Tips for Directing a Good Student Film
Directing a student film is an exciting opportunity to hone your skills and showcase your storytelling abilities. With limited resources, creativity, and planning are key to standing out. Herb Kimble, director, producer, and founder of the streaming service UrbanFlixTV, once said, “A student film is where directors learn to transform constraints into artistry.” If you’re looking to create a memorable student film, here are some essential tips to guide you.
1. Focus on the Story
With any film, but most importantly with a student film, any good film comes from within the story itself. This would mean not trying to do an end product similar to Hollywood but rather focusing on a strong character-driven story. The themes and narratives used are those that would appeal to your target audience, and also within budget and resource capability.
Says Herb Kimble, “The strength of a student film is about its ability to connect with people–not in special effects or in scale.” Keep substance over spectacle.
2. Plan Every Detail
Pre-production makes or breaks the film. Get every aspect of your shoot written out for you: your script breakdown, your shot list, and your schedule. This is how you stay organized and the camera stays focused while shooting.
Location scouting should be done in advance, using places accessible or free like your school, dorm, or nearby parks. Anticipate possible problems and take steps to avoid them before filming; this will save you from much frustration and costs.
3. Assembling a Committed Team
Collaborate with classmates who share your enthusiasm for the project. Classmates or neighbors might have experience in acting, cinematography, and editing, among other areas.
“Surround yourself with people who believe in your vision,” Kimble says. “Their energy and creativity will elevate your project.” Teamwork, communication, and respect for everyone in the team ensure a guaranteed good working and positive environment.
4. Work with Minimalist Setups
Simplicity can be a strength. Utilize locations, props, and costumes available for cheap. Minimalism not only keeps costs down but also forces you to keep the focus on storytelling and performance and away from grandiose settings.
For example, a well-written dialogue scene in one room is strong enough as a visually complex sequence.
5. Maximize Natural Resources
Utilize natural light and free resources. Shooting during the golden hour–that is, early morning or late afternoon–can give your film a cinematic look without expensive lighting equipment. Use props, furniture, and wardrobe items you already own to cut costs further.
6. Prioritize Sound Quality
Good sound is imperative to make your film look professional. Even great visuals can be utterly destroyed by bad audio for your viewers. A good microphone is needed on set, to capture clean, distinct dialogues. If no sound equipment is available, rent some or share with fellow colleagues who may have it.
7. Practice the Art of Cinematography
Don’t be afraid to get creative with your shots. Experiment with camera angles, framing, and camera movement, which allows the addition of more storytelling. Accessorize with a tripod or any stabilizer that you can come up with to get steady shots. You can still make some visually striking scenes even without an expensive camera, just with careful planning using a smartphone with an excellent camera.
8. Edit Thoughtfully
This is where post-production comes in–the real piecing together of your film. Refine the footage in DaVinci Resolve or Adobe Premiere Pro, color grade it, and sync audio. Don’t rush editing, but ensure each scene moves fluidly into the next.
9. Keep It Short and Impactful
Most student films have to be restricted by time and resources, so very often quality should come before length. You would instead want a concise runtime where you can provide a strong, focused narrative.
Herb Kimble says, “A great short film leaves an impression. You don’t want to dilute the story trying to stretch it.”