How to Make a Narrative Short at Home | Building an Indie Film Production Kit

Do your ideas ever feel unobtainable to capture? We're here to show you that all it takes to make an amazing short film is a room, some gear, and some friends!
Join us along with multi-hyphenate filmmakers Valentina Vee and Clifton Stommel as they take us through a day of indie short film production. Inspired by a specific effect on Aputure's MT Pro, Clifton and his wife Evelyn pulled together a Twilight-Zone inspired short film in less than three weeks from script to screen. We'll take a look at some realistic practical lighting effects, simple DIY filmmaking techniques, and go over best practices for gear acquisition.
Clifton and Valentina will be checking the comments, be sure to ask them any filmmaking-related questions!
See the full short film "Spring Cleaning" here: • Spring Cleaning Short ...
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
1:45 - Prep
2:42 - Practical Lighting Effects
4:40 - Purposeful Lighting
6:25 - "Spring Cleaning" Teaser
7:45 - Outro
Credits - Spring Cleaning:
Written & Directed by - Clifton & Evelyn Stommel
Starring - Christian Prentice, Evelyn & Mitsy Stommel
Editor - Malia Jay
Camera Op - Logan Miller
1st AC - Paige Deniger
2nd AC - Leo Trejo
Gaffer - JC Falcon
KG - Nick Weir
Production Sound Mixer - Alfanso Cano
Script Supervisor - Claire Hatch
Executive Producer - Maxwell Miranda & Alec Cohen-Schisler
Credits - BTS Unit:
Host - Valentina Vee
Director - Alec Cohen-Schisler
Editor - Matt Esteron
BTS Videographer - Jamon Tolbert & Austin Rodgers
Producer - Tue Duong
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🎥Free Cinematography Lessons From Experts!
• Back to Set | Learn Ci...
🎥Connect with the A-Team!
Host/DP: Valentina Vee
IG: / valentina.vee
Producer: Alec Cohen-Shisler
IG: / alecman123
Director: Clifton Stommel
IG: / cliftonstommel
Episode Cinematographer: Jamon Tolbert
IG: / jamon.tolbert
Editor: Matt Esteron
IG: / l0fi_the_robot
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Summary:
Aputure's KZbin channel provides free high quality cinematography, lighting, and filmmaking educational content to help you take your film projects to the next level.

[@TravisTravels]

I've always worked on all my own projects for years. And I've only recently started using lights. Which has changed the way I look at film, it's changed everything for me. I love watching all your content. I would love to be on set for one of these projects. Just to see how everything is done. It's so amazing!!!

[@Dancing_Alone_wRentals]

I have storage in an old building. I took one of the rooms and cleared it out so others could one day film there. Some people dream of travel or getting a role in a movie. Me, I think it would be fun to own the building where a community theater group could perform......that is a dream, the reality is this room for starters. tHanks for the video!

[@milkteaxmedia2159]

I really enjoy watching these "in your garage" type of shoots, and how certain DPs approach lighting small spaces. I hope we get to see more videos like this!

[@aputurelighting]

Glad you like them!

[@ohshowproductionsllc]

Happy to see Valentina back!!

[@jessetimmmiller1870]

Brownie points for the MagicLantern reference.

[@PapasGems]

Fascinating. Thank you for sharing 🎉

[@cinematicvlogger3467]

This is really cool. I'm creating a home studio in two rooms of my house in Thailand. Hope you'll do more like this!

[@MementoMoriXIII]

Hey thanks for the video, this has inspired me even more!

[@FelkonDracones]

Love your videos! They are so helpful. Especially for someone who is just starting out. I would love to see some more recreations of iconic lighting/compositions for example parasite, euphoria, climax etc. You did one for joker and I loved it, I just need more 😭

[@TerranceGeorge222]

thank you guys

[@MichaelFrazierTube]

Valentina and Stommel sittin' in a tree, k-s-s-i-n-g.

[@Garytyronejohnson]

Awesome!

[@andrscpndr]

The short is very similar to 'The black hole', i short i love, directed by Phil Sampson and Olly Williams. You can find the short in YT.

[@DJTI99]

I made my wife watch this because she cannot understand why I'm always buying lights and lighting kits.

[@olindamedia]

Sharing for why I need a double garage.

[@Aamir_Cine_Equipment]

😂🤣😂

[@flaviopresutti]

Great use of the tools.. love those tubes!!

[@aputurelighting]

Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@flaviopresutti]

@@aputurelighting Always! Great team Of creators!

[@mychalsimmons4177]

This is an awesome channel

[@mastbaumfilm]

I want that Aputure hat. but great episode also.

[@redumbrella4218]

It would be great to have a link for the the lights used on the video.

[@abnerfernandes9967]

Hi! I wanted to know if the new MT pro tubes are powerful enough to use as fill or even key lights in a moderately day lit room.

[@beeldbekwaam]

Nope

[@favhiiiyke2634]

I'd like to know how it was edited. Especially from the box to the other space

[@bimoasto]

YesI I do have all gear to my job in indie ways

[@Imaginelotus]

I'm a DP based in L.A. and I'd love to shoot BTS for this content

[@heyBrandonB]

Oops just ordered 6

[@WeddingfilmsinfraserValley]

Anyone know of a good location in BC Canada to purchase materials like Beadboard and different diffusion fabrics as well as things like flags etc.

[@parkercreative_au]

What digital film slate is being used there?

[@aputurelighting]

Deity TC-SL1! deitymic.com/products/tc-sl1-timecode-slate/

[@AllThingsFilm1]

I am so onboard with having what you need to shoot a film on the fly. I was asked to complete the cinematography of the remaining 2/3 of a feature film in 2019. Because I already owned a good camera (GH5), lights and audio field recorder, we completed the film in about a year shooting on the weekends. Right now, I am running with the Sony A7iv, Rode NTG5 mic, Sennheiser MKE 600 mic, Tascam field recorder and the Zoom F3 32-bit audio recorder, and several lights (some Aputure). I am currently working with the director of the 2019 film I shot to shoot another feature in the coming months. Thanks, Aputure for your helpful and inspiring videos.

[@chrisjpndala7576]

nice movie

[@aaronbazil]

I feel better about my apartment looking like a full production space like his garage now

[@videoleaks]

Russians have a saying: "Без бумажки - ты какашка, а с бумажкой - человек"! Of course, it is about documents, but it also fits the case with the box in your video ...

[@MegaReaso]

Good episode until the end. *Real world advice? Have lots of gear.

[@KoozlickMedia]

Similar story to a short film i saw 15 years ago called The Black Hole

[@abutacapture7737]

I haven't camera to make film 😔

[@RyanTh3Great]

Do you have a phone?

[@abutacapture7737]

@@RyanTh3Great Ya

[@milovarquiel]

I know this is a video from you channel brand, but half of it is a commercial.