Their are three stages In Video production: pre-production, Production and Post-production.
Pre-production
This where you write the script, finding the locations where filming will take place, prop building, set design, auditions, etc. Everything that will be needed during production is planned out in pre-production basically.
Production
The production stage is when you record the film/sound and gather any necessary sound FX.
Post-production
Post-production is when you upload all the footage recorded as well as all the sound recordings and start editing. Editing is where you remove any 'takes' that went badly and organise the footage into what will become the finished film. Editing is also where you add any special effects that are needed to make the finishing touches to the film. Lastly post-production ends with a finished film either burnt to a disc or saved as a video file and put online.
Cinematography
A film is made up of 'frames' that usually play at 24 frames a second to create the illusion of motion on screen. A single 'shot' is made up of continuous motion of frames moving at 24 frames a second until the shot ends. A number of shots make up a 'scene.' Scenes are linked together to form a 'sequence.' Sequences make up a Programme or film.
Shot Types
The picture shows all the different shot types.
When filming a scene first you film the whole scene as a 'wide shot' this is so if their are any problems in editing later you always have a safety shot to fall back on. Wide shots are also good for establishing the scene because it reveals a lot of information to your target audience, such as the location, the characters, etc. After you film the 'wide shot' go in closer to the action and focus on the Key characters as this allows the audience to know who the hero of the story is easily, the best shot to use for this is 'mid-close up' or 'close up' as it allows the audience to zoom in automatically on that character.
Rule of 3rds
The rule of 3rds basically means that when setting up a shot you divide the display screen into a grid 3x3 and set the scene up like the one above: the water is within the bottom three squares and the buildings are in the middle block of squares and the sky is along the top three squares. The reason for this is because its easy on the eye, and just nice to look at when its laid out like this. I used this scene because it was the easiest example to explain the rule with, but the rule of 3rds works on other shots too like close ups.
180 degree line rule
when filming a scene imagine that their is line across the floor, you must not cross this line when filming throughout the whole scene, no matter how many shots you do because for example if your character is walking right to left, they will always appear to walk in that direction no matter where you place your camera on this invisible line unless you cross it, because then it look like they are walking from left to right instead of right to left even though they are still walking that direction. You can shoot either side of the line but you must never cross the line when filming unless you show a camera move physically moving across the line. The only other time you may break this rule is of course unless you want to confuse the audience because in that case it becomes a stylistic thing that if done effectively can look really good on screen.
Stylistic options
the use of diagonal lines can add interest to the shots as they are have nice composition and provide energy to a shot. whereas curved lines can appear graceful and are very easy on the eye compared with straight lines.
Another interesting option is how you choose to have your focus for your shot, you could have it all in Deep focus or maybe decide to have shallow focus. deep focus will have everything in the shot in focus and shallow focus could have only the foreground in shot.
As short film makers you must remember to include something in every 'action plane' action planes are basically foreground, middle ground, background.
Rules for short films
(1) Keep it simple, no need to over complicate the plot.
(2) Highly visual, try to tell the story with just the imagery.
(3) Not many characters, because the story is only short, theirs no need for lots of characters.
(4) Not many locations, again for the same reason as for characters.
(5) Humour/fantasy, most short films are surreal because its easier to make a short film about something surreal compared to serious drama piece short film.
(6) End on a climax, this is to bring all the lose ends up in one go without leaving too many questions at the end.
(7) Anti-narrative, you don't have to necessarily obey normal narrative structure, you may want to begin your story at the very end for example rather than the beginning.
(8) Avoid cliché, because it is isn't original and not very creative.
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