Filmmaking / Directing : Filmmaking: A New Experience for Me. by James O'Hagan

I’m glad to hear that you’ve discovered how involved and overwhelming filmmaking is. You’re fortunate in that many aspiring filmmakers never come to that realization. You haven’t failed – you’ve learned. I’ve discovered that rather than shooting a trailer, often times it’s better to shoot a prequel to use for fundraising. The reasoning is that a trailer implies that your film is already made and is looking for an audience. A prequel on the other hand, often leaves the viewer asking the question - “then what happens?” – to which your response is “invest in my film and I’ll show you.” The prequels are generally the first half of ACT I (of a traditional film/story structure.) It’s a short – maybe 12 min +/- film that introduces the characters/place/time and conflict. The short ends unresolved (the ole’ cliff hanger ending.) So my advice is to try turning the first 15/20 pages of your script into a short film for the festival circuit and fundraising efforts. Best wishes for success.

Wow, yeah this was really to get my feet wet. If it sparks interest then that's fine, if not that's ok too. My business has always been commercial video and photography in the mixed martial arts business, so this is somewhat of a transition. Since that post I have consider a few other things like focusing on the script more then anything right now. Also it was a feature, but I am focusing on some shorts at the moment to help myself get my style and feelings for creating a film. It will take time, but I'll be just fine.

The best advice I can offer is to JUST DO IT and do not put it off. Finish it, don't put it down or wait. JUST DO IT!

Hey James - if you can afford to do it, I would say just dive in and do it. You can procrastinate and put things off; work your butt off making fancy trailers and so on but, ultimately, the best way to learn is to get on with it. The past 20 years, I have been in the music biz, fronting a band. Then, last June, I completed my 2nd screenplay (low budget). By October, I was filming. Finished in Dec, in post now and put my face around Cannes. I didn't have a CLUE. But I read everything and anything I could get my hands on to immerse myself in a world I wasn't familiar with. I was scared as hell but just took it a small bit at a time and emerged - unscathed - the other end. I will soon have something to be proud of, that will hopefully springboard this burgeoning new career of mine.

The only books I read were by experienced filmmakers. They all tended to say the same thing; that there is no point in procrastinating and the best way to learn is to do it. What's the expression? Feel the fear and face it anyway. We are all different and there is no set A-B-C way of doing anything vocational, you just need to find what works for you.

Everyone has good points. Thank you very much.

James, come talk to me, in private. I started where you did.

No fear at all, I just jumped in without a strategy. Now I'm backing up and gonna focus on some shorts and adding to my equipment. I haven't been in the movie business, but I have been in the sports entertainment business for a long time. I have been doing a lot of research the last couple months, and I've read a few books on filmmaking (eg Alfred Hitchcock's Master Filmmaking book, a few other books, on Kubrick, and I've been focusing on perfecting my script before anything thing else. So I get the idea.

And I have a ton of passion for the entertainment business, and that includes filmmaking as well, for me at least. I've sacrificed a lot so far, and I know I will sacrifice some more to get where I want to be. But, I'm not worrying about not making it. I will. Maybe not a world famous filmmaker, but if I can leave behind great films for fans to enjoy long after I'm dead, then for me that's enough payment right there. I'm not worrying about money at this point. I have a battle plan and I have a small group of indie filmmakers giving me some advice and helping me. It will take time and work, but I'll make films. I made a name for myself in regional mixed martial arts industry, and that's only my second choice, film making has always been my life long dream as a child. Negative or positive, it comes with the territory.

Alle. A vocation (Latin: vocātiō "a call, summons"[1]) is an occupation to which a person is specially drawn or for which he or she is suited, trained, or qualified.

Lmao. You are extremely thorough with your explanations and if I was a lesser man, I would take everything you are saying as a warning NOT to work in film. But, everyone is different. And sports entertainment has the exact same principals as film. Make a product, sell a product. Make that product betters sell it again, and again. I've worked for myself a very long time with some decent success and I have produced a great amount of commercials for tv and internet. I'm not unaware of what's going on and I have a decent amount of mentoring from other established indie filmmakers that I've connected with the last year or so. I'm not reading books to copy someone's style. But, I will tell you that I'm gonna listen to what Hitchcock or Kubrick had to say, before I listen to the average Joe on the street. I'm not uneducated with film. Just haven't worked directly in making a film myself. I'm not looking to make it big in the industry, I'm looking to make some movies and have fun. My man goal is to teach production with video and audio and maybe a little journalism. But, if something big happens then I'll pursue it. If it doesn't then that's ok too.

James – you and I would get along just fine; if’n it ain’t fun, don’t do it.

Keep the learning cycle going. Create->Evaluate->Learn (repeat) During the Evaluation, figure out what you did (either a process, technique, result, etc) that wasn't as good as it could have been. Research the topic and Learn more information about it. (Take a class, read some articles, get advice from a pro, etc) Apply those new skills to your next project... and repeat the entire process. Best wishes man!

Anchorage Alaska here - Check the post in the lounge there is a lot of good information, just have to find it. I recommend that everyone post there location like I did so we have a better idea when answering questions and request - this business has a lot of hands on and the web can't do everything

I have a book suggestion for you: "Make your own damn movie!" by Lloyd Kaufman

Great book, Kandi. I have the whole set!

Lol, I think anything by the creator of Toxie, is worth reading.

do what you feel is best, go with your gut when it comes to editing.

Go to fundanything.com when you do it. Its the site where Donald Trump will put up money if he likes it