Being a filmmaker is a lifelong journey adorned with excitement, adventure, and the ever-so-recurring bouts of frustration. If you are a newbie to the world of filmmaking and are about to embark on your journey of creating your first ever film – likely to be followed by many more, we hope! – you are likely to be met with confusion and distress. You may question what are the ideal first steps you should be taking; what challenges you may incur; and what your Plan B should look like.
While every filmmaker’s journey is unique – with some attending film school and others starting inexperienced; and with some finding themselves in rooms full of powerful people, while others having to claw their way in – given below are five tips that all first-time filmmakers can benefit from:
1) Start with a good script
The more time you spend on drafting your script, the easier is the journey ahead likely to be for you. Your script is your best friend, and no matter how haywire things may get on your actual film set, if you have a well-written script waiting, you are likely to overcome all challenges and constraints. Film audiences are always ready to forgive filmmakers for mistakes or quality interventions that occur due to budgetary or timing constraints if the script touches their hearts. You need to ensure that the script and story are on a topic you resonate it: whether it be a German history epic, a Greek saga, or a light-hearted comedy, it should speak your language.
2) Plan and schedule your shoots
As a first-time filmmaker, your ability to put everything down in writing is what would guarantee your success in this field. The more you put things in writing, the more organised you are likely to be, and the easier it would be for you to deal with sudden interruptions and altercations. Before beginning the actual shooting of your film, you should also map out shooting schedules and accommodate a cushion in your schedule to cater to minor issues that may arise out of nowhere. A schedule planned and presented well in time would also leave an apt amount of time for your cast and crew to free up their calendars in preparation for your film.
3) Acquaint yourself with your crew
Since you most likely have little to no experience with a fully functional crew as a first-time filmmaker, it is now time that you get acquainted with how things work on a set and how you are supposed to work with your crew. The more you learn to trust and rely on your crew, the less you’d have to worry about small details. The most important aspect of working with a crew is knowing that if you hire a hardworking and experienced team, they would want nothing more than to have creative freedom and control – you simply have to give them insight into their vision, and allow them to do the rest of the work for you.
4) Look into funding and cost-saving
As a first-time filmmaker, you likely have little funding in your pockets, and hence should be on the lookout for additional funding opportunities and cost-saving endeavours. Multiple production houses and filming councils have film development funds and funding opportunities available for certain genres in film and documentary production. Be on the lookout for such funding opportunities, and check if you are eligible for artist support grants. For cost-saving, it is wise that you focus on hiring fresh talent in your cast – not only would you be able to benefit from the wide pool of talent, but would also be able to give new faces an opportunity. You should also consider looking for tax incentives and returns such as french vat recovery especially if you are shooting in foreign locations.
5) Research before you submit
Festival submissions are likely to occupy a lot of space in your creative head during the film-making process, and you should hence spend considerable time before submitting your film to a festival. While many filmmakers blindly submit their films upon completion to a bunch of festivals and hope for the best, this practice is unwise and can cause a negative outlook about yourself as a filmmaker in the eyes of jury members, especially if they were to think that you did not bother reading their festival’s guidelines. Hence, it is recommended that you research all film festivals, respectively, pay attention to their requirements, the target audience, and match those with your film before making your submission.
Creating your film requires a ton of hard work, patience, and determination. Oftentimes, you may find yourself giving up, but you should remember that as a filmmaker, nothing feels more rewarding than to watch your hard work up on the big screen and listen to critics rave about your filmmaking skills. This drive for recognition should keep your passion enlightened throughout your film-making journey.
I began writing as a professional on my personal blog and then discovered my true calling, which is writing about technology, News, and gadgets in general. I am a technical writer, author, and blogger since 2010. An industry watcher that stays on top of the latest features, extremely passionate about juicy tech news and everything related to gadgets.
