Filmmaking Career Tips To Hang On Your Wall

If you're feeling stuck in your filmmaking career right now, this video is for you. We're gonna go through some practical no bullshit tips that you can literally print out, hang on your wall and use as a daily reminder for yourself. Because whenever you feel like you're not moving in the right direction, I guarantee that something in this list is being ignored. Get your notebook and a pen and let's just dive into it. So first up, refine your niche. And like my favorite quote from Jordan Brady goes, put yourself in a box. A lot of us are telling you to think outside the box, but uh-uh. If you want to make it in this industry, you got to productize yourself. Solve a very specific problem. Tie it to a specific genre or style or industry and stop trying to be everything for everyone. You think being a jack-of-all-trades is gonna get you somewhere? It's gonna get you nowhere and fast. Define what sets you apart. It doesn't matter if you're a director, a cinematographer, you're a freelancer running a whole ass production company. Either way, get laser focused on what you want to be known for. Make sure your work really reflects that desire. You've got to carve out that space for yourself. So make it undeniable what you bring to the table. Next, update your freaking showreel. Don't let it be a dumping ground for every little thing you've shot. See, I don't want to see your cousin's wedding next to your horror short film next to that corporate gig you did for some extra cash. Cut the fluff. Just keep it tight. It should showcase your best and most importantly, your most relevant work. The stuff that aligns with where you want to go next. And when I say showreel, I'm not just talking about some montage reel with all your best clips in one video. I mean, that's cool for DPs. But even then, people want to see storytelling, not just pretty shots in one montage. So when I say showreel, I just really, it's just a lingo that's being used in the industry a lot. All it really means is your portfolio. It's the stuff you're proud of. The stuff that makes a statement about you as a person, as a filmmaker. So make sure it leaves an impression. Make sure it makes that dent. All right, so next tip is reconnect with your network. And I'm not just talking about hitting up Instagram and spamming people with let's catch up messages. That's just noise. I mean, genuinely reconnect. Reach out to your old contacts. Attend events. Join online communities. Actually engage with people in your field. So it's not just about making new connections. That next big opportunity, right, that you really want to happen may come from a simple organic conversation at some random event. But, and this is key, don't make people feel they're just means to an end goal. Because no one wants to feel like they're just a stepping stone in your career. So make sure your conversations are genuine. How do you make that happen? I mean, it definitely takes a bit of a perspective shift. And you really have to realize that fully. But the best connections are the ones that feel like the end goal in and of themselves. Any work that comes from that is just a bonus. And trust me, you'll see way better results this way. Don't be shy to seek feedback and mentorship. I see so many filmmakers out here thinking that they don't need anyone's help. The best of the best had mentors. People who guided them, showed them the ropes. So don't just rely on your own perspective. Get outside opinions too. Your mentor, or your friends, or even your freaking audience. I mean, especially audience. They'll tell you straight up what's working and what's not working. Like take me for example. I truly care about your feedback on my videos. And especially when it comes to my short films. And some projects where I really put a lot of my effort. Because I know honest feedback is crucial to leveling up. And I think there's one more thing to note here. Don't let it break you. Just use it to refine your work. To see the ---- that you're blind to. Now let's talk a little bit about pitching. Tighten your pitching strategy. This isn't something that you just wing as you go. You don't just walk into a room and start talking. You really need to be clear, concise, and compelling. Those are your three C's. Clear, concise, and compelling. Do your homework on who you are pitching to. And tailor your presentation accordingly. There's a whole bunch of things I go over in my treatment writing 101 ebook. But the key really is to just be super honest. And make it feel like you're helping your friend make a film. So you're not doing it for yourself. You are serving your client. And the key word here is serving. You aren't trying to find means for your creative endeavors and commercial work. Leave that to your downtime. And leave business for business. All you really do is serve your client. And this helps me personally to put it in perspective. Think of your client as your close friend. Not some big fat corporation with suits sitting and turning down your ideas left and right. They're really your friends. You're collaborating. It's a party. So make it personal. So finally let's talk about business. This is where most filmmakers drop the ball I feel like. So you need to know the basics. Think of it as something like business 101 or something. Design your offer. Identify your ideal client. And tailor your messaging to fit them. It's simple but a lot of us get so caught up in the art of it all. Thinking that we are these avant-garde artists. But we're really all we are is little businesses too. Whether you're a freelancer or running a production company. You really have to just approach this as a business. So with that in mind make a landing page that clearly states who you are. What you do. And what problems you help solve. Be upfront about it. Don't be sleazy. Opposite of sleazy I think is just being clear and being super honest. Don't be shy to utilize marketing tools. Could be through content or paid ads. And get your name in front of your ideal customers. And you could be making content. It's good. It's free. But it's very time consuming. So paid ads could cost you money. But be a really really great way to cater to your new audience. If the messaging is clear. But just don't forget that you are a business. Whether you realize it or not. So look. Feeling stuck often comes down to lacking in one of these areas. And I seriously recommend you take notes. If you haven't been taking notes this whole video. Go back. Rewatch it. And take some damn notes. And then keep this list handy. Refer to it whenever you hit a rough time. And if it's business skills that you find lacking. Let me know in the comments. I'm down to dive deeper into this in the future videos. And as always. If this video helped you out. Share it with someone who might need it. Because that's the only way we're gonna make this industry healthier for all of us collectively. Subscribe for more no fluff content. And that is it. Peace out.