New to making films here, or new to MOFA? Follow these steps in order. Each one opens the page that answers it. None of this costs anything to read.
- Meet people. MOFA meets every month at a mixer. Come once and you will leave with a crew. See the date on Events, and get the weekly email. Members also talk every day on our Discord. When you are ready, join MOFA.
- Pick a deadline. A deadline makes a film get finished. Enter one of MOFA's own competitions, a film race or a festival: every one is on Competitions, soonest first.
- Write it. Use the free MOFA Screenwriter in your browser, and read Screenwriting for formatting, coverage and contests for scripts.
- Find your cast and crew. Post on the casting or crew boards of the Forum. Read Crew, Cast & Unions and Ohio Unions & Guilds before you promise anyone anything.
- Get the money and the paperwork right. Funding, Grants & Tax Credits has what is open to you. Business, Legal & Insurance covers releases, contracts and insurance, and Production Workflow & Templates has schedules and call sheets.
- Find gear and places to shoot. Borrow, rent or buy through Gear Rental & Purchase, Libraries & Makerspaces and the gear board. Every rental house is on the gear map. Find locations on the Map and in Permits & Filming Locations, and rooms in Studios & Stages and on the studios map.
- Shoot safely. Read Safety on Set before the first day. Props, costumes and sets are in Props, Wardrobe & Art Department.
- Finish it. Edit, colour and mix with Post-Production and Sound & Music. Music and footage you are allowed to use are in Stock, Archival & Public Domain.
- Show it. Submit with Film Festivals & Submissions. Find a screen on the screening map, book a room with Screening Venues & Exhibition, try Public Access TV in Ohio, and tell everyone on the screenings board.
- Keep learning, and give back. Classes are in Education & Training, and groups in Community & Networking. Answer someone's question on the Forum, or support MOFA.
Stuck? Ask on the Questions & help board. The whole reference shelf is the Wiki.