At one point or another, one of your films is going to call for the use of at least one gun, and unless you've already got your own arsenal of real firearms, getting your hands on some is going to be a touchy and expensive undertaking. If you're more keen on the cheaper alternative, stockpiling plastic toy and airsoft guns, it's important to make sure that they look realistic on-screen. In this helpful tutorial, filmmaker Tom Antos shows you how to ensure that your shoot 'em up film doesn't lose its verisimilitude by applying a weathering technique that is not only used by professional prop makers, but is also less expensive than a couple of cups of coffee.
One of the biggest differences between a real gun and a fake gun, other than the fact that one could critically injure you (or kill you), is the materials used in fashioning them. Airsoft guns may be much more accessible than prop guns used specifically for filmmaking, and less expensive than real guns, but they're made of plastic (or rubber) -- and that difference really shows up on high-def screens.
To help make these firearms look more realistic, you can apply a "weathering" technique that many professional prop makers use. As he'll demonstrate in the video, Antos sprays metallic silver spray paint on a piece of paper, dabs the paint with a sponge, and rubs it over the edges of each gun to make it look like weathered metal. Take a look at his tutorial to see exactly how he does it:
Though making fake guns appear real on-screen is extremely important, don't forget that airsoft/toy guns are also significantly lighter than their real brethren. Working with your actors to ensure proper, realistic handling of fake firearms is a must if you want to completely sell the illusion. (And don't forget great sound effects!)
If you're interested in more tutorials focusing on the making of action films, be sure to check out Antos' full article. He takes us behind the scenes of his film NWO United We Stand and shows us how he filmed not only the action sequences, but the entire film as well.
Do you have any tips on making fake guns look real? Do you know of any online resources for purchasing different fake guns? Let us know in the comments!
Short Shorts Film Festival & ASIA (SSFF & ASIA) is an innovative fest that's consistently opened new avenues for filmmakers in interesting ways since it originated in 1999. SSFF & ASIA is taking it a step further this year, partnering with the digital asset system LIFE LOG BOX to take your film submission and management to the modern age and beyond.
LIFE LOG BOX works to keep your content safe with partially permanent data storage. It's a neat and nifty new service that puts filmmakers first by maximizing the value of our content, also allowing you to compile portfolios and earn new work and revenue in your respective marketplace.
The three main initiatives of LIFE LOG BOX are asset management, portfolio creation and marketplace accessibility, which they break down as such:
Asset Management: Partially using IPFS technology, this distributed data storage system is designed for permanent storage, ensuring that important content is not lost in the event of an emergency.
Portfolio: Creator introductions and works can be posted. Enter film festivals, sell contents, and connect with companies for project matching, etc.
Marketplace: Using blockchain technology, create a system to return profits to creators by converting content, authenticating authenticity and clarifying ownership.
LIFE LOG BOX interfaceCourtesy of SSFF
This all sounds pretty cool and interesting and like it could be an exceptionally useful tool for filmmakers to have a sort of one-stop digital shop where their films can safely live and be distributed on a wider scale with ease. Anyone that's ever submitted and promoted films in the film festival circuit can attest it can become quite cumbersome and overwhelming, so a service like LIFE LOG BOX opens a lot of opportunitities for ease and kindness to filmmakers.
Read on below on how SSFF & ASIA is partnering with LIFE LOG BOX for this years fest.
Store Your Film's Assets Safely and Semi-Permanently
LIFE LOG BOX safely stories files, data, and creative works even adopting IPFS (InterPlanetary File System) technology, basically meaning it can store anything submitted (for instance the short or feature itself, any loose files that may be associated with the film like a trailer or poster) semi-permanently preserving it.
The benefit of this is massive, not only providing a safe way to backup important digital assets without having to buy more hard drives, but also consolidating all of said assets in one place to quickly send out with ease.
Imagine being able to digitally access your xml or mxf with the click of a button. Pretty cool! It also manages related information, so in theory could work to build a deeper portfolio over time all in one place.
See the graphic below for a detailed breakdown.
LIFE LOG BOX asset management graphic
Courtesy of SSFF
Promote Your Films With Ease
LIFE LOG BOX asset management graphic
Courtesy of SSFF
Another cool feature is the portfolio, where, as mentioned above, you can easily showcase your work overtime as your projects accumulate.
LIFE LOG BOX is designed with the intent to help sell user contents, matching project with companies and even help manage contacts for content usage.
Another accompanying feature is the implementation of the marketplace, which utilizes blockchain technology to tokenize various rights related to content (example voting and viewership rights as NFTs).
The idea here is to clarify original authorship and ownership rights in order to build a better system to return profits to creators. We love anything that is inherently considerate of filmmakers having a better chance to make a profit for their work.
The NFT aspect is interesting too, where filmmakers would be able to resell their projects digitally this way, setting royalties so they can continue to profit from resale. Potentially a groundbreaking new direction for film sales and distribution.
Courtesy of SSFF
LIFE LOG BOX will be the port to explore your contents business opportunities with Japan & World's Film Network. There are actual track records of content acquisition through the Short Shorts for screening events, streamings, and TV broadcastings etc...
New Opportunities and Streamlined Festival Submission
LIFE LOG BOX logo
Courtesy of SSFF
SSFF & ASIA are using this technology in interesting ways to help make their festival as innovative as ever.
Using Know-How of film festival, Network of Creators inside & outside of Japan, supporting companies and short film fans
By managing content with LIFE LOG BOX and registering a profile, it becomes possible to enter SSFF & ASIA (with plans to enable entry into other film festivals in the future) based on that information. Entry status and awards history are also interconnected, enabling centralized management.
They are aiming to bring transparency to judging by allowing participation in judging films nominated for festivals and awards, wanting to create film festivals together with creators.
How are filmmakers responding to this?
Jonathan Langager, director who has already registered his SSFF & ASIA award winning film "Cosmic Fling" commented as, “I’m more than grateful for everything ShortShorts and LLB has done to get my short film in front of an international audience. That’s a much needed service for filmmakers everywhere.”
Hitomi Kuroki, an actress and film director, said, "I have directed two short films and held a screening last year, but I felt that I had not yet reached a large number of people. I heard about LLB and I wanted to participate and support it. I believe that various barriers such as language, regulations, and budget for filmmaking will be overcome on this platform. New encounters will be born as well. I would like to encourage everyone who is aiming to make a living as a filmmaker to participate, that way LLB will be great force to support them. Let's all send our creatives to the world together!"
All in all it seems like an interesting, innovative new service that is very filmmaker first, and w're excited an esteemed festival like SSFF is collaborating and setting a new way forward for more and more festivals to test the boundaries of traditional festival structure.
Learn more about LIFE LOG BOX here and watch the video below for a staff breakdown of the software:
LIFE LOG BOX starts Illuminate SSFF & ASIA 2024 Movie Contest on March 28. Your short film might have a chance to be screened at the International Short Film Festival Ceremony! Voting rights for the contest will be distributed to the general public in LIFE LOG BOX.
The short clip that receives the most votes and is selected by the festival committee will be screened at SSFF & ASIA 2024 ceremony in June.