Production tips

Diegesis- It is a good idea to consider the use of Diegetic and Non-Diegetic material (especially sound). "Diegetic" refers to material that is heard by people in the film, or is part of the production. Non-Diegetic, on the other hand, is material that has been added in afterwards, and is there merely to enhance the experience for the audience. Some material can be both Diegetic and Non-Diegetic, such as the thoughts of a character in a film, which can be heard by that character, but not by the others.

Micro and Macro origination- It is a very good idea not to start filming straight away, but planning ahead with ideas and storyboards, making sure that what you are making doesn't fall out of the conventions of the genre you are trying to make it fit into. You must consider things like how the audience will react to the film, as they will most likely be used to the genre, and notice if anything seems out of place. A three stage process must befollowed. First you must study the conventions of the genre using the micro-macro strategy, before developing a narrative instantly recognisable to the intended audience as fitting into the particular genre, and spending time shooting and editing material so that it looks right for the genre, and doesn't break conventions.

Camera work and framing- Use a tripod to steady the camera when shooting unless you want the footage to lookshaky to achieve a desired effect. Most shots should be done without moving the camera, so that moving becomes an exception to the norm. It is a bad idea to zoom if you which the footage to look professional, although itcan be used to acheive the effect of amateur footage. Widescreen framing should be used, and close ups shouldbe few and far between as they are normally used much less in film than on television, as the intended screen is much larger. Long shots and mid shots should be the most used, with close ups and extreme close ups being reserved for special occasions. The rule of thirds principle should be used, and people and objects to be filmed slightly off centre if you whish peoples eyes to be drawn to them, avoiding the centre of the image. You must consider how you combine shots, and think of what it will suggest to the audience, like the transition from long shot to mid shot to close up, which emphasizes action and location, allowing you to switch to a conversation, for example. Think about camera angles and what they symbolise to the audience. Low angle shots suggest the viewer being less powerful than whatever is in the shot, and high angle suggests the opposite. This can be highly influential in how the audience reacts to the film

Mise en scene- Mise en scene is about creating a belivable world within the limitations of the film and a good atmosphere for the type of film you are aiming to make. It requires careful and detailed choice of props, costume, lighting and locations. It requires you to have attention to detail when making the film. Examples of Mise en Scene not being considered would be costume changes or haircuts in the middle of filming, as this couldcompletely ruin the atmosphere. Good acting is also something to consider when thinking about Mise en Scene.

Lighting- Using natural light is always a good technique when thinking about lighting, although you may have to wait for the right conditions. If you use artificial light, such as candles, torches, or car headlights, you must make sure you have carried out risk assessments.Colour filters can be used, such as filming through coloured liquids or vases, and can achieve some interesing effects. Consider Mise en Scene when positioning lighting, as the way it shines can effect the atmosphere of a scene.

Combining sound, image and titles- Font, coulour and size, should be consiered, and should also be appropriate to the atmosphere and genre of the film. The timing (how long the title stays on, and when and how it appears) must also be considered, as this will have an effect on the audience's perception of the beginning of the film, and whether they enjoy iy or not. The titles can inform people straight away what kind of film they are supposedto be watching. The music also has a semiotic effect on the way the audience sees the film, and must be chesen carefully to add to the ambience of the film, and the titles themselves.

The grammar of non-linear editing- There are rules which need to be followed when editing a film using non-linear video editing software. These involve using the right transitions, and timing the scenes correctly. You must keep this within the conventions of the type of film you are creating and not just choose it because it is exciting. Hard cuts should be used for the majority of the film, so that the editing is not noticable in the final product. This is the main rule; that whatever you do when editing the film, the editing should be virtually invisible in the finished film, as over the top editing could ruin the ambience.