Experimental Film Guide

Experimental films are like science experiments. They are films that test or experiment with different elements of the filmmaking process, like distorting the sound, speeding up or slowing down the visuals or using different camera angles. They aren’t films you would normally see in a theatre. Most of them are actually shown at art galleries or online instead.

Their objective is to showcase something that hasn’t been done before. However, like many science experiments, they might not always work out, but the purpose of experimental filmmaking is to play out with many new, untested ideas and see what happens.

Example Experimental Films

Tips to Help You Get Started

Express yourself: When it comes to experimental filmmaking, there are no wrong answers. These films can be about anything you want them to be, as long as they are creative and personal to you! 

Film everything: Try to get as many shots of your subject as you can. Mess around with camera angles, shots and movements and see how many techniques you can get at a time.

Ready, set, edit: Hop onto your editing software and stack, manipulate, and distort your videos and sound and rearrange them in any way you see fit.

No story, no problem: Not all experimental films have to tell a story. In fact, most actually don’t tell a story at all. 

Try, try and try again: Don’t be afraid to try new things. And if they don’t work out the first time, adjust it and try again. And again….and again. 

Experimental filmmaking is a powerful, unique art form where the only rule is to break all the rules. There is no right or wrong way to make an experimental film as long as it is doing everything it can to be different and it means something to you.