Casting is a fine art. It’s an art by itself. As a filmmaker, if you cast the right actors, half your battle is won. Of course, considering you have a good script.

Developing a good eye for casting requires developing an important skill – a unique observational ability. In film, it’s not the actor’s ability to be loud and expressive in a theatrical sense that is important. It’s how the nuances are portrayed, the subtleties, the subtext, the pacing and rhythm of the dialogues, the intonation and the pauses. Mainly, the ability to convey a particular kind of emotion that is required for the scene.
So as a filmmaker, it’s our responsibility to make sure that your actors work at an instinctual level…from a place of deep emotion. And that can make all the difference.

Youtube Shorts Link: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ScFIZjDLuBs

If you have a short film/scene you want to shoot, and you are not sure of what kind of shots that you need for it(whether it’s a long/Wide shot, a MS or a CU) then the best way to do it, would be to create a storyboard.

A storyboard is a pre-visualization stage where you roughly create/translate visual frames/shots from your mind onto paper or the computer, literally shot by shot to create a scene.
3 Reasons for storyboarding:

1. It conveys your vision/frame to your team while planning so that your camera team can decide what frame to compose, what lens to use and the action involved in the scene.
2. You can reduce the time it takes to shoot your scene in a live location because you know exactly what you are going to shoot.
3. You can time your scene depending on the number of storyboard frames or shots you need for the scene.
   Here’s a sample storyboard sequence for a small 2 character scene that I am working on. I checked out a location which I’m not sure I may get permission for. So I have tried to pre-visualize the scene so that I know the exact breakdown of the shots I need.
   Hope this gives an idea as to how you can plan your scene with a storyboard sequence.

Youtube Shorts Link: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ScOXSbqHQvk

If you want to make an Independent film, like I am in the process of doing now, there are 3 things to consider before you even start.

• Pick a concept you really resonate with (Loss, relationship, crime & a bit of action)
• Pick a cast/crew who you’d love to work with (People that match with our artistic/personal sensibilities, professional, people with integrity and a killer work ethic)
• Remind yourself why you’re making this film in the 1st place (For this film, I am making something that I want to see on screen as an audience).
  I’m documenting my entire process of making this film with a small team, a tight budget and a guerilla spirit.

YouTube Shorts Link – https://www.youtube.com/shorts/BFkUK1C9F8A