Make a plan
Organise your team, create a storyboard and follow it. What do you need to make your film happen? Cast of thousands or just hours squinting at a screen. Make a list of everything and everyone you need and sort it out beforehand. It's really that simple.

Camerawork. Steady now!
Fast camera pans, zooming and too much wobbly camerawork will turn your film into a headache maker. Keep the camera steady, use a tripod or other camera support if you don't feel too restricted by it. Did you know a shopping trolley makes a great Dolly?

Following your storyboard when you shot will get the shots you need. If you can use two or more cameras then do, the same scene from different angles can be useful.

Sound quality
Sound is often more important than vision. Always listen to the sound being recorded on headphones, try and use a directional microphone and keep background noise to a minimum. Why not have someone on set act as noise monitor, all they need to do is shout loud “quiet on set” when you tell them to.

Label everything
Make sure you label all your tapes when filming, that you keep records of props used (who owns them and do they need returning?), note down all the locations you use and get everyone’s name for the credits.  Have someone set keep notes of the shots as you film them.

If you are creating things on computer, name them sensibly. Will everyone know what “S1E1_00001.avi” mean? Wouldn’t “Ann_walks_in_room_cam1.avi” be better?

Capture and edit
If you are filming you will need to get your shots from the camera and into an editing program.

Save time by not capturing all your footage! Why not watch the scenes you filmed on a TV, pick out the best ones and capture those. Follow your storyboard to make sure you get the shots you need.

When capturing and editing there are numerous options. If you have a Mac, iMovie and Final Cut Pro are ideal. If you have a PC, then Adobe Premiere LE, Windows Moviemaker or any number of other programs will do. Remember on a PC you will need a capture device – most computer shops have a multitude of options. It comes down to budget and personal preference.

Music and sound effects
Do you need music, if so it has to be either royalty free or you need permission to use it. Forget anything from your CD collection, you can't use it.

We have a special deal with Audio Network at www.audiolicence.net, they provide excellent low-cost music for film and TV. Check the document on music in this pack for details

The web is a wash with other sites offering rights cleared music or you can create your own with any music sequencing program such as Acid, Sonic Foundry or Apple Soundtrack.

Test your film in front of an audience.
Does it work? Show it to your friends to test whether your original concept needs tweaking, just because it worked on you doesn't mean everyone is going to love and understand it.

Better still, read the script and go through the storyboard before you start filming!

Enjoy yourselves
Make sure everyone knows what their role is within the project and that everyone is as important to a collaborative production like making a film.

Some things can get a bit tedious when making a film, remember to have fun doing it – the end result will be better.