendy Machine - How to Make a Short Film

By Brady Tulk

Doing what you love. It's an experience of which I would recommend to anyone. I've produced 16 completed skits with Indy Trendy Skits, close to 35 skits with another production company, and in double digits with other various production companies.

I would love to teach some people my work flow.

The first thing I do to create a new video is come up with a concept. This process can happen anywhere and I am constantly on the look out for a new idea. I look in the smallest crevices and leave no rock unturned. The other day I thought of a concept; a few friends and I were talking about how bugs get in the house. Sometimes it can be really hard to squish said bugs. From then, I took that to its extreme, Bug Warfare. It starts with a man in his apartment trying to kill a bug, but despite his efforts, the bug seems indestructible. During his attempts at getting rid of the bug, he demolishes his house. The bug get the last laugh when the man accidentally incinerates his apartment.

Okay, I got a concept.

The next thing I move onto is to test the story out with people. I talk to various types of people that may or may not be my target audience for the idea. I see their reactions and I see how they respond or add to the story. After that, I usually have a clear idea of where the story is lacking or needs some tweaks.

Okay, I now know the concept is good.

I then develop the script, usually making multiple passes through the process.

Cool, script is done.

Next I move onto getting the actors I want for the role. I plant the seed of the concept with various people. Depending on how well they relate to the situation, I can decide on who will be best for the role. I also look at a few things such as their reliability, their work schedule, and my past work history with those actors.

Cool I locked my actors.

I email everyone a copy of the script and provide a week before a shoot date. By the shoot date, I need cameras, lights, locations, storyboards/shot list, a production book, props, wardrobe, and ideas of how to complete the VFX that are needed.

I firstly get my location secured. I usually rely on my script to dictate the location. If the script has too advanced of a location such as a bank or a museum, it wouldn't have made it this far into production. I start mentioning it to every single person I know. "Hey I need an apartment with a big living room for a shoot." and I wait until some people get a foot in the door or if anyone has any leads. After a couple of days the location will be found and I can move on.

Sweet, I have my location.

Next is the essential to making a good movie. A good schedule. I start by talking with the actors about what their schedule. I start honing in on a date that seems to stick out and is a common available trend between everyone. Juggling these schedules can be frustrating at times, such as not knowing if person 'a' will be available until a later date when person 'b' needs to know the date immediately so that he can take off work. A few phone calls and a little compromise usually gets the job done, even if it has to be very far down the line.

So I secure a date for production.

This starts the race for gathering resources and seeing what crew will be available on the day of the shoot. I talk to a few friends that like to use their cameras and see if they would be interested in working with me on my scheduled shoot day. I gather as many resources as I can. It takes a good pitch sometimes people need to know you're serious and that you're trying to make something great. They need to be invested in your project, given freedom, and ensure it will be a pleasant or at least memorable experience. The most basic thing needed for a movie is a camera.

Meanwhile, in my off hours I begin to design props. Create storyboards and shot lists, and find out the best order to shoot the script. Usually scene dictates a lot of my shooting schedule, if there's two scenes in a living room, I want to make sure I record those in the same period of time. I do not want to make my crew mad by adjusting my locations back and fourth and just take care of it at once. This is why I recommend a good script supervisor to watch for continuity, wardrobe adjustments, and coverage of the script.

Here's what a storyboard looks like from one of my Frank and Lager skits.

Example of Storyboard

Hopefully this can help you start the process to getting your movie filmed.