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Teen wants to start filming?

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Hey guys! Well as it says I am a freshman looking to start filming. I always dreamed of making videos and becoming an editor/director and become part of the youtube top dogs, but I just don't know how to get there. I have a tripod, JVC GRDA30U camcorder, and Final Cut Express. I do some things on the side like filming random things like me skateboarding but I want to start to do shorts. How would I get my friends to help? It would be kind of weird to just ask them, "Hey do you wanna do a movie?" And my parents are kind of iffy on the idea of a youtube channel. I really like writing scripts and planning things out but would that seem weird to make a script to a short movie? Thanks for reading this guys!
 
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If you want your friends to help you out doing a movie of you all skateboarding you should just ask them If they would want to be on YouTube showing off their skateboarding skills to the world I'm sure they would say yes if they are good enough.
 
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Just pack your video camera every where you go incase you see something film-worthy. I did the same thing when I started filming. I make skate videos all day every day. Most people jump at the oppurtunity to be the center of attention.
 
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I know asking people for help in making your production may seem intimidating, but look at it this way - right now you're asking friends - that's relatively easy as they know you and already have a relationship with you. Getting comfortable asking them to participate is a first step to being able to ask a stranger to participate as some day you'll need to entice people who you don't know to participate in your projects.
 
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chas_m

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If your friends are shy, perhaps some of them could be BEHIND the camera helping you. Not everybody is that outgoing or comfortable on camera, and some fear looking foolish.

But I certainly encourage you to keep developing your ideas, writing stuff out and planning. Most Hollywood directors (particularly the interesting ones like John Waters and Tim Burton) did *exactly* the same things at your age. It teaches you a lot of skills that will come in handy later regardless of what you end up doing with your life.

My general advice would be to start modestly. Rather than trying to do a whole YouTube channel, just post some occasional things that you think are good enough for mass interest up there from time to time (you can always add them to a "channel" later when you have built up a collection). Mostly the "secret" to good YouTube videos is good lighting, good sound, clever idea and SHORT. Did I mention short? Short is generally a good idea.

I also second AirAssaultDude's suggestion, but of course with the caveat that you need people's explicit permission to film them. Good luck!
 
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I'm in high school too comicstix, and my best advice to you is to make a video whenever you get the chance and make it good, you should be proud of the vids you create. Experience and practice can teach you a lot about how to develop your filming/editing skills.

Many of the movies I've made have actually been for school projects, so if you can come up with a way to script a project, I'm sure your teacher would let you make a video on it. Most of the time these are group projects, so there's your actors taken care of!
 
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chas_m

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VERy good idea, iZach. When I was in drama I would have appeared in a video at the drop of a hat. Free talent pool! :)
 
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All you can do is experiment with the process. See what works what doesn't
 
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SHORT. Did I mention short? Short is generally a good idea.

Whats a general consensus on Short ??
Not being funny here either. 5 mins, 3mins
I as one would be interested.

Tropfest short??
 
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If you aren't willing to ask others to help you then you basically have two options left....

1. You film yourself as you play each and every part, which will be time consuming and likely weird.

2 You forgo live action and wet your feet doing animation, which will be time consuming but can be useful in learning some basics you would later use in a live action film.
 
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Whats a general consensus on Short ??
Not being funny here either. 5 mins, 3mins
I as one would be interested.

Tropfest short??


The Academy Awards rules state that it may be no longer than 40 minutes including all credits... I don't think there is a lower limit on how long it has to be. In general most serious short films are probably averaging 20 to 30 minutes in length.... But there are certainly shorter one.
 
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chas_m

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YouTube has a limit of 10 minutes.

I have found in making my own videos that the idea ITSELF will usually try to let you know how much or little it will take to get the point across.

Today's audiences are, if I may be blunt, riddled with short attention spans. They don't appear to need as much setup as generations past, and prefer that one gets to the point fairly quickly. So in a cheap video with no budget (and thus a lack of good resources for lighting, sound, dubbing, location etc), unless the whole thing is hilarious or thrilling right from the get-go you'll probably want to keep it as short as possible.

These guys are local to me and I think they've very much got the right idea, perhaps it will provide some inspiration, check em out: LoadingReadyRun - New hilarious sketch comedy every Monday
 
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