To get started you need a simple idea, something appropriate for a short film and two or three hours of filming. Some of the easiest ideas for both the filmmaker and the cast of introductory stars would be to make a spoof. Anything could be spoofed but the simplest spoofs that come to mind are television – either TV shows, commercials, or newscast anchors. There are plenty of television shows worth spoofing (some already seem like spoofs of themselves). There are reality shows, game shows, so-called prime-time news shows, late night talk shows, and soap operas. The props and any costumes must be kept simple, but many of these television shows take place in a single room, or on a single set, or behind a desk. Television commercials are easy to spoof, with the product being the obvious prop, and the desired time of thirty or sixty seconds a natural for the amateur night of amateur filmmaking. One idea might be to do a very short newscast, complete with the spoofing of local anchors, someone reading the news, another the sports, another the weather, and including one or two commercials.
        Other ideas are a simple melodrama, and a pantomime sketch. In the popular television show called Whose Line Is It Anyway? two people would create a variety of things to do with a single silly prop, such as a large hose or a bizarre shaped piece of foam rubber. Another idea could be as simple as the actors making a variety of funny faces or emotions in front of the camera. Many people do best when told specifically what is required of them, however, so to allow the cast to be completely creative of their own characters might be reserved for an unusually outgoing group.
        Once the idea is written down, the invitations can be mailed. Your cast will be quite bored if they are to sit around and wait for an actor to finish his or her part, so it is advisable to get everyone involved in some way when they are not on camera, such as making sure the props are ready, looking for continuity errors etc. It is imperative that everyone understands the film and their role and what is required as there is nothing that can put a damper on an evening of fun than confusion or disorganization. Camera positions, storyboarding, lighting, and exposure readings must all be rehearsed well in advance of the event.
        Since the disappearance of sound film has made dialogue-on-film more of a chore than in the past, actual facing the camera dialogue can be kept to a minimum. Using a local newscast again as an example, one might have an actor read the news but insert pictures over the person’s dialogue, much like a real newscast does. Only in this case, the pictures might be the weather anchor taking a nap while the sports anchor is talking, or perhaps getting the pictures of the sports and the news or weather jumbled so that the sports pictures are shown over the weather, and vice versa. There are numerous possibilities, including the anchors getting into an argument and the soundtrack of the argument overlapping the commercial. If mistakes are made, that might be part of the fun. There certainly is not enough time to make everything right, as the show must go on no matter what.
        When the filming is over, there can be any variation of outcome for the film through the editing process – as long as the one final result is a finished film. Sound can play an important part in the editing, and can improve an otherwise lackluster idea or series of shots. Using the selection of funny faces made into the camera as an example, this scene could be enhanced by the music that is set against the pictures. Another example would be to use sound as a comic device, exaggerating the sounds of someone blowing their nose, or opening a door, or scratching an ear. This type of comedy has been used since the advent of sound film itself, and has the added advantage of distracting the audience from what might be less than stellar acting.
        Everyone invited to the party gets invited to a second party in which the completed film is shown. This is also the perfect time to start the next “party film,” right after the showing of the first. If the first party is a success, then variations on the party theme can later be incorporated. If an idea requires the use of a few characters, the names of those characters might be put into a hat, and a random drawing used to decide who will play each character, rather than having pre-assigned roles. If the movie parties become a regular event, it won’t be long before your invitees will be creating ideas or variations of their own.
        So, break out your confetti and noisemakers and put on your thinking cap. It’s time to throw a party – and make your next movie.