A powerpoint presentation by Christian movie maker Norton Rodriguez on how to make a movie starting with 'NO' budget and breaking all the hollywood rules.

1. Let’s Make A Movie
How to make a movie without a budget

2. ChristianFilmmaker.com
To grow in your Craft You Need To Stay Connected
with like Minded Individuals. We are to learn from one another.

3. Pray
The most important thing you can do when making
your movie… is to Pray, but not just pray once or twice,
but throughout the entire movie making process.

4. The Christian Filmmaker Prayer
Do Not Worry
(Matthew 2:25-34)
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your FILMS, what you will WRITE or what
you will PRODUCE; nor about THE MONEY, nor what you will DIRECT.
Is not THE MESSAGE more important than THE STORY, and the STORY more than
MONEY?
“Look at the FILMMAKERS OF THE WORLD, for they neither HAVE FAITH nor BELIEVE,
nor gather into CHURCHES; yet your heavenly Father HELPS THEM.
Are your FILMS not of more value than theirs?
“Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
“So why do you worry about FUNDING YOUR CHRISTIAN FILM?
Consider the SECULAR FILMMAKERS, how they MAKE FILMS: they neither PRAY OR
WORSHIP ME;
“and yet I say to you that even HOLLYWOOD in all it’s glory will not compare to one of
YOU.
“Now if God PROVIDES FOR THE INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS, which MAKE
WORTHLESS FILMS, and tomorrow are thrown into the THEATERS, will He not much
more BLESS YOU, O you of little faith?
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we WRITE?’ or ‘What shall we PRODUCE?’
or ‘What shall we DIRECT?’
“For after all these things the SECULAR FILMMAKERS seek. For your heavenly Father
knows that you need to PRODUCE ALL THESE FILMS.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be
added to you.
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

5. Christian Movie Making Network
(facebook)
Meet Like Minded Filmmakers on FB

6. The Hollyood Movie Making Concept
Is mostly about $$$$
• Indie Movie Making is about Creativity without Limits!
• It’s about Breaking The Hollywood movie making rules!
• It’s about Thinking Out-Side of the Box.

7. Writing the Screenplay
• The Hollywood screenplay Format, is the first stumbling
block for many first time filmmakers!
• Just Write and don’t worry about the format.
• Just write the story God has given You!

8. When Writing the Script
• The Indie Format - Keeping it simple!
• Write a story based on your own experience and knowledge.
• Add props, locations and things you have access to.
• Keep the amount of actors to a bare minimum (2 Main Actors
max).
• Keep locations to a bare minimum (3 locations max).

9. Indie Film Script Writing
• Script writing starts on paper but continues in front of the
camera.
• Experiment with the Half Reality / Half Movie Making
Concept (Half scripted and half ad-lib).
• Keep the dialogue short, simple and to the point.
• Allow actors to ad-lib when possible.
• Work with the actor’s own “character and possible
imperfections”.

10. Home Movie Style Script
Just write the story in a basic / letter style form,
you will always have time to convert it
to the Hollywood Format later.

11. Screenplay Writing Software
FREE!

12. Screenplay Writing Software

13. Once your script is completed,
copyright it!

14. Pre- Production
• Find out how many actors you will need.
• How many locations.
• How many props.
• How many Daytime Scenes.
• How many Night Time scenes.

15. Write a list of how many Actors, Props, Location,
Daytime scenes, Night Scene your film has.

16. Then… Get Organized. Breakdown each movie scene by filling out
a ‘BreakDown Sheet’ as the one below for each and every scene.

17. Build a Website for Your Movie
• Creating a Movie Website will help you with your Marketing &
Credability!
• Create a Movie Poster - hire help @ Fiverr.com
• Build a FREE Website using wix.com
• Promote your movie online & facebook, let everyone know
(family, friends and co-workers) you are making a movie.

18. Our own Movie Website: HiddenRage.com
Basic, Simple and Effective for what we needed.

19. CrowdFunding
• kickstarter.com
• indiegogo.com
• gofundme.com
• faithlauncher.com
CrowdFunding is the sure way to raise some funds these days,
just never expect millions, but a few thousand dollars are often
assured.Again Keep it simple, Tell Your Story, Add a Video of
yourself or ‘short trailer concept’ keep it heart felt and offer the
world to those whoare willing to believe in you and support
your movie.

20. Casting Actors
Cast Family, Friends, Co-Workers… then post your casting notice
on Facebook & Craigslist and even in churches in your area.
Make sure you cast the BEST TALENTED ACTORS as possible.
The better your actors
the better your movie will be.

21. Find Your CREW
Find the BEST Camera Person & Director of Photography (lighting person),
Also, find the BEST Sound Person (Do NOT cut corners in Sound), a couple
of Grips (PA) and two Production Assistants and a Script Supervisor! The
Cast & Crew should believe in You, Your project and work for the LOVE of
MOVIE MAKING… and FOOD :)

22. Create a Scene List, write every scene that needs to be
Filmed, so that when you are on location, you know
exactly the scenes or shots you need to film.

23. Rent, Buy or Borrow
an HD Camera
Borrow an HD camera from:
• Family members,
• Friends,
• Co-workers,
• or Buy an HD palm camera for $150.
• If everything fails… use a Smart Phone for filming.

24. Borrow or Buy an HD Camera on
amazon.com

25. Filming with a Smart Phone
The Smart Phone will soon become the Movie Camera
of the Future! Keep an eye on it.

26. Sound Recording
Buy or Borrow a Good Microphone, connect the audio
cable directly to camera and make sure to monitor the
Audio being recorded on the camera using earphones.

27. Home Made Mic Boom/Pole
If you can’t afford a real Boom Pole, make your own boom microphone
using a broom or painter’s pole. Also, never use the On-Camera
microphone. Always attach a shotgun microphone or directional mic
to a boom pole (even if its home made) and aim it towards the actors
(the closer the better) yet off camera frame.

28. Proper way to hold a Mic Pole

29. If you can’t afford buying or renting
lights, make them Yourself.

30. How to make a movie?
You make a movie by filming one-scene-at-a-time. The first
day of filming, only shoot a couple of scenes, don’t try to do
too much on the first day of filming. The first day of filming
should only be an ice breaker. And it’s a perfect time to get
to know your cast and crew and they get to know you too.
We usually film on Saturdays only because of budget reasons,
that way, most people can work the rest of the week, but take
Saturday off to film three to four scenes for your movie.
Step by Step and filming one scene at a time, you will soon
discover that your film will be completed within 2-3 months.
Filming just a few scenes each Saturday.

31. VideoClic.org
For any additional information, technical questions,
personal seminars or church workshops contact me
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