Yeah that's true, I don't want to regret not doing it at all. I will give it a further shot. And I will try to make things for less money so I don't feel strained by it. I'm going to try work with someone who is better on the budgeting/producing side of things, in order to save money if possible.
How do other filmmakers develop so much confidence in themselves?
- Thread starter JimS2
- Start date
paulears
Veteran
This is plainly silly!
Who are these people who have the budgeting and producing side of things? Are you going to have to pay them? Surely you're capable enough to do a budget yourself? If not, why not? You have tried almost every job, and know little about every role, so why is your confidence so low? You've made so many mistakes, fixated on the causes and shared your problems. Surely by now, you must have a handle on these things?
As has been said - people have a story. They have a plan to make it reality, then they get up and do it. They have confidence they can do it, so they try. You seem to plan and plan and plan and never give it a shot.
Who are these people who have the budgeting and producing side of things? Are you going to have to pay them? Surely you're capable enough to do a budget yourself? If not, why not? You have tried almost every job, and know little about every role, so why is your confidence so low? You've made so many mistakes, fixated on the causes and shared your problems. Surely by now, you must have a handle on these things?
As has been said - people have a story. They have a plan to make it reality, then they get up and do it. They have confidence they can do it, so they try. You seem to plan and plan and plan and never give it a shot.
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
Well here is a thing. I know many film makers. They all have no idea - from what I’ve seen they will never elevate from crappy shorts - even if they blag an Alexa or a name actor for a few shots.
None seem to understand that an engaging feature is an amazing thing.
Then I know one guy who noticed something - a small story in the local paper - anyway he took that really interesting thing and lashed it into a synopsis. Some how he got paid a big lump for someone to have first dibs on the script for a few years. It could turn into a reasonable feature if it ever gets made. And if it ever gets made he won’t need to direct or budget or fund or operate the camera or make tea or find the actors.
He just needed to spot the amazing thing and make the right call.
That’s a skill worth learning
None seem to understand that an engaging feature is an amazing thing.
Then I know one guy who noticed something - a small story in the local paper - anyway he took that really interesting thing and lashed it into a synopsis. Some how he got paid a big lump for someone to have first dibs on the script for a few years. It could turn into a reasonable feature if it ever gets made. And if it ever gets made he won’t need to direct or budget or fund or operate the camera or make tea or find the actors.
He just needed to spot the amazing thing and make the right call.
That’s a skill worth learning
Batutta
Major Contributor
He has made a feature film before. He just wasn't happy with the results so he's asking for advice to make it better next time, and asking how other filmmakers gain confidence to keep trying. Honestly, I wish other people here were more sympathetic. There seems to be a lot of unwarranted hostility in these posts. Making films and being creative can be a risky endeavour, financially, emotionally and psychologically. He asked a sincere question about his personal doubts, and I don't know any creative person who hasn't been wracked with doubt about their talent at some stage of their career.
ahalpert
Major Contributor
Probably his first mistake was asking this question to a bunch of jobbing cameramen who see the director as replaceable. (And vice versa: "Just hire a better DP!")
I think his question can be asked of any daunting endeavor, or even of asking someone out on a date.
It definitely helps if you have someone in your corner egging you on (your spouse, friend, brother, mother etc)
Usain Bolt was crying or throwing up with nerves the night before his first race and asked his parents what would happen if he lost. "We'll still love you," they said. He went on to win that race and many others.
I confront my fears my pondering mortality. I'm dead already, so what do I have to lose?
I also accept failure. If you can live with failing, you have nowhere to go but up. I accept the possibility of failure before every job interview and that helps soothe my nerves and improve my performance and raise the odds of getting the job.
But personalities differ and YMMV.
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Oh I was just trying to come keep coming up with a better plan but yes, I will do it. Well the problem with budgeting myself, is, I can't get the budget low enough. I thought I should work with a budgeting expert who is better at it therefore, with more experience. As for mistakes, I thought I learned a lot and had a handle on a lot of things, now but people tell me I don't, so that makes me reconsider things.
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
It seems everyone has it arse about face. You dont need a low budget, or any budget or a T2i canon , you dont need your kid brother to swing the boom - these things did not happen on Game of Thrones or even on a super indie budget ($5m?) feature.
A good synopsis was writen, funds found by or from producers, the funds then employ eveyrone from screenwriter to DP,Costumier, Make up, actors, grip, tea maker.
Most people here are some form of camera department awiaing the call once the funds have been found. Most of us know nothing of that process. Many idoits here and a couple of geniusses have tried making film another way. Its usually a failure and one in a thousand an success
A good synopsis was writen, funds found by or from producers, the funds then employ eveyrone from screenwriter to DP,Costumier, Make up, actors, grip, tea maker.
Most people here are some form of camera department awiaing the call once the funds have been found. Most of us know nothing of that process. Many idoits here and a couple of geniusses have tried making film another way. Its usually a failure and one in a thousand an success
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
Ive made two fiction films as part of the camera depatment. The first was funded by the directors fortune, the second by a telecoms careerist fortune. Both basically failed and failed because they all thought they could direct it themselves and failed to hire a professional director. They would have saved money by hiring professionals right through the chain.
ahalpert
Major Contributor
Basically. I would look at 2 things:
1. How did your favorite directors make their start?
2. How did the most RECENT directors whose work you like make their start?
Those are the folks you should emulate.
As for confidence - it's an emotional thing. You might do better consulting Oprah.
Batutta
Major Contributor
It's a catch 22. They don't hand out decent budgets to directors without experience and you can't get experience without a budget, so fledgling directors usually have to resort to other means for their first projects. Some pound out short films. Others are compelled to make features.
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
The thing is what is a film maker? Its the one with the vision (or business proposal). A director like a cam op is just an artistic technician? Directors get fired mid shoot, demonstrating that they are not the film maker. THe film still gets made without the first director.
Oh okay, but I can still do well with a microbudget do you think possibly?
Batutta
Major Contributor
Well, this varies a lot. Some directors are just hired guns. Others have a complete vision for the production, from script all the way through to editing.
Batutta
Major Contributor
Sure, people have done it. Shane Carruth made Primer for 7 grand. It's just a lot harder when you can't throw money at problems.
ahalpert
Major Contributor
Well it sounds like Jim/Ironpony/Ryan wants to direct his own film. Probably a film that he writes. So, hiring another director to do it is out of the question, as is him being fired mid-stream.
If he writes a great screenplay that somebody else picks up, then great. But he's still not directing, although it might help him get to directing later.Oh well I thought of working with a co-director before, thinking that might make things easier, but I was advised against this, as that will just make things more complicated, I was told, and the best way is to direct the entire thing myself, if that's true, and that a co-director is a bad idea...
Batutta
Major Contributor
I'd advise against that unless you already have a really close creative relationship with someone. Most co-directors are brothers, or lifelong best friends, or sometimes married couples.
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
Mate direct all you want. Its a fun hobby and a good job for a few. If you are shooting a feature using lots of your own or anothers money it will be more likely to profit if you employ an experienced director.
Im hired by a developing director. He has done 10 years in TV and is begining to square up for narrative fiction - he not ace but I can assure he has some chops.
Im hired by a developing director. He has done 10 years in TV and is begining to square up for narrative fiction - he not ace but I can assure he has some chops.
Oh okay, but this the paradox I face though. I was advised not to work with a co-director or a separate produce who is good with budgeting. It seems the best way to make a movie is to do a lot of the tasks yourself, and I find that more overwhelming, than relieving if I have help.