10/10's - Ten Lists of Ten Tips for Digital Filmakers & Professional Videographers
Ten Tips on Making Your Film Look More Professional on a Budget - Continued

6. Don't get hung up. It's better to have a loose approach than having to pay attention to all the details. Making sure there is continuity, the actors got their lines, or the lighting matches will take away from being creative. Go for it and make it look like you did it on purpose.

7. Simple ideas. Don't take too big of a bite. Avoid a complicated storyline or a big controversial topic. Pick something close to your heart with interesting characters and a surprise ending and you can't go wrong.

8. Do it all yourself. It's the only way you learn and you can't blame anyone else for your mistakes. Be behind the camera and edit your own film, so you can experience the whole process. Learn from your mistakes.

9. Compromise. Making a movie is a series of compromises. Don't get stuck on the small stuff. Just go with the flow.

10. Pre-visualize. Shoot less and plan more. It's a lot harder these days with digital video to maintain shot discipline. Imagine the movie playing in your mind. Do you like what you're seeing? CPM

Karen Nedivi is Cinema Perfecto's Managing Editor and a professional videographer. She has worked on a number of films, documentaries and video art installations. She's been following her dad around on film sets and watching her mom edit on the Steenbeck since she was a little girl. The family garage was also a prop-house, a playground where she first learned to make movies with her brother. Since graduating NYU film school in 2005, she's been searching for a like-minded community of filmmakers; a network of inspiration and support. She is also a mother of a 17 month old boy, Solomon. To see more of her work visit: www.karennedivi.com

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