How do other filmmakers develop so much confidence in themselves?

J

JimS2

Member
Now that covid is slowing down, I thought I would try and give another try at making a feature film. I don't think I would be able to do it this year, because I need enough time for shooting where the seasons won't change from summer to winter noticeably, of course.

But how do other filmmakers develop so much confidence that all the money they have saved up and are spending on it, that in the end, it will likely turn out good? Especially when no distributors are going to be interested in a first time filmmaker until the movie is already made, and therefore, have to wait for that stage before even hoping for distribution.
And of course I am banking my house on the movie as well, but I was told this is normal as one filmmaker I know said that most filmmakers have to do that on one of their first ones.
But how do other filmmakers develop such a huge amount of confidence, in order to just make it easier on themselves, and so they do not chicken out and pull out of the production to save on their money at any point? Also what do other filmmakers do to inspire as much confidence as they have, in their own cast and crew so they will be as excited in making a movie as you, if anyone has any input on that?

Is there any way you can tell that the movie will be likely good, or likely bad before you have finished it, or is there no way of really telling and it's just about confidence and hope?

I was wondering does anyone have any advice, or tips when it comes to that? Thanks for any input! I really appreciate it!
 
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JimS2 said:
And of course I am banking my house on the movie
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Oh yes, of course . . . What? I would not advise doing this, especially if you are still scrounging for confidence. Even if you were super-confident (i.e., crazy) about your film, I would advise against putting yourself at risk of losing your house over it.

DVXUser is composed mainly of professional camera operators and editors who don't do narrative so much as documentary, promotional, and other corporate videos --- bread-and-butter type stuff. Most of the would-be independent filmmakers have gone broke or given up.

I would say most of the confidence that some filmmakers show isn't so much confidence in themselves as enthusiasm for the movie, the story in their head, and its possibilities. Plus I would think that filmmaking in some way salves some deep-rooted psychological needs in people that they didn't get from their parents, school, etc. (oops, I think I'm projecting myself too much). Anyway, my point is, you have to be a little bit crazy to attempt a film, and it's not something I recommend you try to acquire (i.e., insanity) if you don't already have it. More to the point, if the script or production isn't exciting you enough for you to tread forth confidently, then my advice would be to wait. Or second best, proceed, but without much financial risk (like a house).
 
Make a short film, and show it to us. If it's brilliant, we will tell you. If it sucks, we will tell you that too.

If you can't make an interesting short film that people love, then you definitely can't make a feature film that will be a success. It would be profoundly irresponsible to risk your house on a self financed feature film if you can't even make an entertaining short. Well, it's worse than that, it would be criminally negligent and outrageously foolish.
 
Oh okay thanks. Well it's just that other filmmakers I have helped out over the years have had to do the same thing when starting out, so I thought it was normal, unless I am wrong, and they get the majority of their money from other sources?

And yes I have made some short films so far, as well as helped people on their movies. So far opinions have been negative on one, and mixed on the other two. But I was told this is normal and other filmmakers said that opinions are always mixed almost and it's rare to get a majority positive opinion, and that I will just have to make a movie, even if opinions have been mixed, if they have a point? So if some people like a short film of mine, and some don't, how do you many how opinions that like it are enough?

Plus I was also told that eventually, I am just going to have to bite the bullet so to speak, and make it, and they I shouldn't wait for people to tell me whether or not to make it, because if other filmmakers waited for that, then they wouldn't have been successful. Do you think there is a point there?
 
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Of course story is all. A good story will fly even if shot on a phone.

But one way to build confirdence is to do a decade or so of commercial work on weekdays. While having a hobby of shooting shorts at the weekend. Know that you know how to emotionally pull an audience, whether that is knowing how to shock, sadden, excite or do anything else you want.

Not to mention gaining contacts and commercial skills.
 
Oh okay. Well I've helped people on their projects as well as made some of my own with mixed results and opinions. But I was told that I am going to have to gain confidence in myself, despite what other people say though. Do those people have a point, when they say that?
 
People you know will not tell you the truth. Ever. They want to be nice, to be encouraging, etc. Which in the end is a harshly cruel lie .

Post your stuff here. Post it on YouTube. If it goes viral and gets a thousand thumbs ups for every thumbs down, then you're good. If it gets like 8 views, and 7 of those are from your family, then you know it sucks and filmmaking is not for you. And the sooner you find that out, the better, as it frees you up from wasting years chasing after something you won't ever catch. Which is years wasted when they could have been spent developing other talents that you might excel at.
 
Oh okay. Well so far I haven't gotten any opinions much on youtube because I'm not known so it's not like my stuff comes up for people to see of course. But the thing is, is that I was told that I have to confidence in myself and make a movie, despite what people say, because if other filmmakers listened to what others have said, then they wouldn't have ever went for it. Do people have a point when they tell that to me?

Like for example, if there is anyone here who has made a feature film, did they know the only way they could do it was to do it despite other people telling them was too risky?
 
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JimS2 said:
Well it's just that other filmmakers I have helped out over the years have had to do the same thing when starting out, so I thought it was normal, unless I am wrong, and they get the majority of their money from other sources?
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Most filmmakers get money from investors, which could be a movie studio or just a random bunch of rich people who are friends of friends who are up for a little fun venture. But it's the investors who are the ones putting their money at risk. Unless of course your budget is less than $1,000, which is what I would advise at this point in your path.

So far opinions have been negative on one, and mixed on the other two.
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This is a bad sign. Are these respondents friends of yours? Because friends tend to be nice. If your movies are so bad that even your friends are "negative" or at best "mixed", then maybe you should reconsider your calling.

I can tell you that I got nothing but sheer praise throughout high school and college, as I pursued making short movies. Again, most of it was from family and friends, so I know it was overly positive, and I knew my movies weren't perfect. But it also was behind my back. "He was born to do this," one of my friends said to another when I wasn't there (my friend later told me). "That was the only one in the whole festival that I liked," a college classmate overheard a lady say about my film as she left. And yet I still didn't make it! (That was 20 years ago.)

I was also told that eventually, I am just going to have to bite the bullet so to speak, and make it, and they I shouldn't wait for people to tell me whether or not to make it, because if other filmmakers waited for that, then they wouldn't have been successful.
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Yeah, and for every one that made it, there are 10,000 who "bit the bullet" and made a dud. You never hear about them because they failed.

You keep talking about these faceless people that are giving you advice: "Mortgage your house. Bit the bullet. Just do it!" I could imagine a Machiavellian villain whispering such advice in the ear of someone he wanted to ruin.
 
Oh it was people in the filmmaking community I helped out before and they were telling me their thoughts on it, and one of them I worked for had to put his house on the line to make it. As for investors, I guess I just didn't think I would get investors likely. I have worked with filmmakers who had gotten money from investors, but the investors always wanted something that the filmmakers were unable to accommodate, and if that's true, then thought that maybe my own money is best because I don't want to complicate the production, if the investors are going to have requests that would make it harder, based on other filmmakers' experiences?

As for my own short films I was the problems were the acting and the cinematography mostly, and to just get really good actors and a really good cinematographer. I can do that, getting much more experienced talent, requires a lot more money though, so I don't have enough money to keep making shorts though. So if money is limited for me, what then?

But as for doing a feature for only a thousand dollars, I could do that, if that's what you are suggesting?
 
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Well for every 1 in 10,000 that make it, what are they suppose to do, just completely rely on external funding only, and they don't get enough, then they don't go for it?
 
The responsible thing would be to build upon small successes, one at a time. First, you make a $0 movie. And if that turns out good, make a $100 movie. And if that turns out good, maybe make a $1,000 movie. In fact, I would springboard off of Malcolm Gladwell and say that you need at least 10,000 hours of experience before you wager more than a month's salary on anything.

No one sprang onto the Hollywood film scene, or even Sundance, straight from the womb. Actually, in a way, many of them did. I keep finding out about people who made it had a mother or father in the industry before them, or if they came from Nowheresville, they at least had a rich uncle. What do you have going for you besides mixed reviews and shaky confidence?
 
combatentropy said:
The responsible thing would be to build upon small successes, one at a time. First, you make a $0 movie. And if that turns out good, make a $100 movie. And if that turns out good, maybe make a $1,000 movie. In fact, I would springboard off of Malcolm Gladwell and say that you need at least 10,000 hours of experience before you wager more than a month's salary on anything.

No one sprang onto the Hollywood film scene, or even Sundance, straight from the womb. Actually, in a way, many of them did. I keep finding out about people who made it had a mother or father in the industry before them, or if they came from Nowheresville, they at least had a rich uncle. What do you have going for you besides mixed reviews and shaky confidence?
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Oh okay, well I made movies for that cheap before, but they didn't turn out good, because I was told that the acting and cinemography were not good. But is it possible to get good acting and a good DP, without spending money on them? Because I was also told that cast and crew tend to want to do a project a lot more, if they are being paid, if that's true?

Let's say I decide to make a zero dollar movie to be on the safe side. How do you budget that though? I've tried doing the budget, and I don't think really talented experienced actors and crew, are all going to want to work for free though.
 
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It is true, but you need to make do with what you got. You need to make a decent film in spite of having unpaid actors and a volunteer DP. Then you use that to attract investors to your next project, which maybe can afford slightly better actors or a DP or whatever. But you don't risk a bunch of money (especially at a time like this), especially not your house.
 
Oh okay. Well so far the movies I have made I was told were bad, to mixed opinions. But the consensus is that I need better actors and a better DP. However, I am having trouble finding different and more experienced actors to work unpaid. Where can I find actors and DP willing to work unpaid, that are really good? Because I was told that the reason why I haven't attracted investors was because of the acting and cinematography, and told I need to do better in those areas.
 
You missed what I said (and what others have said). You don't need to go "find actors and DP willing to work unpaid, that are really good". You need to become a better director, so that, in spite of your no-name actors and perhaps completely absent DP, your $4 movie is still good.

I am beginning to wonder if you are a troll. Please deposit 25¢, or fill out this form.
 
Oh sorry, I don't mean to come off as troll-ish. Well is it possible for me to direct an actor or DP better than the acting and cinematography will be better then? I thought it was a matter of say... the knowledge and experience the DP had, and not only the directing. Plus if the DP is absent, the cinematography will be worse, since I am not a cinematographer of course.

On my first movie, I tried being the boom op and operating the camera at the same time, but it was very difficult since it was hard to look through the camera, and aim the mic at the mouths. I was told to get more people, who have experience in those areas, so shouldn't I?

I don't mean to come off as making a bad impression, it's just what you are telling me to do is, the opposite of what others tell me to do, and they say I need more people to help make a better product, if they have a point?

I could try doing an unpaid project again, it's just if I do it, I feel that the same thing is going to happen, and the acting and cinematography are going to turn out bad again. So since I have been doing that so far, and the results have been bad, shouldn't I try paying for other people therefore, and do something different? I'm just afraid that if I keep doing the same thing again, it will get the same results.
 
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