MY FIRST SHORT FILM
MY FIRST SHORT FILM
Well in my case, I see film as a form of an outlet for my emotions and feelings. I have always been an introvert for all my life although I try to fit myself in a society filled with extroverts. So my emotions and feelings were mostly trapped inside me as I talked and discussed about topics that never really interested me in the first place until I found films. I have been making short films since the age of 16. Initially I started where every starting filmmaker usually does making a short which requires more knowledge about film as an art form and none the less I failed miserably.
MY FIRST ATTEMPT
Hiraeth was my first attempt at making a short film and boy was I disappointed. After watching movies like Taxi Driver, Memories of Murder, City of God and all the other classics I started to believe that maybe I might be the next Martin Scorsese or the next Nolan or Kubrick and with excitement of making films I asked one of my friend to help me make a masterpiece. And then we met, at my home, just two dudes who watched a lot of films (which is not true but we believed it then) as we thought about a concept for a short film that would change our lives and would affect the lives of others too. Well, usually what happens to people who think they are really good at something but are not happened to us too. We wrote a script of a short film that we at the time of writing felt was art. We were so confident with the script that we even held an audition for the leading actor where only two peoples showed up and both of them were friends of our friends. After choosing a good actor, the shooting began and I was the director. We only had one crew member beside me and the cameraman, and the crew member was also a friend of mine.
We shot for about 14 hours in a single day and to be frankly honest I thought I had actually created a gem of a film. But it was during the post production of the film that I realized my film made no sense at all. We tried to be so artsy and abstract even me the director couldn't understand the film. But to boost my ego I made this poster which is abstract, so abstract that it doesn't make any sense, just like my movie. I then sent Hiraeth to some of my close friends who to be honest didn't understand it well but they were kind enough to encourage me. At that time I just made myself believe that it was their fault as they didn't understand the film because they didn't understood true art and now after making a few more shorts I realize BOY WAS I WRONG !
But...but obviously I wont simply write a blog about my failure, No, actually I want to let you guys know what I learned from my very first attempt at making a short film. Here I will list my lessons for you. You are here probably because I invited you to read this, and I invited you to read this because I wrote it for you or you are a close friend of mine.
1. PRACTICE
Just watching movies and understanding art doesn't help you become a good film maker or an artist. I don't mean to say its not important, obviously it is but until and unless you really work and understand the process of creating something you will just create a mess like I did, assuming it to be an art. But then, I am not saying go make a movie, or start acting in a film if you are an actor, no , I am just trying to say that you need to have a clear understanding of the process and try to do the work you want to do when ever you get the chance. You can click pictures to convey stories which might be helpful and honestly although I really hate tiktok it is a good platform for practicing acting.
2. START
Starting is the hardest part of anything I have ever done and it includes Hiraeth . Never expect your first work to be as good as you think it will be ,well none of your works will be as good as you want it to but starting is what matters. Don't wait. People say have patience and good things will come your way, but I say otherwise. If I had never made Hiraeth I would had never been able to make 2097 saal which although honestly is pretty bad but at least its a progression to the right direction. I started with shit, and then went on to make a better shit and now currently I am making better shits then the last shit I made. So honestly, be brave and just start.
3. BE CONFIDENT
The last thing I learned which is kind of controversial but its just my perspective so I will say it nonetheless. Be overconfident. Lets say I wasn't overconfident when I made hiraeth, I would had never ever finished it because in the back of my mind I would always have this fear that it wasn't good enough ( which it isn't but you get the point, right?) I mean if you don't believe in yourself, who will? I honestly thought I would win an Oscar for Hiraeth which I didn't but it helped me at least to finish what I started.
So here I shared my very first experience of making a short. I still suck at making short films but I just hope this blog helped you in some way. I would have loved to go in details about the 14 hours shoot but then this would just be a long and boring lecture about my failure which I do not want it to be. Just know though, if you love doing something, do it. If its embarrassing be sad for a week and do it again. That's what I did.
Well in my case, I see film as a form of an outlet for my emotions and feelings. I have always been an introvert for all my life although I try to fit myself in a society filled with extroverts. So my emotions and feelings were mostly trapped inside me as I talked and discussed about topics that never really interested me in the first place until I found films. I have been making short films since the age of 16. Initially I started where every starting filmmaker usually does making a short which requires more knowledge about film as an art form and none the less I failed miserably.
MY FIRST ATTEMPT
We shot for about 14 hours in a single day and to be frankly honest I thought I had actually created a gem of a film. But it was during the post production of the film that I realized my film made no sense at all. We tried to be so artsy and abstract even me the director couldn't understand the film. But to boost my ego I made this poster which is abstract, so abstract that it doesn't make any sense, just like my movie. I then sent Hiraeth to some of my close friends who to be honest didn't understand it well but they were kind enough to encourage me. At that time I just made myself believe that it was their fault as they didn't understand the film because they didn't understood true art and now after making a few more shorts I realize BOY WAS I WRONG !
But...but obviously I wont simply write a blog about my failure, No, actually I want to let you guys know what I learned from my very first attempt at making a short film. Here I will list my lessons for you. You are here probably because I invited you to read this, and I invited you to read this because I wrote it for you or you are a close friend of mine.
1. PRACTICE
Just watching movies and understanding art doesn't help you become a good film maker or an artist. I don't mean to say its not important, obviously it is but until and unless you really work and understand the process of creating something you will just create a mess like I did, assuming it to be an art. But then, I am not saying go make a movie, or start acting in a film if you are an actor, no , I am just trying to say that you need to have a clear understanding of the process and try to do the work you want to do when ever you get the chance. You can click pictures to convey stories which might be helpful and honestly although I really hate tiktok it is a good platform for practicing acting.
2. START
Starting is the hardest part of anything I have ever done and it includes Hiraeth . Never expect your first work to be as good as you think it will be ,well none of your works will be as good as you want it to but starting is what matters. Don't wait. People say have patience and good things will come your way, but I say otherwise. If I had never made Hiraeth I would had never been able to make 2097 saal which although honestly is pretty bad but at least its a progression to the right direction. I started with shit, and then went on to make a better shit and now currently I am making better shits then the last shit I made. So honestly, be brave and just start.
3. BE CONFIDENT
The last thing I learned which is kind of controversial but its just my perspective so I will say it nonetheless. Be overconfident. Lets say I wasn't overconfident when I made hiraeth, I would had never ever finished it because in the back of my mind I would always have this fear that it wasn't good enough ( which it isn't but you get the point, right?) I mean if you don't believe in yourself, who will? I honestly thought I would win an Oscar for Hiraeth which I didn't but it helped me at least to finish what I started.
So here I shared my very first experience of making a short. I still suck at making short films but I just hope this blog helped you in some way. I would have loved to go in details about the 14 hours shoot but then this would just be a long and boring lecture about my failure which I do not want it to be. Just know though, if you love doing something, do it. If its embarrassing be sad for a week and do it again. That's what I did.
Ok boss😄😄
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