I know what it’s like. I’ve done it myself. I’ve made shorts that have been selected by some fairly decent film festivals. I’ve produced features that have won their money back – and other that have lost. And My projects have won some significant international awards. But it’s still really heard work. You can’t really look over your shoulder because you will rue past mistakes. still, it must surely be easier than when you started out. Here are 9 signs you’re a bonafide independent filmmaker.
1. You know your audience inside and out
When you finish a film, you want it seen by as many people as possible. Right? Successful filmmakers know who their audience is. And more importantly they know how to reach them.
2. You accurately valuate your assets every time
When you create a film you have the ability to create a multitude of assets that can be used on a variety of platforms. each variation of your content can b e utilised separately to help your investors 9 Signs You Are A Bonafide Independent Filmmaker your work.
When Simon Hunter wrote and directed the Raindance 2020 cinema advert with Raindance Film School students, he created a 90 second Hero version that contained 5 fifteen second shorts for use on social media.
3. You have connections in the film industry
Networking should be high up on your list of priorities. It is easy to forget that the film industry and the creative industries are people industries. It’s not what you know but whom. How can you tell a bonafide independent filmmaker? See how full their little black book is.
It’s that simple. You should tell every single person you meet who you are and what you are doing. and get them to see if they can think of someone to help you. And of course, reciprocate generously.
4.You hear yes far more often than no
Have you ever grabbed an associate or a friend and said: “What do you think of this?” And then started on your next fabulous idea while their eyes glaze over and the fidgeting starts? That’s a ‘NO”. And it’s painful. We all have acquaintances who bore you to tears the minute they say “Can I tell you a joke?”
A sign that you’ve made it is when all ears turn attentively to your next idea for a movie. And all eyes get glued to the screen, be it large or small. And that’s a “YES”.
5.You’ve worked with film companies of all sizes and closed some significant deals
Anyone checking you out, be it cast, crew or investors will want to see what you have done before. Your past history will show successes both large and small. and remember some of your smallest projects could become big according to their success. That one minute short you made might have won festival awards, or gone viral and had thousands of of views on social media.
6. People talk about your activation ideas for a long time afterward
Have you ever been in a tricky situation where you didn’t know where a solution would come from?
Maybe you were moving house and the truck didn’t show up. Or perhaps you were on a crowded commuter train that stopped mid-tunnel. Do you remember if someone rose to the challenge of leadership and got everything running smoothly?
Or maybe it was you directing or producing your film under the most adverse conditions imaginable. How did you rise to the challenge? What were the elements that could have swamped your shoot in less capable hands? Inclement weather? Lack of money? Adhering to COVID shooting protocols?
Us mere mortals are always looking for solutions. and very likely you will provide the innovation and leadership that will impress and inspire long after the event(s) that you untangled.
7.Your events draw huge attendance numbers
Surely this is tip 101. You can’t call yourself a bonafide independent filmmaker if no one comes to your screenings, or to your events. And it isn’t about filling the largest stadium in the land. It’s about creating content that the right people want to see.
8.Your investors and partners rave about you and recommend other partners of interest
Nothing boosts your career and reputation than great recommendations from your current partners. How do you treat your film investors and partners? Once you have this sorted, you will find that your career will rocket skyward.
9. You have a working film development program that you’re not afraid to change
Nothing is changing quicker than the film and media industry. Are you able to adapt and pivot and be able to seize new opportunities? It’s important to remember that traditional film schools have little or nothing to offer in the new world of multi-format visual storytelling.
Fade Out
When you approach a new creative opportunity, sell yourself over your skillset. If you show interest and a good outlook you’ll find your carer and reputation expanding rapidly. And you might even find that you’ll be rejected for being ‘over qualified’. Wouldn’t that be an interesting change?
Did you know?
- Raindance members save 20% on filmmaking courses?
You can join online >HERE< and access freebies and discounts immediately - Our open courses are FREE for our HND, top-up BA and postgraduate/MA/ students
- You can book a free 1-1 consultation about our full-time degree filmmaking courses HERE
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- We don’t teach ‘filmmaking’ at Raindance. At Raindance we make filmmakers.
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Photo Credit: Bertie Watson
I founded Raindance Film Festival in 1993 because the British film industry was closed, polite, and congratulating itself while shutting new filmmakers out.
I co-founded the British Independent Film Awards in 1998 because British indie film deserved more than a shrug, a pat on the head, and a Tuesday night screening.
Raindance didn’t start as a brand. It started as a rebellion: film training without gatekeepers, a festival without permission, and a community built by filmmakers who weren’t waiting to be invited in.
Later, we took it global: Toronto, Vancouver, New York, LA, Berlin, and Brussels, because independent film doesn’t belong to one city, one class, or one accent.
I’ve produced 700+ short films and seven features, including Deadly Virtues (2014) and ALICE, which won the SXSW Grand Jury Prize (2019) not because someone “discovered” us, but because the work earned its place.
I’ve written three books used by filmmakers worldwide because too many courses taught compliance instead of survival.
In 2009, I was awarded a PhD for services to film education, ironic, given that most of my career has been about tearing down the rules that education insisted you follow.
I don’t believe in waiting for permission.I believe in making work, building systems, and forcing the industry to catch up.
Specialties: Independent Film (the real kind) · Producing · Writing · Film Education · Festivals · Breaking Broken Systems
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