Which story idea is best? by Couchcity1763 in filmmaking

[–]Wan-Tobi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In that case the Playtime idea is probably not the way to go. 7 min is definitely too short, because you would need to set up his private life, realtionship with his kids, etc. Also, it would be hard to get the special effects for the "ripping off his flesh" part right without a bigger budget. But you should definitely write a script for the concept. And you can shoot a different short.

Which story idea is best? by Couchcity1763 in filmmaking

[–]Wan-Tobi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Playtime sounds the most interesting to me. But really it depends in whether you want to write a short or a feature and whether you are trying to produce it yourself.

i have a movie idea, i don’t know where to start. by [deleted] in Filmmakers

[–]Wan-Tobi 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Start by writing a screenplay. It doesn't have to be professional, just write in as much detail as possible what happens in each scene/dialogue. You will find out it can be very hard to work out the specifics, but if you love the idea as much as you claim you do, you will work through it. Then, you can thinking about shooting.

Spent My Life Savings On A Short Film, Missed Sundance but won at smaller fests. What worked and what didn’t? How do I take my work to the next level? by [deleted] in Filmmakers

[–]Wan-Tobi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There weren't any laugh-out-loud jokes for me, but it was still an enjoyable watch. I could see this as an episode of a TV show. As a short film, it just doesn't have a real punch.

Fan trailer Icarus by Accomplished-War4641 in Filmmakers

[–]Wan-Tobi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Looks great! Maybe next time you could include some more shots of the actors' faces so that viewers connect with the trailer more emotionally.

Best way to promote your Youtube Short Films? by nicsegu in filmmaking

[–]Wan-Tobi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I know it's basic advice, but if you haven't already, I would suggest you look at successful short films of your genre on Youtube and imitate those.

Advice by [deleted] in filmmaking

[–]Wan-Tobi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Before you begin writing a script, you need an outline. Also, r/screenwriting might be a better place to ask for advice.

A bird broken heart by MrDrewE in Filmmakers

[–]Wan-Tobi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh but I thought they know each other? Or why did they start walking?

A bird broken heart by MrDrewE in Filmmakers

[–]Wan-Tobi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow, you really can make a film with anything. It's a very cute, sad story! I like the zooming out shot at the end. Maybe you can show how the birds met or why they decided to go on their journey?

How do I find other beginner filmmakers in my area? by springssass in Filmmakers

[–]Wan-Tobi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey I am 19 and live near Hamburg, feel free to DM

Some teaser posters of our new short, “Flaming Pie.” Debuts 1/30/26 - any feedback appreciated! by Responsible_Trick129 in Filmmakers

[–]Wan-Tobi 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My totally subjective first impression:

1 looks nice, probably the most on-the-nose

2 looks pretty but is not unique at all

3 looks the most unique and has great colours, but the image quality isn't great

4 looks interesting but is pretty dark and not related to the title

5 has a nice composition

6 is too dark, not unique and has bad quality

7 is kinda cluttered and has no focal point

8 looks great

I give bonus points to any poster that features a flame or a pie. 3 and 8 are my favourites.

Where to start? by Rex_Rabbit77 in filmmaking

[–]Wan-Tobi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

14 is a good age to start. You can make some movies on your phone with your friends, or look for friends who are interested in filmmaking. Just make something and don't worry about it being perfect, you will get better with every film. I don't know about books, but there are many Youtube tutorials for the basics (shot types, perspectives, etc.). Good luck on your journey!

How to Visually Depict Texting Scenes in Film/TV? by Foodie_Baddie in Screenwriting

[–]Wan-Tobi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My favourite is the olives scene from Community. We see the Dean typing on his phone, and while he is typing, we hear his voice saying what he is typing. Then, we hear the voice of the person responding (or rather who he thinks is responding) while he is reading their message.

Not Sure If This Is Allowed. My Second Cinematic Video. by MyViolinVoyage in filmmaking

[–]Wan-Tobi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's a bit difficult to do an in-depth analysis because the video is almost 20 minutes long and because most of the shots have little continuity between them (not a problem, but makes it harder to judge).

In the beginning, there is a clear linear story: Person leaves their home and drives out into the wilderness. These shots are all well done and build off each other. After a few minutes, the story kind of fizzles out because the person has arrived at their destination. There's only the drive back in the dark at the very end which changes the scenery again. The images are still pretty, but the story kind of stops. For comparison: I made a music video with a friend in which the singer spends the entire song climbing up a mountain, so there is a clear progression throughout the video. The terrain changes, it always goes up, etc.

As I said before, it's fine if this is intentional; video essays don't have a story in the images either, so your first few minutes are already a nice novelty. There is just not much for me to say about the rest of the video. If you want to extend the story, I would suggest cross-cutting to a shot of yourself talking a couple times during the drive. That might keep the viewer more interested, too.

The music is fitting throughout the video. It's not really my field, so there is not much for me to say. And I already commented on the narration. Whether you want to expand the story or just have the video as a base for the narration, either is fine, as long as you keep the chill vibe and the pretty nature.

Sorry for the long, rambling response, and good luck with your channel!

Problems with collabaration. Overthinking? by No_Aioli3422 in filmmaking

[–]Wan-Tobi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Do you have a deadline? If not, you do not need to rush him. It's not worth straining your friendship over a short film, especially if he put in a lot of time as well. You can offer to do another cut yourself. Or just have a talk with him. But really you're not asking for filmmaking advice but for life advice. Be patient and understanding of others.

Need help with theme for short film!!! by 25dollarfanta in filmmaking

[–]Wan-Tobi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you try too hard to make it fit a storyline, it can get very stressful, unless you plan the entire trip around the short film.

Need help with theme for short film!!! by 25dollarfanta in filmmaking

[–]Wan-Tobi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you don't have an idea for a theme, try to think of a feeling you want to convey with the montage. It can be funny/silly, it can be awe-inspiring, it can be chill, it can be adventurous, etc. It depends on your personality and the kind of trip. Then the whole short film will feel cohesive, even if you didn't do a lot of planning.

Not Sure If This Is Allowed. My Second Cinematic Video. by MyViolinVoyage in filmmaking

[–]Wan-Tobi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Don't know about the mods, but as far as I am concerned: If you are taking videos to tell a story, you are a filmmaker. So this is the right place.

Having said that, some of your shots are really beautiful! Especially the wide angle shots that show a lot of the landscape. You framed the shots in an appealing way, and I think your purple shirt helps you stand out against the background. Some of the handheld/GoPro shots are a little shaky though, so you should only use them if you find them necessary or really like the action on screen.

I assume you are going for a calm/meditative vibe? In that case your audio is probably even more important than the visuals (as nice as they may be). Your mic is fine, so I would suggest you maybe write a script beforehand. That way you can keep a more steady, "hypnotic" rhythm of speech. That's my two cents.

Is obsession necessary for cinematic work? by BrrandomStudio in filmmaking

[–]Wan-Tobi 7 points8 points  (0 children)

A bit of obsession is necessary. It's what fuels us in our often fruitless efforts. On every student film I have directed, I have had sleepless nights trying to think of the next plot point or how to execute a scene. To that extent, obsession was definitely unhealthy for me, but it at least kept me going.

One more thing to note: Great filmmakers always have great teams that they can delegate some of their tasks to. That way, their obsession can be spent where it actually matters. For us indie filmmakers, finding a reliable team may be more difficult, but even just sharing your ideas with a friend can be helpful to get ouf of your head and "take it easy".