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Watch Films on Jumpcut

View the submissions to FYI 2007 on Jumpcut.

VOTE NOW for your favorite semifinalist film on Jumpcut to help determine the winners of the Yahoo! Audience Awards.

Why 16 to 25?

FYI - Film Your Issue was created as a youth-directed outreach to encourage young global citizens to participate in public dialogue. It's a way to encourage civic participation in those at a critical stage on the cusp of adulthood who may not have access to the tools and platforms available to older citizens. We see FYI as a fun, dynamic and creative way to help impact the lives of young people and nurture future leaders, be it through film, journalism, politics or other forms of expression.

FYI and SixDegrees.org

FYI has partnered with Kevin Bacon's SixDegrees.org to help raise money and awareness for issues that matter.
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Making Your Film

Read our tips for making your film.

FYI 2007 Competition

Making A Film

When making a film there are some basic guidelines to keep in mind from pre-production to post-production. These simple rules can alleviate the level of stress and anxiety that can build during filming. The top ten tips are as follows:

  1. Plan your movie – Use a storyboard and script, make a budget and stick to it.
  2. Know your audience – know who you are making this movie for and what type of audience you are trying to attract.
  3. Get Clearance for filming at locations – Make sure you have permission to film at the locations you've scouted out. Don't forget to acknowledge those who have given you clearance in the credits.
  4. Shooting the film – Plan on taking some sample footage for lighting and background testing. Timeline your shooting schedule make sure you know what you will shoot in a given day. Rescheduling can be difficult. Shoot from various angles. Plan on taking several takes of a scene to get the best quality, but keep in mind typically the first take is the best due to fatigue from your actors and crew. Use a tripod, start filming a little before and after the action to not cut off words or movement during the editing phase.
  5. Images – Don't cut off heads. Panning and zooming should be smooth and slow. Make sure your imagery tells the story you are trying to convey.
  6. Editing – Every story should have a beginning, middle, and end. Set the scenes with shots that were storyboarded. Select clips that convey the story and tone of the film the best.
  7. Lighting, Audio, Scene – Are the scenes too light or too dark? Is the audio clear and loud enoguh? Are the scenes edited to create a smooth flowing film?
  8. When adding music be aware it adds another emotional layer to a film. Blend it so it doesn't drown out the speaking parts. If not using music in the film, consider having it in the credits.
  9. When done with post-production work, watch the movie and look for areas that need tweaking. Get a second opinion. Be open to suggestion.