Silent cinema consists of films that do not have spoken dialogue, which allows actors to communicate through actions and body language, which is usually complemented by background music, subtitles, or both. This article will teach you how to make silent movies. Note that for the editing section of this article, Windows Movie Maker was used, but you can use any program to make movies.
Steps
Step 1. Pick some music
Music can transform silent movies. Usually the best music will be instrumental (or use voices without words). The music can be energetic, sad, festive, or anything in between, depending on the atmosphere of your movie.
Step 2. Develop a story
What will happen in the movie? You don't have to plan every single thing that will happen in the movie, but you do have to have an idea of what kinds of things will happen. Keep in mind that the length of the story has to match the length of the piece of music. Also, keep in mind that there will be no dialogue in the film and that you will not be able to express the plot or ideas in words.
Step 3. Find a camera
It can be a digital camera that also records videos or a VCR. The quality of the camera depends on how you plan to use it for the film. If you're only going to show it off to your friends, the camera quality doesn't have to be great, but if you're entering a competition or film festival, you may want to choose a higher quality camera. Also, you will need to use a tripod or a flat surface to hold the camera.
Step 4. Find a set
The set you choose will depend on the type of movie you plan to make. If you are making a mountain biking movie, you will have to go into a forest. If you are going to make a movie about someone who has lost their glasses at home, you will need a home. Use common sense.
Step 5. Find some actors
You will need a person to record with the camera. You can have your friends or acquaintances act in the movie, or you can audition.
Step 6. Record the movie
Using your story, camera, set, and actors, start shooting the movie. Remember that you need to express all ideas with actions and facial expressions, since you will not be able to hear any dialogue.
Step 7. Import the shots to your computer
The methods for doing this may vary depending on the camera you use and what outputs your computer has. Maybe you need a cable or just a memory card. Save all your clips and the music that you will use for the movie in a folder on your computer.
Step 8. Start editing the movie
Open Windows Movie Maker (or any other movie editing program).
- Import the music you will use and drag it to the audio or music section of the timeline at the bottom.
- Import the clips into your movie and put them on the timeline in the order you want.
- Add any effect you want. Edit any clip that has chunks at the beginning or end that you don't want to keep.
Make a Silent Movie Step 9 Step 9. Add the finishing touches
Add a title screen at the beginning of the movie and the credits at the end.
Make a Silent Movie Step 10 Step 10. Save the movie
Go to Files, Save Movie File (assuming you're using Windows Movie Maker) and choose "Best quality to play on my computer." Click the button below a few times and let the export begin. Once it is done you will be good to go.
Advice
- Experiment with different camera angles, such as high shots (above eye level) and low shots (below eye level or from the ground), and close-up levels, such as close-ups and wide shots.
- Remember that no voice will be recorded. Take advantage of it to communicate freely with the cast and staff, which will eventually be edited anyway.
- If you don't use Windows XP OS, then you can still make a movie, but the editing process will be different.
Warnings