Top tips for aspiring film makers from Fly Girl Films

For our newest blog post, we invited our Let Us Tell You filmmaker to write a guest blog about her filmmaking tips for aspiring young film makers.

But first, let us tell you... about Let Us Tell You!  This is Mortal Fools' Youth Theatre latest offering; two new socially engaged films created by young people, for young people. The two films - My Monster Arrived and Thank You For Listening - are available to watch on our YouTube channel NOW.

​Let Us Tell You is a coming together of young people’s powerful voices on film and an invitation to step inside their thought provoking and sometimes imaginary worlds. You’ll learn what’s important to Mortal Fools’ Youth Theatre right now, and what they feel the world (and other young people) need to hear at this time.

When we embarked on this project, we knew we wanted to collaborate with a filmmaker that had worked with young people and was passionate about their voices. We needed somebody who could stay calm in the chaos and be able to go with the flow of the changing pandemic restrictions, innovate and, of course, challenge us as a company! And we found all of that and so much more in Fly Girl Films. We had such a blast working together and the films produced are a must see – we are extremely proud of them.

We learnt so much from working with Fly Girl Films, so we thought we’d invite them to share some of their amazing knowledge in a short blog so you can get to know them AND pick up some filmmaking tips!

So, over to you Katie Harriman….

​My name is Katie Harriman and I’m a filmmaker. I run a film production company in East Yorkshire called ‘Fly Girl Films’ and we make all kinds of fun films.
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Short films,
Music videos,
Documentaries, 
Trailers... 
The list goes on.
 
We point blank refuse to work on any project which isn’t fun, arty or madly creative.
 
A few weekends ago, my talented colleague Aimee Bant and I, had the absolute privilege of working with Mortal Fools’ Youth Theatre's Stage 2 & 3 groups to create two epic films titled “My Monster Arrived” and “Thank You For Listening” with the help of animator Sheryl Jenkins. If you haven’t seen them yet, head to the Mortal Fools YouTube page to check it out - you’d be a MORTAL FOOL not to.
 
Filmmaking is my passion and I just want more people to fall in love with it, like I have. It’s not that scary and we were all beginners at one point. So, if you fancy dipping your toe into the magical pool of filmmaking or if you’re just curious, well then read on for my top 5 filmmaking tips for young beginners below:

1) YOU DON’T NEED FANCY GEAR 
​I’m going to take a stab in the dark and guess you probably have a smart phone, tablet or something lying around with a camera on it that captures sound. If you do? EXCELLENT – you’re ready! (If you don’t – many local libraries have facilities so you can borrow a device). Phones nowadays have absolutely insane cameras; some even have loads of lenses to choose from too. Make the most of what you’ve got (or can get your hands on) and don’t worry about needing any kit at this point.

2) WATCH
Watch the films, TV shows, music videos, Tik Toks that you love but think about the technical.
What camera shots did they use that you like? 
What colours were used? 
How did the camera move? 
How was it edited? 
What about lighting? 

Practice by replicating them and seeing if you can think of new ways of placing or moving the camera. Practice some more. Practice practice practice. (@edenharvzofficial on Tik Tok is great for short film making and transition tutorials) 
 
3) BE ORIGINAL
Ok - so there are no 100% original ideas. It’s totally OK to be inspired by something else but always make it your own. Every filmmaker has personality so let your personality flow through the films that you make. One of the best complements I ever received was “I can totally tell it was you that shot that film”. I mean I’ve no idea if it was meant to be a complement or not, but I definitely took it as one. 
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If you like a particular shot but you don’t think it looks very professional then great! That just means it hasn’t been overused by hundreds of filmmakers before you.

4) GET CREATIVE
You’re going to have to get creative with shots and unique ways of telling your story with no budget. I’ve rigged my camera to a skateboards to make it glide, used table lamps to light people, raided wardrobes to find costume I needed. I’ve made zombie blood from green food colouring and corn flour and squirted it from plastic bottles just off of camera. I’ve roped in my friends and family to give me a hand behind the scenes (and on camera!). 

I can honestly say that most of the films I made as a teenager were terrible, but they were SO fun and the skills I have today are all thanks to those terrible films! Whatever you make at this point isn’t going to be a Hollywood Blockbuster but EMBRACE that fact and have FUN. You need to make films to get good at making films.

5) TRUST YOUR OWN BAD TASTE
My photographer friend Anete taught me this one and I tell it to myself every time I question a weird, unconventional or downright bad idea that I think I have. If you have a story to tell and YOU like your story and the way you’re telling it, then trust yourself. Don’t try to second guess what people will think and absolutely do not make a film to please anyone but yourself.
 
Good luck and get filmmaking!
Katie xx 

You can check out Fly Girl Films on their website! 
 
And if you haven’t already... go and watch #LetUsTellYourFilms on our YouTube Channel. ​​