5 Ways To Increase Your Production Value
By Kevin Waczek
We are all chasing a better product. In my point of view, if your work doesn’t look good, nobody will take you seriously no matter the brilliance of the script or any other element of your film. There is another train of thought that says story is far more important than a film’s technical aspects, which I subscribe to. However, nobody is going to be able to enjoy the story if the film looks like garbage.
In this article, I am going to give you some valuable tips to increase your production value that do not involve buying a better camera, lenses, lighting, or other equipment. I googled this exact article title to see what other people are suggesting to increase production value, and they all mention buying better equipment, being creative, and I kid you not including a “top down” shot. I don’t know why everyone has a fetish for a bird’s eye shot, but it showed up in multiple lists. In this blog post, I am going to give you five ways to increase your production value that don’t require buying a drone.
INCREASE YOUR PRODUCTION VALUE
1. Hair and Makeup
We are starting the list off with something I didn’t incorporate into my films until last year, but WOW does it make a difference. Having a dedicated hair and makeup stylist on set enables more creative control over the appearance of the actors. It also allows the actors to focus more on the emotion of a scene rather than tinkering with their look. No human being is flawless, but with the beauty that makeup, lighting, and camera work can provide, actors on screen can look darn close to perfection. My short film Hotflakes was the first film I used makeup for, and the actors glowed! Making your talent appear flawless and more desirable on screen is bound to help your final product. Also, makeup allows you to hide the shine on an actor's face caused by film lights. Makeup can do much more than just add beauty; it can also take it away. In my latest film, The Long Walk, makeup was used to create a dirty, battered look throughout the film. There was one scene in particular where our lead actress needed to appear bruised. Through some wonderful makeup work from our makeup department we were able to create a realistic look. Hair and makeup added a layer of realism and boosted our production value.
2. Casting
No amount of makeup in the world can change your cast. I’m not talking about using Hollywood level molds and special effects, but rather picking the right actor for the job. Most independent filmmakers, especially if they are just beginning to hone their craft, don’t have access to an ample amount of talent when it comes to actors. Either they simply don’t know anybody or do not have enough previous work to attract talent in the area. As a filmmaker, you need to work with what you have. Within those limitations, you need to strive to capture a sense of realism or believability. Not every film is going to be extremely realistic, but the film needs to be believable within the boundaries that the film declares for itself - meaning over-the-top kung fu moves and flashy fighting styles are passable in a film like The Matrix where the entire scope of the film is out of this world, but the same combat styles would look ridiculous in a historical WW2 drama like Saving Private Ryan. That being said, casting is the first deciding factor of believability. I wouldn’t try to make a war epic about a seasoned soldier if all you have are your high school buddies. If your actors are limited, try to develop a story revolving around their look and age. If you do have the resources to provide a casting call and auditions, try to find the best fit for every character. Every good actor that fits their role will increase your production value.
3. Costume Design
Costume design is quite often an afterthought when it comes to independent work. You are scrambling to put your production together and start on time. Your actor calls you saying they will be late to the rehearsal. They ask, “what do I wear?” You respond with, “Whatever you have!” While that solves the short-term problem, does the character in the film relate to the personal wardrobe of your actor portraying them? Sometimes it works, but more often than not it doesn’t. Carefully decide what your characters will wear, and take special notice of the colors. Are the characters clothes new, raggidy, bright colored, dark colored? Are they wearing a t-shirt, collared shirt, dress, or jeans? There are an infinite amount of ways for you to express your character's style and attitude in your film. There are some films where costume design can make or break the believability of your film. My latest film The Long Walk falls in that category. With the plot following a runaway in a post-apocalyptic world, the costume design was incredibly important. Every piece of clothing needed to look battered and worn. If not, there wouldn’t be a soul on this planet who would believe the story we are trying to tell. It may seem I am harping on the actor's appearance in these first three tips, but the actors are the catalysts for telling your story. They need to be perfect. Having strong attention to detail in your costume design will increase your production value.
4. Music
Music is the part of the post-production process that is often a low priority. Music in the independent world is given almost no thought, and many filmmakers settle with royalty-free tracks they can find on the internet. There is almost no royalty-free track that is going to fit your film. I know as well as anyone that finding the right song for your visuals is a grueling task that takes time and patience, but the right music track can bring your film to life better than any lighting plot or line of dialogue. I believe sound accounts for 50% of the viewing experience because of its ability to set an emotional tone for a scene. I am fortunate enough to have an older brother who writes music, scores, and sound mixes for independent films and documentaries as part of my team. He is currently working alongside me as we finish the final mix for The Long Walk. If you are interested in music and the music industry, check out his YouTube channel Lion Bold. But if you are like me, when I didn’t have access to this incredible resource I used services called Filmstro and Epidemic Sound. I urge you to take the time to find and purchase music that fits and elevates the quality of your film. If you do, it will surely increase your production value.
5. On-Screen Action
Having action on screen creates a more engaging image. When I say “action,” I am not referring to intense fighting moves or car chases - action can mean any type of movement on screen. For example, you have a scene of two people sitting and talking at a table (probably the most common scene in movies or television programs). What if they were drinking coffee? That adds some action to the scene. Maybe one of the characters is looking through a magazine. These simple actions are what I call “business”. From there, you can add more action. To add “business” to a scene, cast extra actors to walk back in forth in the background to show that these two characters aren’t in an intimate area, but a busy walkway to provide more detail. Fill the frame with action, and the perceived increase in movement will coincide with an overall higher production value for your film.
Thank you for supporting The Filmmakers Blog. If you have any questions or want to me elaborate on any of the topics discussed in the article, comment below! Or email me at kevin@thefilmmakersblog.com