From a very young age, I've always loved telling stories and, for the most part, I've expressed this passion through writing - something which others claim I am apparently very good at and I hope to one day get published. However, I have recently begun to have ideas for stories that I think would be difficult to portray within simply text and I also want to experiment with something new, so I think it would be cool to produce a short-movie based around the Deus Ex universe (whose transhumanism themes really gripped me). Now, I really don't know much about movie production, but what would be the best route to go? I don't have any professional equipment besides a decent laptop that I could do some editing on nor anybody to work on it besides myself. Is animation a potential route or what?

Honestly, I don't think you can if you don't have anything to do it with.

Become a puppeteer!

Well, surely everybody - from animators and actors to directors - have to get started somewhere?

I want this short-movie to be of a sufficient quality. If I can't make it that, then of course I'll just convert into a book. Also, be realistic!

Film School is a great place to start.

Get a video camera, a tripod, and a lot of different wigs.

I didn't plan on having to take lessons, perhaps I'll just write a book instead...

Again, be realistic. I don't want to make some crappy thing, I want it to be decent. If not, I'd rather just write a book as I said.

Animation is possible. However it's a lot of work and if you want to render it in a high quality then you'll need either a lot of time and cooling, or a super PC

Other options involve spending large amount of money on filming equipment, or getting a group together (where each person specialises in a different aspect of production), or just making do with what you can get your hands on and making the content extremely good.

Well, other than animation or actually acting, there isn't any other options are there? Shame, because I really want to try another medium besides books.

Anyone suggest other alternatives then perhaps, from films and books?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_QNBwvBV4Y may inspire you/be of relevance (it was all recorded on a phone, see the behind the scenes)

You have to put more points into your movie-making skill.

I know I could even just use a phone on a tripod, but I don't even have anyone willing to - let alone good at - acting

LOL. What?

Practise yourself in front of a camera and watch it back. Try to evaluate yourself and then keep doing it again making changes as you see necessary. The trick is not trying to come across a certain way, but to just put all you've got into it.
Watch videos by the likes of ryan higga, you'll see the style he does (by himself) and it works for him.

I think putting your thoughts and story into some kind of storyboard would be the first place to start. Think about how you would arrange the scenes, the settings/backdrop, the characters, etc.

I've always had a soft spot for stopmotion/claymation videos, but I can't imagine the headache that goes into actually doing that

Well, seeing as I want to make a futuristic movie inspired by Deus Ex, stop-motion is going to be hard. Animation would be good because I could have all futuristic things without special effects. But, when it comes to acting, I doubt its possible really. Could anyone suggest some other mediums to tell a story with?

What would be other potential mediums, if any, besides books and film/video?

Comics? Puppets or paper dolls? Audiobook? Narration (audio) accompanied with artistic renderings of scenes/

This. Storyboarding is an art. Start being aware of it in the movies & TV you watch (if you aren't already). E.g. Brad Bird is a storyboarding master IMO.

Animating even a short is a herculean task. Try just drawing it all first. It doesn't matter if you can't draw well when you are storyboarding.

Oh, wow! I could do that! Write a book, get someone with an epic voice similar to read it out and someone else to produce some drawings of key scenes. layer it with some music and it would be done!

Okay. So I am looking for a great artist and a voice actor.

Yeah. Back when I was younger, I remember watching an episode of Made on MTV (don't judge me ) about an aspiring director. Let's just say that it was an epic failure.

Maybe think about Machinima?