Werner Herzog's advices for young filmmakers

 

Werner Herzog's advices for young filmmakers (from Masterclass)


  • Do not go to film school. Be your own film school. You can learn the essentials of filmmaking within one or two weeks. All the rest cannot be taught anyway.

  • Do it yourself. Deliver a film, even if you have only very basic equipment and no financing. Do not wait for somebody to finance your film. Work and save 10.000 Dollars. With this amount you can make a full-length feature film today.

  • It is in yourself, not in the equipment. Film students often know everything about this and that camera and want to have the newest and best. This is a silly idea. Equipment is of relatively little importance.

  • Use few cameras. Do not often switch between perspectives. Do basically make one camera films.

  • Do not shoot a lot of coverage. Try to get scenes perfect at the first shot or at few shots.

  • Do not shoot too much material for one film. Make up your plan well beforehand and then shoot what you need.

  • Never rely on post-production. Post-production cannot fix mistakes.

  • Keep it small. Use as few persons in your team as you can.

  • Travel by foot. It opens perspectives.


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