After seeing DVMISSION regular Tippers Pritchard post a thread on Twitter offering advice on how to succeed at doing a 48 hour film challenge. We asked if he would turn it into a blog post for us and what follows is part 1 of 5 part series that we will be releasing over the coming weeks.
You can follow Tippers’ original Twitter thread HERE!
Don’t forget this year’s challenge is currently open to team registration and you can enter your team by following THIS link to Filmfreeway. Just submit to DVMISSION and name your project as your team name.
Read Part 1, read Part 2, read Part 3.
Part 4: Don’t forget your sound!
Sound, and I cannot stress this enough, is the most important part of your film. You could have Tom Hanks in your film, with a script written by the Farrelly Brothers, but if your film sounds bad, you’re not winning.
The most important person in your crew is someone to own the sound. Someone diligent to make sure you’re getting good, clear recordings of your actors. It’s worth investing a little into some equipment, if you don’t have it. Last year, as a panic on my own, I purchased a Tascam DR-40X and a RØDE NTG4. I also got a Neewer NW-088 boom arm, but it’s not overly necessary. These aren’t top-of-the-range sound stuff, which can get pricey, but good enough to get good clear recordings. I also used an on-camera microphone as a backup.
If you can’t afford these – try to find someone who has sound equipment already and get them on board, or borrow some.
With good recordings, the next thing is your sound design in the edit. Use the time you have to find the right music, and right sound FX. For “Zenith Arc”, we recorded quite a bit of ASMR style stuff, like the spoon on the can of beans, and in the edit I spent an age finding the right music and radio crackle sounds. I also recorded a rap (to which I apologise to rappers everywhere) using the required dialogue. Winning “Best Sound” for this one meant a lot!
Side note – Connor spent an absolute AGE lighting this scene, and it was so so so worth it. The lighting he created was stunning. If you can also afford the time, get your lighting right.
Watch this old Big Train sketch to learn the importance of the right music.
Or equally… this classic scene with no music.
Your music, sound FX and balanced, clear dialogue should be one of the most important parts of your edit.
By Tippers Pritchard
If anyone wants to collaborate outside of DVMISSION drop me a DM on Twitter @talktotippers.
