Nick Willoughby 
Digital Filmmaking For Kids For Dummies 

The easy way for kids to get started with filmmaking

If you’ve been bitten by the filmmaking bug–even if you
don’t have a background in video or access to fancy
equipment–Digital Filmmaking For Kids makes it easy to
get up and running with digital filmmaking! This fun and friendly
guide walks you through a ton of cool projects that introduce you
to all stages of filmmaking. Packed with full-color photos,
easy-to-follow instruction, and simple examples, it shows you how
to write a script, create a storyboard, pick a set, light a scene,
master top-quality sound, frame and shoot, edit, add special
effects, and share your finished product with friends or a global
audience.

Anyone can take a selfie or upload a silly video to
You Tube–but it takes practice and skill to shoot
professional-looking frames and make your own short film. Written
by a film and video professional who has taught hundreds of
students, this kid-accessible guide provides you with hands-on
projects that make it fun to learn all aspects of video production,
from planning to scripting to filming to editing. Plus, it includes
access to videos that highlight and demonstrate skills covered in
the book, making learning even easier and less intimidating to
grasp.

* Create a film using the tools at hand

* Plan, script, light and shoot your video

* Edit and share your film

* Plan a video project from start to finish

If you’re a student aged 7-16 with an interest in creating
and sharing your self-made video, this friendly guide lights the
way for your start in digital filmmaking.

Table of Content

Introduction 1

Week 1: The Basic Digital Filmmaking Process 7

Project 0: Getting Started with Digital Filmmaking 9

Project 1: Getting to Know Your Camera 19

Project 2: Framing a Great Shot 40

Project 3: Making Your Film Sound Good 56

Project 4: Getting the Best Lighting 68

Project 5: Adding Magic by Editing 82

Week 2: Making a 60-Second Film Trailer 103

Project 6: Planning Your Film Trailer 105

Project 7: Shooting Your Trailer 116

Project 8: Setting the Pace and Mood with Editing 126

Week 3: Making a Documentary 155

Project 9: What Makes a Good Documentary? 157

Project 10: Shooting Your Documentary 165

Project 11: Overlaying and Underlaying in Editing 173

Week 4: Creating Your First Short Narrative Film 193

Project 12: Assembling Your Film Crew 195

Project 13: Telling Your Story 202

Project 14: Location Hunting and Props 212

Project 15: Choosing Actors For Your Film 219

Project 16: Planning Your Shots with a Storyboard 227

Project 17: Enhancing Your Shots 233

Project 18: Making It Sound Even Better 244

Project 19: Adding Mood with Lighting 252

Project 20: Time to Film 260

Project 21: Getting the Film Look with Editing 268

Project 22: Getting a Film Review 289

Index 296

About the author

Nick Willoughby heads Filmmaking For Kids and Film Future, a pair of programs designed to teach kids aged 7-16 the various aspects of filmmaking. Nick is also a writer and director for 7 Stream Media, a video and media production firm based in the UK.