In my ongoing effort to highlight filmmakers who forgo excuses and take action to get movies seen and sold, I would like to highlight a Filmmaking Stuff reader named Jeff, who started producing his first movie. In the following letter, he highlights how to get into filmmaking – based on his experience.
“Hi, Jason – I've been conferencing with my business partner and sharing your insightful e-mails, which have been endlessly helpful. Bizarrely, I feel as though I already knew these things in the back of my head, but none clicked until you put them into words.
I admire that you can offer the informative details I read regularly.
I began about three years ago after a Halloween party where I met a gentleman who did stunning visual makeup. This man walked in, looking three steps past the zombie, and it reminded me of an idea another friend and I had discussed prior. The idea seemed so out of reach until this guy walked in looking professional-grade horrifying. It showed me that people do this. This man would become my business partner, and we would complete our first independent short within the year.
As much as we loved it then, we see now 1001 ways we could have done it better. It remains a soft spot in our hearts; however, there has been discussion about revising and redoing its entire length. However, currently, we have another piece of work that has captured our attention. We thus far have found the most challenging aspect is reliable “Volunteers” in our no-budget endeavor. We have been running things as a two-person crew and had discussed possibly enlarging our base crew.
After reading your articles, we now have decided it is a must.
We do it for the excitement of each new project and the gratification of completion. It also allows local talents to do something beyond what they would have previously given themselves credit for. We wish to make the endeavor profitable. However, that has never been the primary focus. We are primarily displeased with the films of the modern day and miss the classic nuance of the cinema, say, 20 years prior. We wish to learn every aspect.
I handle primarily editing as well as acting when need be. Every new trick I learn is a whole new world of excitement. Our focus is mainly on the horror genre, reawakening people to the lore that existed between the 60s and 80s, before the time of gore substituting horror.
Jeff is an excellent example of a filmmaker who has taken stock of his resources and is making the movie he can make this year. This is the essential first step for anybody who wants to make movies. Nobody will do it for you. And it is best to stop making excuses and start pushing forward with your projects.”
You might want to download my filmmaking checklist if you are looking for more filmmaking information.
