Okay, so I’ve been diving into this whole “political filmmaking” thing, and let me tell you, it’s been a wild ride. I wanted to document my whole process, from the initial spark of an idea to, well, wherever I end up.
It all started with me just feeling…stuck. I was watching the news, scrolling through social media, and it felt like everything was just shouting, and no one was really saying anything meaningful. I had this itch to create something that would actually make people think, maybe even challenge their assumptions.
Brainstorming Mayhem
First, I needed a topic. Easier said than done, right? My brain was a mess of current events, historical injustices, and potential future disasters. I started by just free-writing, jotting down anything that came to mind, no matter how ridiculous it seemed.
- Climate change? Too broad.
- Local election corruption? Maybe, but I needed more info.
- The impact of social media on political discourse? Interesting…
I spent days just researching, reading articles, watching documentaries, and basically overloading my brain with information. I finally landed on focusing on the complexities of campaign finance – it felt relevant, under-discussed, and ripe for exploration.
Crafting a Narrative (or Trying To)
Next up, I had to figure out how to tell this story. Documentary? Narrative film? Some weird experimental hybrid? I watched a ton of politically-charged films for inspiration – everything from “All the President’s Men” to “The Square” to some obscure student films I found online.
I decided to go with a short narrative film, thinking it would give me more creative control. I started outlining, trying to create compelling characters and a storyline that would be both informative and emotionally engaging. This was HARD. I went through countless drafts, throwing out entire scenes, rewriting dialogue, and generally feeling like I was getting nowhere.
The Nitty-Gritty: Pre-Production
Once I had a script I was (somewhat) happy with, it was time for pre-production. This involved a whole bunch of practical stuff I hadn’t really thought about before:
- Finding actors: I put out casting calls on local Facebook groups and reached out to some friends-of-friends.
- Scouting locations: Where am I gonna film this thing? My apartment? A friend’s office? The local park? (Permits? What are those?).
- Gathering equipment: Luckily, I had a decent camera, but I needed to borrow some lights and sound gear.
This stage was a mix of excitement and sheer terror. It felt like I was juggling a million things at once, and I was constantly worried I was forgetting something crucial.
Lights, Camera, (Hopefully) Action!
Filming was…intense. It was a whirlwind of setting up shots, directing actors (who were mostly friends doing me a favor), dealing with unexpected technical issues, and trying to stay on schedule (which, of course, I didn’t). There were moments of pure joy, when everything clicked and I felt like I was actually making a movie, and moments of utter frustration, when I wanted to throw the camera out the window.
Post-Production Panic
And now, I’m in post-production. This is where I’m supposed to edit all the footage, add music and sound effects, and somehow turn this chaotic mess into a coherent film. I’m learning as I go, watching online tutorials, experimenting with different editing software, and slowly but surely piecing it all together. I did:
- Watch the raw footage, find the perfect scene.
- Cut the raw footage to many clips.
- Organize the clips, put them together.
It’s a long, tedious process, but it’s also incredibly rewarding to see the film slowly taking shape. I’m still not sure where this project will ultimately lead, but I’m learning so much along the way, and that’s what really matters. I will continue to finish and refine my film.
