With the Childnet Film Competition now open, this is a great opportunity for your school or youth organisation to get young people thinking about online safety in a fun and creative way.
Filmmaking can be a great way to showcase young people’s talents and ideas but it can sometimes be a bit tricky to get started with the filming process. We have put together some Top Tips for Filmmaking and highlighted a few here:
Equipment
Making sure you have the right equipment before you even start filming is really important. Having the right camera, tripod, sound and lighting is essential and you should perform some test shoots so that you are comfortable with different settings on your equipment.
Shots
There are lots of different shots that can help you vary the way your film will look. The four key shots for you to think about are
- Wide Shot
- Medium Shot
- Close Up
- Extreme Close up
Read our filmmaking guide to find out more about them.
Framing
Framing your shot is key. Really think about what you want in your frame and what you don’t want! Using the rule of thirds (imagining that your shot is split into a 3 x 3 grid of 9 squares) is a good way to help you position your actors and props.
Rehearse
Practice, practice, practice! Getting that perfect film is all about comfortable you are behind the camera as well as how comfortable your performers are too! Get them in costume and rehearse what you will be shooting. It’s also a great way to test out your lighting and sound as well as the shots and frames you have chosen.
The Childnet Film Competition is open to all UK schools and youth organisations and invites young people 7-18 to take on the challenge of creating a short film about internet safety. Deadline for entries is on Monday 12th June. Register now for a full information pack.
