10- Watch many films in the genre you like best, so you can get inspired and get ideas

We've said it many times. Copying, not literally, but reproducing a certain idea our own way, is part of the process of growing as an artist. For example Lynch has copied Buñuel in many of his concepts....and it's perfectly acceptable! (It's also considered good etiquette to name your sources of inspiration...)

9- Sketch your ideas and create a storyline.

It's very useful, even if your film is non-linear and abstract. That way you can organise yourself better too.

8- If you're shooting digitally, do as many takes as possible.

Do different angles and settings. You might surprise yourself choosing the take you never thought of. Experiment also with different backgrounds, and if you're working with cast,you might want to make them repeat a scene until they perform it the way you had it in mind for it to be.

7- Learn well your edition programs so you can take the best from them.

There are hundreds or even thousands of tutorials for most edition programs, available online. Give them a look before you start editing. You can come up with great ideas that will enhance your film. Specially if you're working on none or little budget, with nowadays edition software you can achieve amazing things at post-production.

6- Don't exceed yourself with the camera shaking and lens or edition bluring.

Even when your film is abstract, most expectators can tell when bluring or shaking was a desired effect and when was due to unskilled recording. This effects and filters can be confusing and disorienting if abused.

5- Choose a palette for your film-.

The palette in a film is as important as in any plastic visual art. Be consistent to your genre and be consistent between takes. Playing with the palette to manipulate the viewer's perception it's a great idea too.

4- If you have actors, make sure they learn their parts and you've casted them correctly.

It is very importan for a good flow. We all start by asking people we know to help us with our director's career...but we still can cast them!

3-Pay good attention to what you see thru the viewfinder.

Ok, so you're on no budget and you're learning...Precisely! That doesn't mean you can't be careful with your settings and backgrounds, with your angles, with the lighting. If you're doing stopmotion....please no hands!

2-Remember the music has a great effect on the expectators perception.

Take your time to find suitable music and sound effects. It is a very time consuming part of edition, but it pays off when you finally find the perfect sound.

1- It's wise to never release a film for public view until you're 100% happy with it.

If you're learning, there is no hurry. Have fun, enjoy yourself and give your best to it. Filmmaking is one of the most demanding types of art, and it can take from days to several years to finish a piece,yet, when you finally see the result, it's very rewarding.