7 Tips For Making A Short Film - Chad Meisenheimer

Chad Meisenheimer is an award-winning and critically acclaimed Los Angeles based Content Creator - Actor - Comedian - Podcast Host originally from the San Francisco Bay Area. He formed MaxiMeise Productions with his late brother, Brent Meisenheimer (1986-2007) in 2000 while attending the film department at Solano Community College. Chad has also co-founded Just Trust Me Productions with Chester Finney (2011-2013) and Chad Meisenheimer Comedy Presents in 2012. He's an alumni from Solano Community College with an Associate of Arts Degree in Film/Television Production and a graduate of the two year acting conservatory, the Actors Training Program in partnership with Solano College Theater (Now defunct).
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[@black-popfilms9355]

3 versions. What you have in your head. What you write. What you shoot. Perfect!

[@anthonyhett]

Exactly. The final film never ends up looking like what you had in your head, but hopefully, with the help of a talented cast and crew, it is even better.

[@DirtCapsuleStudio]

The teamsters messed with me in L.A. as well. However, I broke most of the basic rules and still made some great short films. (on my channel) Do NOT shoot simple! Go broad, go bold, and use a talented D.P.! Short films are calling cards - they matter, so don't waste you time on mediocrity. He's right on the edit - cut till it bleeds. I really like Chads mission here: create, entertain and inspire. Beautiful.

[@filmcourage]

Great comment, thank you for posting!

[@noteem5726]

Finally! Someone who walks the walk not just talks the talk. Cool channel man, I really like the direction that you're going with it and I hope you can keep it up. I subscribed ✅

[@DirtCapsuleStudio]

@@noteem5726 Awesome! Much thanks for that! I hope it serves you well.

[@noteem5726]

@@DirtCapsuleStudio Of course! A lot of people have the dream of being a filmmaker but you're out there making it a reality. Just keep it up I know it'll get you where you want to be eventually 🎬

[@noteem5726]

Back in the 60s Bob Dylan lost a lot of fans when he changed from acoustic to electric guitar. He's still known as one of the greatest artists that ever lived and his music is still being used and quoted nearly a century later. Never cater to who you think your fans are going to be because they might not like what could be considered some of your best work.

[@izzy4el]

Chad nailed it comcerning unions and union mentality. Unions do not create work/jobs. They instead try to control what someone else has created. If a film company wants to invite unions in on what they've created, then by all means, knock yourself goofy self out, but if someone is creating something/taking all of the risks then unions should have no part in it. Especially through intimidation and or by force.

[@kiefercampney]

They don't create work or jobs but they do protect the workers from being exploited. In my experience working on sets in Vancouver, the unions are super helpful and can often help you find work easier. Plus I always get paid overtime. Maybe LA does it a little differently, but I think they're probably more pushing because of the number of film productions that take advantage of people new to the industry and don't know any better.

[@izzy4el]

@@kiefercampney Bottom line, if they did not create the job/project and weren't invited in, then they should butt out.

[@MrJoldroyd]

@@izzy4el no business is going to "invite unions" in. Unions stop companies from exploiting workers to increase their profit margins.

[@blackboyblues6727]

I needed this so much. 😭 Been struggling since last year. Thanks so much. I'll let y'all what becomes of this

[@filmcourage]

Nice to hear this was helpful for you.

[@filmcourage]

What are your 3 rules for making a short film?

[@speliotis]

@Sarah K Watson keep it simple

[@anthonyhett]

1. Be ambitious but realistic. 2. You can never be too prepared. 3. Collaboration - surround yourself with talented people.

[@SwaySkits]

I love this channel. There's always something new to learn.

[@BobbyJ529]

Can anyone else comment if their experience with unions is similar to Chad's? Cause if they're constantly running around bullying small companies like this I'll have to re-evaluate my support for them.

[@kiefercampney]

It's extremely rare. They are put in place for cast and crew to be properly compensated for their work, as well as having protection if you are exploited on set. I've worked as a volunteer on sets, paid non-union, and paid union. Working with unions 100% pays better, and has very strict guidelines on breaks and overtime that favor the workers. In general unions are there to protect the rights of the workers, and 99% of the time they are fantastic (from my experience and my friends experience in other industries). They're probably pushy for this guy because often times non-union gigs basically scam people out of their time by not having a safe environment, underpaying or not paying at all, and not providing proper breaks. Chad seems like a nice guy and I'm sure doesn't do that, but the union won't know that. Working non-union is totally fine as long as you are doing a bit of research into who you are working for and if they are trustworthy. Most non-union stuff I do is on friends short films or tv pilots, we all respect eachother so there is never any exploitation happening, but thats not always the case. Thus the reason unions exist in the first place.

[@alexsmart5452]

My very first film*, acting, was shot in Downtown LA, super-ultra-maga-low budget. There were two people we had been told were SAG or something, that disrupted the sidewalk shots. Harassing the crew. Screaming during takes. Our Director paid 3 homeless guys $50 bucks each to go and hassle the two guys. Things got bloody, the cops came and we decided to reshot the scene in a parking lot. *I wasnt an actor, I was a Hollywood club kid(32years old) so it was all new to me..One of the producers saw me at the club and thought I would work as a uppermiddle class criminal "genius", The director/writer died of an OD before we finished, but I fell in love with making movies. So it all worked out.

[@midnightstormentertainment9183]

Thanks for uploading the video. It was quite educational. I do have this to ask Film Courage. I'm about to finish the final draft of a screenplay and I live in the United States, but I want to do all of the film shooting in London, UK. Who, in the United Kingdom, would I go to about a film grant?

[@XOGMALGROUP]

I got alot of knowledge in this youtube and the finally i want to shoot my first short film i wrote and i will tell you if i made thanks filmcourage for your supporting❤❤

[@CarlCyborg]

I plan on making a comeback to KZbin with this channel with a short film I'm planning currently. Afterwards, I want to bring back skits. Does anyone recommend any other websites or anything to try and submitting these shorts?

[@speliotis]

if you dont post on KZbin where would you post your work?

[@lionelcooke8304]

Vimeo.

[@kingsleyagboTv]

This is wonderful and at the same time educative👍

[@filmcourage]

Thanks for watching!

[@Paul-kz6qx]

Great lessons. But if I don’t post the short on YT, then where to share it? Vimeo?

[@doylestatus]

Vimeo is great for uploading Shorts because it won't Compress the quality of the video. And looks more professional once you make a great film you want execs/ people to see.

[@nandep2149]

Are the new SAG-AFTRA Micro Budget contracts and rules helping?

[@youdoer]

Find something and narrow it down. 🔥

[@theglobalpost8323]

I am a filmmaker How can I release my film on OTT platform? Tell me process please

[@joe0xygen244]

This guy is the least Chad looking Chad that ever Chadded .

[@kronk358]

7 tips for making a short film: complain about teamsters.

[@lucidwindowsstudio]

I think a better title may have been, “7 Tips for NEW short film creators.” One of my biggest criticisms of short films is that they’re usually too safe, typically consisting of only a couple of sets and characters. A 10 minute short tends to feel like one bloated scene rather than a short story.

[@saddemiurgescinema]

If someone does not understand that someone's first movie is just not the best, not the most professional one and calls it just garbage instead of seeing what is done well, I wouldn't care about this person's opinion. Everyone was a biginner once.

[@Met9171]

Important warning: don't post your 1st movie on youtube wow my question is what if you posted through your first competition entry? My last question what's a movie coverage you talking about?

[@Ousvec]

Wtf are those tips for? Don't have many locations? Isn't that obvious?

[@takethechance7422]

lmaoooo

[@alexman378]

Not to everyone

[@CastlesForEyes]

Make your first short film using your phone and spend no more than petrol/diesel money. Then post it on KZbin, see what people think.