So picture this. My bags are packed, I’m loading my car – and then I get a call from the airline. My flight has been canceled! UGH. Thanks United Airlines…

Never one to let obstacles get in my way, I pretended I didn’t know my flight was canceled and I drove the airport. I parked my car in one of the many airport parking lots, boarded the shuttle and proceeded to the United terminal.

Turns out whenever you have fog in San Francisco, (and San Francisco is your connecting flight to Utah) it becomes very difficult for airplanes to land. It also turns out that whenever San Francisco is shut down, you will have an airport with more than fifty displaced passengers presently looking for alternate flights.

At this point, you realize there is nothing special about you. And even though you may think of a gazillion reasons why you should get more of a privilege over the forty-nine other passengers in line (like wanting to attend some cool Sundance parties), you also realize that nobody cares. It is at this point when you fantasize about things you can say to get some leverage. For example, I thought about telling the ticket agent I was friends with the CEO of United Airlines – I didn’t actually tell her this. But you get my point…

While waiting for your chance to chat with ticket judge, the only real asset you have is kindness and the unyielding hope that the ticketing agent is in a good mood. When I got to the agent, she seemed to be OK with me… But she also told me that all alternate United flights were booked. So she suggested that I stay in LA for the night and come back the following day.

Had I agreed, I would have missed the Filmmaking panel at Sundance. Heck, I would have missed Sundance.

If this happens to you, I suggest you act as though you don’t hear the word no. Because sometimes persistence pays off and the universe really does provide. Ask the following question: “Are you sure you can’t do anything?” Then SHUT UP! Don’t say another word. Let the pressure of the silence build tension… Until…

“Well, we could try to get you on another Airline. What if we put you on a Delta flight to Salt Lake City?”

Bingo! Thank you United for the rare customer service!

After a two minute flight from LA to San Diego (not kidding. It really was like two minutes) and a short lay over and two White Russians – I hopped on my final flight and arrived in Utah – instantly blasted with a cold air I haven’t felt since my days living in New York City.

I’m pretty sure the airport was filled with a gazillion other filmmaker types wandering around. Maybe it was my imagination. But in some strange way, I felt at home. This feeling was further amplified when an attractive young woman smiled at me and asked if my name was Jason. I thought she was hitting on me. Turns out…

“Yes. Do I know you?”
“No. But I read your newsletter.”

And as I would soon learn, she wasn’t the only one at Sundance who reads these words. Which is surreal. I mean who are you people? Really?

Anyway, I really wish I could have stayed at Sundance for like all week. But the short notice prevented me from really planning a proper trip. So let’s focus on making a successful Sundance plan for next year.  And in this regard, in your next filmmaking article, I’m going to share the top 10 tips you need to know about a successful trip to Sundance film Festival.

In the meantime, if you feel like introducing yourself – please feel free to drop a comment below…

The most frustrating part of your filmmaking career is when you realize that you are not entitled to success. Early in your career you wake up every day with an unyielding sense of possibility. You think about all the wonderful movies that you are going to make. You picture yourself walking the red carpet with flashbulbs exploding with an intensity of stardom.

You will hold this vision. And if the vision is strong enough, you will take steps towards the achievement of this dream. Maybe you will write a screenplay… Maybe you will pick up a camera and ask your friends to act your short movie. Maybe you will plan your first feature. And if you are lucky, you might even make a movie… And if you are  really lucky, your friends and family will support you because doing something in the movie industry is cool.

But here comes the rub…

Months and years will pass. Your friends will get married. They will have babies. They will have families. And you may very well find yourself living alone in your mid-30s wondering if going after something cool was worth it. It is at this point in life when you must answer one question:

“Are YOU serious enough about your filmmaking career to continue?”

Affordable camera technology coupled with Crowdfunding and Non-Discriminatory distribution has changed the ways in which movies are made, seen and sold.

Even with these changes, there is still a world full of people who enjoy watching indie movies. And one of the best places to get a finger on the pulse of technological trends is The Sundance Film Festival. But instead of looking for major deals, my focus will be finding out the latest news in Video On Demand distribution and crowdfunding…

And let’s not kid ourselves. There are other reasons to attend. The Sundance Film Festival is a great place to spend a weekend. That’s where I’ll be.

If you are headed to the Sundance Film Festival, look me up. I hope to participate in a few events, watch a few movies and hopefully meet up with you. (And yes. I will also participate in a panel discussion – more on this soon!)

When I first started this site I had no idea that it would become one of the most popular filmmaking websites in existence. My goal at the time was merely to share some filmmaking information with the world.

I remember sitting down and staring at the blank white screen before me without any idea what the heck I was going to write. I actually had to call a friend for advice. “What the heck should I write about?”

“Share all your filmmaking screw ups and tell em’ what NOT to do,” she said.

It is hard to believe but but that was close to 400 articles ago!

Moving forward, you can expect even more changes with the site. My goal is to feature dozens of guest writers, review some new products and most importantly- I want to always provide you with valuable information so you can take action and make your movie now!

If you are a veteran reader of Filmmaking Stuff, I hope these changes find you well. And if you are new to Filmmaking Stuff, I welcome you.

Drop a comment below and let me know what you think of the new Filmmaking Stuff.

A reader of Filmmaking Stuff wrote me and asked “How do I get started?”

My response is simple: do one small thing every day to get closer to the completion of your project. if you’re writing a screenplay you need to write at least one half page per day. If you are working to make your movie then you should make a list of all the things you can do for free.

There is a lot you can do today. The question is will you get started or will you make more excuses?

Take action: Make your movie now!

The life you live today is a result of the decisions that you made in the past. The life you live tomorrow will be a result of the decisions you make right now. Make your choices, but choose wisely.

The world is waiting to watch your movies. Take action: Make your movie now!

If you are promoting your movie online, you need to create a simple website. You should have a trailer, an about page, a buy now button, links to your social networks and an easy way for someone to sign up for your audience list. Additionally, adding a few dozen relevant blog articles will help you pick up organic traffic.

Anything else is egotistical movie marketing and bad business.

My friend, the famed horror novelist (and screenwriter) Craig Spector once shared some advice with me that I have been rolling around in my head ever since. I had just moved to New York City and I was sleeping on my aunt’s sofa. I had no idea what I was doing…

At the time, Craig was one of the few people I knew who was actually making a living with his creative work. And one day I asked him what I needed to do in order to become successful. Never one to sugarcoat advice, he simply said:

“Work more. Do more. The work is reality. Nothing trumps reality.”

Speaking from my experience in Los Angeles, I have met countless people who have a gazillion great movie ideas. But they are searching for someone else to do the work. And the paradox is this – people won’t help you unless you do the work. Why? Because when it comes down to it, very few people are actually willing to put in the necessary sweat equity into actually finishing a project.

Next thing you know, another decade passes and you wake up realizing you haven’t done any movie work. You have nothing but talk. Talk. Talk.

Big deal.

I know you work a day job that sucks. And I know how tired you are when you get home from work. But if you don’t finish your screenplay, make your short, or plan your feature this year – you might just end up making the same excuses for another decade…

Get off your ass.

Make something. Even if it sucks. It’s better than nothing.

Two rules of internet marketing for filmmakers:

1. Have more time than money? Create content to get search ranking.
2. Have more money than time? ADVERTISE!

It is always more fun to get free traffic. But if you gotta pay for traffic, there is nothing wrong with that either (assuming you have the money). And in case you don’t know, with movie distribution all messed up, you will have to become your own distributor.

Best to find out everything you can!

In my next filmmaking article, I’ll talk about some simple marketing tips all filmmaker’s need to know.

If you are doing any traveling for the holiday season, make sure you carry a camera with you. While your friends and family take pictures of themselves, you should take time to scout for various locations and other interesting elements that you can eventually put in your movie.

Action steps:

1. Find 6 awesome locations.
2. Take pictures or acquire at least 6 interesting props.
3. Study someone from a distance as a prospective character study.

Seriously. You never know where your next movie idea will come from.