Johannesburg is responsible for some of the great scenery, sets and studios that have been used to create box office hits – and the people who shot them probably had some great guidelines.
It is important to approach any job with a clear idea of what you’d want to achieve and some tips or guidelines to get you there.
Laeeka Khan, blogger for City Varsity, offers aspiring movie stars and filmmakers some handy tips for beginning their careers in the industry.
“When people refer to a filmmaker, it is usually the director or producer that comes to mind. The filmmaker is the person who acts as the all-seeing eye that drives the production,” Khan explained the role that many aspire to take on.
“South Africa is hungry for local cinema content. In the last year-and-a-half, we’ve seen films such as Happiness is a Four Letter Word, and Vaya, rise in popularity.”
Many may know what they want the film to achieve, but how exactly do filmmakers, directors, producers and marketers get it there?
Read: Aphiwe Dyantyi enjoys a dream season in the 2017 Varsity Cup
Khan says:
- Be authentic in your storytelling. Do the research that you need to ensure the validity of facts for characters. Taste the food, check the lighting, and find a way of actually walking the talk if you want to make your film from an authentic viewpoint.
- Get focus group feedback. The best way for you to grow is to speak to people and get their reviews and honest feedback.
- You will have to think about marketing strategy. You will have to consider how to do things such as crowdfunding, social media marketing, and get a digital and online presence so that the right people see your film.
- Consider your strengths and interests. There is a theory in writing that says: ‘Write what you know’. The very same should apply to film.
- Align with strong technical staff. Find some like-minded and multi-skilled individuals within the industry to give strength and support to your filmmaking.
- Enter your films into film festivals. The people within the filmmaking space need to know that you are out there. Make sure that you pick the right festival with the right focus.
There are schools and institutions that provide this type of teaching and programmes, so find the best fit for you.
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