Watch the original short film "Flawsome" here.
Introduction
Welcome to the behind-the-scenes look at the making of my latest short film - 'Flawsome'. As a director, I've had the privilege of guiding a talented crew through the process of making this film, from casting to post-production. My goal with this post is to share the knowledge I've gained throughout this journey, and hopefully inspire budding filmmakers to create their own opportunities.
The Beginning
Before I talk about the film itself, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Nur Niaz, a professional film director. I am passionate about sharing my experiences in filmmaking, which I hope will help you carve your own path in this field.
For a while, I had been itching to break free from the commercial projects I was working on and do something purely for the love of the craft. This desire led to the birth of 'Flawsome', a project I nurtured for about six months.
The Idea
The concept behind 'Flawsome' was to create a series of short sketches portraying the random and sometimes absurd thoughts that cross our minds. Not to sell anything, but to show the audience that these fleeting thoughts are a normal human experience. I initially presented this idea to several producers, but didn't get the enthusiastic response I was hoping for.
Treatment
The project first took shape as a spec commercial for Calvin Klein. I decided to write an honest and sincere treatment, which I kept tucked away in a drawer for a few months. When I finally mustered the courage to present it to Kesha, a producer friend from Qara Studios, she showed genuine interest and thought the idea was fresh and unique.
Check out my director treatment templates here.
Casting
Once Kesha and I shook hands, we knew the next crucial step was casting. Aida from Qara Studios, who is exceptional at her job, took over the casting responsibilities. She did an excellent job and found the perfect actors on her first attempt.
Costumes and Makeup
Once we had finalized our cast, our Stylist and Set Decorator, Azhar, took over to ensure they looked the part. She did a fantastic job, and I found myself approving almost all her suggestions.
Locations
Next was the location scouting. We wanted to find a minimal number of sites that could convincingly stand-in for multiple locations. Our chosen locations included an interior studio, a conveniently located bar, and our production company’s office. We also built a small kitchen set in a warehouse for one particular scene.
Gear
When it came time to gear up, we were fortunate to have most of it nearly for free, thanks to our network. Our DP, Madiar, suggested we shoot on the Arri Alexa 35 – a top choice in the industry. He also brought along his own set of Elite Anamorphic Primes. The rest of the gear included titan tubes for lighting, tripods, wireless monitors, a Bolt motion controller, and a trinity 2 with a steadicam operator.
The Shoot
The atmosphere during the three-day shoot was incredibly laid-back. We always found time for jokes and relaxed conversations. Those days on set stand out as a highlight of that year. It was a transformative experience, the kind I believe every film set should have.
Post-Production
Post-production was a straightforward process. After several editing sessions with my friend and long-term collaborator, Kurogatsu, we were able to refine the project. Figuring out the score for the film was a bit of a challenge initially. However, during the editing process, we used placeholder music from Artlist, which fit so well that we decided to keep it in the final cut.
Artlist
I am grateful to Artlist for hooking us up with the best music for our film 'Flawsome'. I've been using Artlist for over a year now, and it has been a game-changer in my creative process. Artlist is more than just a music library - it is an all-in-one creative asset platform that includes sound effects, stock footage, templates, and plugins. The flexibility of Artlist's pricing plans gives me peace of mind.
Conclusion
My goal with this post is to inspire you to create your own work, be it a music video, spec ad, or whatever you like. Don't sit there waiting for the right opportunity to come knocking. Create these opportunities yourself. And remember, it’s always on you to make the first move. To help you get started, check out my director treatment templates.
