We noticed many of our readers on THN aren’t just interested in film, but are also budding filmmakers. Therefore, it’s only fair for a website like ours to not only satisfy your inner film geek, but also give tips on making films and entering the industry. In fact, the market for filmmakers is expected to grow more than 10% within the next 10 years. So, if this is a profession you’re thinking of getting into, here’s a heads-up of 5 skills you need to possess.
Learn Cinematography
Cinematography is the art and science of using devices and equipment to capture a visual story. This involves knowing how to operate cameras, telling the differences between lens, and understanding the science behind lighting and sensors, to name a few. In most cases, becoming a professional cinematography takes years of university studies and work experiences.
Learn Post-Production
In today’s age of technology and advanced software, you can be certain all films have been processed using at least one software or app. These processes could be as simple as trimming certain parts of the video or adding special effects, to something as sophisticated as applying masks and CGI. It is also an expectation these days to know about audio production and sound effects, with many websites like Gemtracks providing a community space for such professions. All in all, you can say that more work is put into post-production than the actual filming.
Learn Scriptwriting
Scriptwriting is the art of writing spoken dialogues for films. This is not only limited to what an actor says, but also narrators of commercials, video games and DIY videos. Not only would you need to have a flare for words, you must also have an understanding of psychology in order to have your words grasp the watcher’s attention and convey your message.
Learn Distribution
Having the skills to create videos is not enough. By learning distribution, you gain insight into how a finished product ends up being consumed by audience, either in cinemas, on TV or on YouTube. It is a complicated logistic where rules and regulations from different regions around the world must be smoothly put together to enable the safe delivery of the finished video and accessible in a range of output devices.
Learn Marketing
Last but not least is learning marketing. With so many videos being made each day, getting yours in front of the crowd may be the most expensive and risky endeavour. There are many ways to market films, from traditional advertising to influencers, to sponsoring events and partnering with other brands. You must know which one would yield the best returns and reach your targeted demographics, or else you could lose a big portion of your budget.
So there you have it. Which skills do you think you possess, and which skills do you need to sharpen on? Eventually in your career path as a filmmaker, you may have to get at least a general knowledge of each skill.
