What to Consider in Production of Experimental Films!
I have participated in the production of three short films directed by Navid Asadian, working as a cameraman in the one called Fakhte. All these projects were experimental films. There were many people both behind and in front of the camera, so these projects provided good experiences of making experimental short films for the whole team. I would now like to share my experiences in experimental projects and discuss my mistakes with you so that you will not encounter the challenges that I faced.
1. Contract and Adherence to Project
In previous experimental projects, people were sometimes willing to do some pro bono work in order to only start their careers in different areas such as shooting, make-up, post-production, and editing. In other words, there were no contracts, so if they did not fulfill their duties during the shooting or in post-production, there was no leverage over the crew. In this case, projects faced serious problems. I recommend that you not start any projects without signing contracts with your crew. Even if you arrange contracts, the loss and damage should be included in case your employees fail to start and fulfill their tasks. I also recommend that you never employ amateur team members without pay.
2. Make Sure to Hire a Planner
Whether you have a short one-day job or a long movie project, you definitely need a planner. From coordinating the crew to setting the shooting day, your planner can easily do the important project tasks. If you are a director, cinematographer, or story owner acting as the core of your project, you should maintain focus on your expertise. If you want to do everything alone, you will miss many details and will sometimes feel tired and disappointed because of too much work.
For instance, a sequence was supposed to be shot on two sunny days, but the entire shooting process was disrupted on the second day due to a sudden snowfall. It was then cancelled and postponed to another day. This imposed significant costs on the project. If we had hired a planner, he would have checked the weather condition of the shooting day and discussed the matter with the team. Unfortunately, we did not consider anyone for the job.
3. Know Exactly What You Want!
Although a project is experimental, you should know what to do on the shooting day by spending some time considering everything. Changing the script on the day of shooting by the scripter, director, or anyone else can be among the most amateurish moves. This will cause irreversible harm to your script because it must be written and edited correctly beforehand. If you change the script on the day of shooting, you will face many problems in both shooting and post-production.
If you are the cinematographer of a project, go to different locations and take some pictures after reaching a deep insight into the script. This helps you find all the details of locations in the script. You should then plan the shooting day by considering every aspect.
4. Be Ready for Anything
Actors may get sick on the shooting day, or the crew may have car accidents and turn up late. You should be prepared for any eventuality in advance, especially during the shooting process so that you can substitute the crew members or come up with creative solutions by avoiding stress.
For instance, there was a sequence in Ja’al written by Sajjad Moshtagh where the police were supposed to stop a car and investigate the driver. Many passing cars would stop to ask for address, which disrupted shooting because the directed needed a wide shot of the road.
5. Learn Teamwork and Avoid Irrelevant Topics
You meet new people while making different films. Keep the focus and demeanor professional, not friendly, so as not to damage relationships and projects.
6. Pay Attention to Acting
Do not ignore the actors only because an experimental film is considered a low-budget project. As a matter of fact, the actors are the most important pillars of your film.
7. Work Seriously and Professionally but Amicably
Make accurately detailed plans. If possible, appoint one or two professionals as team members so that others will be able to improve their knowledge in the production process.
8. Never Start a Project without a Producer!
Normally, experimental short films require an average production budget of 2k to 5k dollars. If you cannot benefit from a film organization or a person as a producer, do not start the project. It is essential that even a small project have an accurate financial estimate and prepare a complete budget before the preproduction process. In fact, having a producer or obtaining a budget from a film organization can lead to a variety of spiritual support.
9. Prepare for Achievements
What is your purpose of making an experimental short film? Are you trying to learn cinema or deepen your career? The answers to these questions will determine your future career.
For a better future.
Amir Irani.