When you endeavour to make a short film with a micro budget (or none at all), you are taking on some interesting challenges.  Every aspect of your production is a series of compromises, and the sound department is no different.

This article is geared specifically for the rookie filmmakers, with concepts and tips written with the assumption that they are about to make their first short film, and are looking for low or no-cost ways to get usable sound to tell the story.  I make some gross generalizations, and only touch on some topics that people have spent lifetimes studying.