So you are wondering how to become a filmmaker. You’ve come to the right place! Our company has a huge focus on educating new and emerging filmmakers so they can make art and live their best, most creative lives in an ever-changing industry. If you want to become a filmmaker but you don’t know where to start, here are three simple things you can do TODAY to get started.
Learn a new skill.
This may seem daunting, but you’d be amazed at how many filmmaking skills you can pick up by yourself, and often for free. It can take a long time to become an expert, of course, but there’s no reason you can’t dive right into learning something new today. Here are a few things you can start today that will get you started down the road to becoming a filmmaker:
- Choose one skill you’re interested in and watch a Youtube video on the subject. This could be the booming series we did with Ambient Recording, it could be a video about how to use a specific camera that you’re curious about, you could search for topics like editing or using three point lighting. Take the time today to listen to just ONE Youtube video and you’ll have taken a step towards filmmaking.
- Read a craft book or ebook. I’ve written about craft books that screenwriters should read, and New 32 has a selection of ebooks you can read in one sitting to learn something new about the film industry.
- Pick a filmmaking podcast to listen to during your workout or commute.
- Pick three articles from our blog and read them on your lunch break.
Start building community.
Even if you’re looking to make a film by yourself, you’ll probably want to talk to a few experienced filmmakers and other creatives before you dive right in. I have a few suggestions for how to build a filmmaking community that can help you become a filmmaker. You can’t do all of these in one day, but you can do a few of them, or make plans for the others.
- Follow a few film industry people on Instagram.
- Join a local filmmaking Facebook group. Lurk for a while, and see if there are ever meet ups you can attend.
- Book a coaching session with us and prepare specific questions you have about how to get started.
- Attend a film festival and network with other filmmakers.
- Text some of your creative or writerly friends to see if they want to meet up to brainstorm your script idea or have a writing session at a local cafe.
Set up a high yield savings account.
Unfortunately, filmmaking is expensive, but that doesn’t mean it’s not within reach. Take a few minutes to set up a high yield savings account with a good rate, and then move however much money you can afford into it. It doesn’t matter if it’s $5 or $5000; we all start somewhere, and as soon as you move that money over, it’s going to start collecting interest that will help fund your filmmaking dreams. Setting up this account is an amazing way to promise yourself that no matter what roadblocks you might face along the way, this movie is getting made.
These are three quick steps I’d recommend you make if you’re wondering how to become a filmmaker. It’s a long and winding road, with a lot of challenges, but there’s also a lot of joy and excitement if you’re taking this path. Good luck, and please let me know how it’s going!
