The other day it occurred to me that I’ve been living in Los Angeles for more than a decade.
Over the years I have learned a thing or two about Hollywood. I have also realized there are distinct differences between filmmakers who make a movie and the would-be filmmakers who do not.
Since most people in LA are involved in some aspect of the movie industry, most conversations revolve around some aspect of getting a movie made.
That said, what is surprising to me are the vast numbers of people I meet who report spending years searching for ways to hand their movie projects off to someone else – someone who will magically do all the “business stuff” and make a movie appear.
Sometimes I think filmmakers do things just because they believe it’s the way things HAVE to be done.
That doesn’t necessary make it right. And admittedly, I’m not always right. But how I conduct my movie business works for me. And if you’re reading this, I assume you’re looking for some perspective just a little left of center. So here we go.
5 Ways To Succeed as A Modern Filmmaker
- Quit asking permission. It’s a waste of time.
- Create your own business plan and budget.
- Create the movie you can make this year, not next.
- Learn money. (Know the difference between cash flow and capital gains!)
- Similar to #1, quit making excuses. Grab a camera and push “record.”
As an added bonus – because I’ve been meeting a lot of actors lately – if you’re an actor, stop handing out headshots and start producing! Then cast yourself in your own projects.
If any of these filmmaking tips sound useful, feel free to download this filmmaker checklist.
