1. Use a tripod! It’s much easier to look amateur than professional and usually the main difference is shaky handheld video. When should you go handheld? Only when the action or pacing of a scene calls for it. However, unless you’re shooting a spaghetti western, don’t move the camera, use the zoom, or change the shot mid-scene.

I like to encourage students in my classes to think of shooting video the exact same way we shoot pictures from a photography standpoint. Set up the shots, compose all of the elements, roll the tape, call for action, then try it again from a different angle. It’s a lot of trouble, but taking the time to carefully compose each shot will make all the difference in your final product.

2. Shoot closeups. The closeup shot is essentially the key to connecting with your audience in filmmaking. Lasting images are usually those that were carefully composed (like a good photo) and effectively isolate the subject from its surroundings. Closeups are important visually in this way but are also useful as cutaways in the editing process. For instance, if you shot a long conversation of two friends arguing and decide to cut the scene shorter but you only have a wide shot of the scene, cutaways of hands wringing or on one character’s eyes, or just about anything in the scene, this can be inserted into the scene and allows you to start back further into the conversation without an annoying jumpcut.

How close it too close? A lot of times scenes are shot extremely close to make them feel more intense. While this effect works, it can be horribly overused, particulary in fight sequences--Batman Begins, Point Break, Braveheart (wide scenes are epic, but when the fighting starts you can’t tell what’s going on.)

3. Use good lighting. When shooting outdoors in the sun you can usually get away with natural lighting. Mid-day sunlight is actually much too harsh for most DV camcorders, but by scheduling shoots earlier or later in the day this can be effectively handles. However, when shooting outdoors at night or anytime indoors you WILL NEED lighting. Here are some cheap ways to getting better lighting when shooting indoors.

Turn on the lights. All of them. If you have a halogen torchiere lamp that can be set up in the room out of the shot go for it. Also, cheap halogen work lights can be reflected off of a white wall or ceiling to brighten the scene. Also, take off the lamp shade of any lamps that are not in the shot. Finally, try swapping out the bulbs in lamps with the brightest wattage bulbs you can use in them. Again, it’s a lot of trouble, but worth every bit of it for a better final product.

Also, you’ll likely need to perform a manual white balance with your camera. Usually there is a control for this in the camera’s menu, so check your manual about how to do this. Orange-tinted interior shots are another great way to look amateur, so try to avoid them by doing a white balance.

We talked a little further about directing actors and coming up with props and scenery, but most of this you can figure out for yourself. There are several great websites below with tips on how to make fake blood, sugar glass, etc., for very little cost, so check those out or send me references if you know of others or have favorite tips you'd like to share.

Chris Willis

Further Resources
The Complete Eejit's Guide to Film-Making
DV for Beginners
Extreme Indie
The Digital Filmmaker
Cyber Film School