Camera And Acting Tips Quick and Easy Tips to Make Your Movie Better

If you are behind the camera/directing…. You are in charge of how the WHOLE scene looks and sounds. Take your job seriously. The actors are busy trying to remember their lines and where they go.

Filming/Directing Keep the camera steady. Make sure the actors know where, what, and when for the scene. Make sure you can clearly hear the actors. Use a tripod. You can never be as still as a tripod.

More on Filming Make sure you and the actors use the storyboards. (You do them for a reason.) Remember you can film the scenes out of order when it saves time. That’s the good thing about editing. Make sure your costumes, hairstyles, make- up, props, etc. are consistent throughout the scene.

Filming/Directing Take all equipment and props with you when you go and leave an area.

Acting Don’t look directly at the camera unless the script calls for it. Know your lines. It will save time. Body and facial gestures can tell more information to an audience than you may think. Know where the camera is at all times. You can give the best performance of your life, but it will be worthless if the camera can't see your face.

More on Acting… Know what the camera is trying to capture. If the camera is capturing a long shot of you off in the distance, concentrating on arching your eyebrow to convey emotion will just be a waste of time since the camera won't be able to see it. Know where the other actors and props are located in relation to the camera. If you step too far forward or back, your body or a simple gesture, such as waving your hand, can block the camera's view of another actor.

Most Importantly…. Be louder than you think, and everyone else be more quiet than you think you should have to be. The video cameras have a built in microphone that picks up ALL sounds around it.