Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Make Money Making Movies - With Kids!

Unless you're Steven Spielberg, a movie business opportunity may seem near impossible to achieve. But what if your actors and audiences are those who prefer "G" rated films with funny characters, mysterious but satisfying story lines and lots of wild costumes and props? If you own a video camera, a computer with video editing software, love to shop at thrift stores and garage sales, then you too can have a video based business and become a Steven Spielberg for kids who love acting.

Sure, Halle Berry and Nicole Kidman probably won't respond to your offer of a movie role. But the kids in your neighborhood may end up competing with each other for the lead role in your film, especially if the movie script for kids has an exciting story line.

If you want to become a Movie Director for kids plus get paid to make movies with them, here are four tips to help you call "Quiet on the set... Action!"

1. Check with your local city parks and recreation department. They are always looking for new classes and workshops to offer the residents in their city. See if they would like to include a movie making workshop for kids as one of their programs.

2. Both private and public schools often look for after school programs their students can participate in. If you are available in the afternoons, contact these schools and offer to teach a movie making workshop for kids.

3. You can offer short movie making experiences for children as an activity at kids birthday parties and events. Advertise in local parenting magazines and websites this unique, one-of-a-kind activity children will never forget - especially true since you will be providing them with finished DVD's of their movie less than a week later.

4. If you are a classroom teacher, Girl Scout Troop Leader, home-school provider or after school care teacher, you can create a movie making activity and become a Movie Director to the children in your program. Parents can donate the blank DVD's, costumes, props, and maybe even the technical equipment, so you can concentrate on running the movie set.

Halloween with it's costumes and make-up fun only comes once a year. But movie making provides children with a chance to wear costumes, apply make-up and transform into exciting characters without pumpkins and trick-or-treating.

If you would like more tips and resources for kids on how to make movies, visit www.makeamoviestudios.com for free downloads, plus movie scripts for kids and training materials such as workbooks and DVD's.

Shelley Frost is a movie director for kids, author, drama teacher and videographer. Contact her at shelley@makeamoviestudios.com or visit her website at www.makeamoviestudios.com

Friday, October 17, 2008

Six Year Old Stars in Movie

A few weekends ago my assistant Christina and I drove 45 minutes to Pleasanton, California to do a Make-A-Movie birthday party for a six year old girl.  That is teetering on the "a bit too young" side of filmmaking, however, the little girls mother, assured me that her daughter would shine on camera.  

At the party, the guests began to arrive.  Each one was littler and younger than the next.  It soon became clear to Christina and I that our movie cast was the youngest group of youngsters we'd ever filmed!!  And we began to worry.  Would they be able to say their lines clearly?  Would they understand how to "act" with fellow "actors?"  As the giggling, running, and wrestling increased, so did my anxiety.

We called the "cast" into our cast meeting, where I gently told them the story of the movie we were about to film.  Just like storytelling in a classroom, the children were entranced, probably wondering where the picture book was so I could show them the pictures!  Next, we did make-up.  They were loving this part of the activity, so my hopes rose.

Then we assembled in the kitchen to shoot the first scene.  Once I had "quiet on the set" (which was no easy task because all 20 parents decided to stay to watch!) I gave the first little girl her line.  And she pulled it off spectacularly.  When the birthday girl's cue arrived, she pranced into the frame like a natural.  Next she rattled off her lines, in a loud, clear voice, full of expression and emotion.  I couldn't believe it!

But knowing 6 year-olds, I knew their attention span was limited.  So we quickly ran through the lines, then moved onto the free-for-all singing contest scene.  That's when everyone started joining in the fun, laughing, singing, dancing.

As I wrapped up the movie shoot, sure enough all 20 girls, were done paying attention.  They were off running, screaming, and wrestling.  Did I mention that they were all wearing princess costumes?  Yep, princesses wrestling in the middle of the living room.  It was time for this movie director to head to the edit room.  Cut, it's a wrap!!