Future Filmmakers Festival

Tips For Filmmakers

The tips listed here are not rules. They are meant to be used as helpful hints. Please feel free to follow them or disregard them. It’s up to you!

Be Early. The sooner you get your film to us, the sooner we can program it. If you send in your film early you have the best chances of getting a slot in the festival.

Be Neat. Fill out your entry form neatly! Since the form you download is a Microsoft Word document, you can actually fill out the form on the computer. You can spell check it too, which is very helpful. If you decide to fill it out handwritten, please be neat. If you have poor handwriting then find someone else to fill it out for you.

Be Complete. Make sure you don’t miss anything. You have incomplete information it takes longer to process your entry, which means it takes longer for someone to watch your film. If you don’t list your contact info completely then you may miss out on some of the information that is sent out to filmmakers.

Be Thoughtful. Be thoughtful in how you write your description. This is a place where you can not only discuss what your film is about, but why you made it and how. This is an opportunity for you to answer some questions you think the viewer might have.

Be Sure. Make sure you label your VHS or DVD neatly. Be sure that the label has your name and the film’s title on it. Most importantly – check your tape! Make sure it works. Watch it the whole way through if you can. If the DVD skips or the audio drops out we have to wait for you to send us a new one. That delays the judging and might cost you a slot in the festival.

Simplicity. Sometimes the best films are short and simple. At times, it can hurt a film to be too complicated. Make sure that there aren't parts of the film that make it confusing. This might mean making it a bit shorter. Try cutting it and see if you can notice a difference.

Originality. Kevin Smith and Wes Anderson are great, but they already exist. Don’t copy what other filmmakers are already doing. Create your own style. It is so refreshing to see something new and different and doing so will help you find your place as a filmmaker.

Acting. Acting can either make or break your film. Almost anything is forgivable in a film except bad acting. Since you may not have access to most experienced actors, try to doctor your script for the people reading it. Write dialogue that seems realistic to the person saying it. If your actor doesn’t feel comfortable saying something, let them change it to suit their every day language. Try also to be realistic. If you have a character that is 40 years old, it may not be believable to have a 15 year old playing the part.

Make it personal. If there is one thing you know, it’s you. Utilize that. If you have something to say, here is your chance to say it. If you feel something important, here is your chance to express it. Make a personal documentary, make a film about your neighborhood, do something with some passion and honesty that will make our heads spin.