Director Xiaoyu Yang Shares Tips For Short Filmmakers & Film Students

Starting out as a film student is an exciting and creative time for aspiring directors aiming to transform their cinematic vision into reality. But when production begins and reality sets in, budgets, casting and time management becoming daunting challenges to overcome.

Xiaoyu Yang is a New York-based filmmaker who’s recently completed a Broadway Musical short, Another Wonderful Day in Paradise. Originally a thesis film for her studies at the City College of New York, Yang has gained direct insight into the world of student filmmaking – we sat down with Yang to discuss her production process and relay some industry tips for other students or first-time short filmmakers looking to finalize their short film.

What advice do you have for new students about to take their first steps in school?

When you start your next film idea, the first thing you want to keep in mind is “don’t go too big.” If you’re a student, you can access all the resources needed in school. For instance, filming equipment, space, an editing room, cast, and even the crew can be made up of classmates. Remember, costs will rise fast – extra crew members, rent for filming space and visual effects are examples of areas that can go over budget if not considered properly.

Think big for your thesis – your last film in school – because that’s your shot to prove your ability to the public. You’ve then got the time and resources to prepare.

How do you manage finances?

As a student film, a large portion of the budget is going to come out of your own pocket. There are multiple ways to raise the money, but first, work out an exact expenditure. The right time to create your budget is after your script is ready to shoot. If your project is a romantic story or drama, I don’t recommend crowdfunding because you need a marketing plan to attract people and convince them that the story will be worth contributing to. With the right awareness campaign, this is still possible but that will require extra costs.

However, if you’re making a documentary about minorities, children, or vulnerable groups of people – stories that people care about – or topics that possibly resonate with wider society, then crowdfunding is an ideal method of fundraising. Try to plan as early as possible. Keep your scholarship and get a part-time job to save your money. There are also many competitions that give grants for scripts. You can pitch your idea or script as early as half a year before you start preparing it and then use the grant to film it.

Some schools allow you to make feature films during the academic years, some only allow you to produce a short film. If you’re ready to film a feature, taking out a loan can be a viable way to raise money. But, if you’re making a short, this isn’t necessarily the best way as short films have fewer distribution channels than features. It may be an option if you have alternative jobs or incomes to pay the debt, otherwise, you won’t be able to cover what you spent if you can’t sell your short film.

What are your recommendations for the auditioning process?

There are lots of great website directories to find actors for your film. Some examples include Backstage, Casting Network, Casting Director, and Mandy.com. But as a student, you already have access to the school theatre and actor departments with a breadth of talent looking to gain experience and exposure. Having access to the education network also means you can post casting calls in other schools and spread the word across social media.

When sharing openings for your film there are important details that need including. Make sure you post the character’s racial background, gender, age, height, weight, and maybe a little bit about the character’s personality. Most importantly, include the rate! If the role is free, include the costs that are covered such as food and transportation, and if there’s none, be honest. To really entice people, promote the platform that the film will premiere on.

For auditions, be well prepared with questions – the details matter when finding the right person. If this is your first film, it’s entirely possible that there will only be a small number of actors interested. But that’s why preparation is key, even if there’s one person, you need to explore their acting ability and knowledge to the fullest – sometimes they’ll surprise you or introduce you to more performers. And to emphasize the previous tip, make sure every detail of the role is properly communicated to avoid last-minute dropouts.

What about assembling the right crew?

Classmates and professors are your greatest resource when finding crewmembers. Start building a contact list for a crew from your first assignment in school – don’t be a one-man-band. Not only is teamwork essential to getting the best out of your idea, but developing working relationships makes it easier to quickly assemble a crew for your bigger productions. Keep in touch with them even when you don’t have anything to film, give them a hand if their project needs help. Valuing people’s own work is not only positive, but it will lead to them valuing your work in return.

How do you manage your crew?

For my upcoming film, I negotiated with the crew about paying them rates based on my budget before I hired them. It’s best to be upfront about your financial situation and not promise anything you can’t deliver. In order to please my crew, I made sure they had every meal on time and checked with them to find food they liked. I also prepared snacks and drinks for overnight filming. For the crews that couldn’t lower the rate, I’d pay extra when they worked extra hours.

I was never mad at my crew because I knew they came for lower rates than normal and wanted to help – when people are made aware of your circumstances they’re more likely to agree to costs that suit you. My lead actress, Paulina Ruiz, came for free, and didn’t ask for any payment. So I offered her transportation, free singing training, and dancing classes – I listened to her needs.

How do you balance work, school, and personal life alongside filming?

Completing a film is about sacrifices, be prepared to sleep less if you have to keep on working and going to school alongside filming. To find the time, it’s worth spelling out your priorities – rank your tasks in order of importance. First of all, start each day with a schedule and work out where you can find time for the film. If you’re up at 7am for work or your studies then find time during gaps in shifts – complete as much as you can before your break time. The best tip is to know when to say no. While it can be tempting to work on more projects, this will only result in nothing getting done. It’s also really important to find some time for breaks, but making a film requires a strong work ethic.

Film Inquiry thanks for taking the time to speak with us. Find out more about her film, Another Wonderful Day In Paradise, here.