Partners and Collaborators Don't Exist

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Awake-In-Anamorphic

Member
You can't do it all alone, even though I really try. I write, direct and edit. I own my own equipment. I expand my contacts with actors and crew. All so that I can get my little films produced.

And the more I end up accomplishing, the more (small) successes I achieve, the more people offer to be "partners" and "collaborators."

"Hey, we should collaborate!" they say.

I've finally learned what that means. "We should collaborate" always means "I can't do what you do. I don't have the energy or creativity. I don't have the equipment. So I'd like to leach off of you."

It sounds harsh, but I'm finding out that it's the truth. Because I've wanted partners too. Going it alone is sorta scary and lonely. And there is too much to do. I don't want to have to know it all. I'd love if someone could offer up some skills in exhcange for some of my skills in return. But the river doesn't run both ways very often.

And then there are partners. Slightly different than collaborators, partners are more like a business arrangement between two or more people. But again, the arrangements seem to lead to more hardship than help.

Any of you had better success with partners or collaborators?
 
it's difficult to find people passionate about art, most people are robots that don't know what they are doing.

if your looking for an editor or a colorist, show me a sample of what you make, if i like it, you can test my skills as you like, you might get a real collaborator.
 
what's the point of doing it all alone? ego? half the reason I make films is to meet other artists and to make something that no one of us could have accomplished on our own.
 
Zak Forsman said:
what's the point of doing it all alone? ego? half the reason I make films is to meet other artists and to make something that no one of us could have accomplished on our own.
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That's great if you're lucky enough to work with people who passionate about it. Unfortunately the arts are full of people that want to be a part of the end creation but don't want to be bothered with the mundane part of creating it or financing it.

Ego is not why I go it alone whenever possible, it's out of necessity. If I need someone uncreative to tell me how they would have created it if they could create it I'd just wait for a critics review.....
 
Leadership has been said to be the act of making it safe for others to follow.

It's tough being out there alone, believe me I know, but it's also OK if you find someone who brings to the party the things you might be weak in. It can be difficult to observe oneself and be honest and learn what you're not good at. But if you do, then maybe you'll find someone that, in cooperation with, the both of you will be stronger and both will prosper. I believe we need to approach things with the attitude no one else is going to come help or rescue me. It's not what I want to believe, but it's what I've learned is my common reality. On the other hand there are exceptions and partnersfips do happen to form and some do quite well. It's worth keeping your eyes open and searching as long as you don't slack off on projects. So if you desire, go find the other pieces & put the puzzle together, with the idea that you can do it yourself if need be.
 
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it's not luck. it's work. I spent three months interviewing candidates for crew positions on HEART OF NOW. that process of attracting and discovering talented people is essential to a successful collaboration and fostering a creatively motivated atmosphere on set.
 
Zak, I think you might just be especially talented at finding the "right" people. But I suspect it might also have something to do with the fact you found a rare core of collaborators you trust. Maybe living in LA doesn't hurt either, as there is a lot more choice among savvy, professionals who understand the landscape. Hey, it worked for The Beatles. I think they were lucky too. Imagine how many "half-talents" would love to have teamed up with McCartney. But instead Paul met John Lennon.

But I've not been so lucky. It has happened a few times now. I think I'm not choosing the right partners. But I honestly haven't met any that are any better.

And so, like ddp, I go it alone out of necessity only. Not ego.
 
Try "collaborating" with a fellow filmmaker who you don't quite see eye to eye with especially when you're laying out a budget and crew list for your next big project (that you pitched and sold) and then you realize there's nothing he's really actually good at... especially in the pre-production stages. Then it just becomes awkward trying to fit him in.
 
Awake-In-Anamorphic said:
Zak, I think you might just be especially talented at finding the "right" people. But I suspect it might also have something to do with you found a rare core of collaborators you trust. Maybe living in LA doesn't hurt either, as there is a lot more choice among savvy, professionals who understand the landscape.

But I've not been so lucky. It has happened a few times now. I think I'm not choosing the right partners. But I honestly haven't met any that are any better.

And so, like ddp, I go it alone out of necessity only. Not ego.
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maybe. knowing how to interview someone is a skill i had to LEARN. but i don't hire "professionals" and every cast/crew on every film has been mostly different, with a few exceptions.
 
I don't think you "interview" a true collaborator. Spielberg doesn't interview Lucas. They had a meeting of minds and equivalent clout, power, talent, ability.

That's very different from interviewing a good production designer or focus puller.

I'm really talking about forming a partnership. A company.

Notice how many are brothers to begin with: The Weinsteins (yikes), The Cohens, The Wachowskis, The Dardennes. You really are looking for someone you can trust like family. I've found the interests of the people I tried to partner with are very one-sided.
 
those are collaborations built on an existing friendship first. they're rare. my partner in Sabi Pictures is a guy I've known since childhood. but in terms of finding people we want to collaborate with, from writers to actors to DPs to other directors, I definitely go thru an audition phase with them first.
 
puckthemad said:
Try "collaborating" with a fellow filmmaker who you don't quite see eye to eye with especially when you're laying out a budget and crew list for your next big project (that you pitched and sold) and then you realize there's nothing he's really actually good at... especially in the pre-production stages. Then it just becomes awkward trying to fit him in.
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This is MUCH more like the experience I have had. Very similar.

And yes, it IS awkward!
 
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