3 Reasons You Should NOT be a Filmmaker

Snuggling up on the couch with some popcorn and an old classic is one of my favorite pastimes.

But making movies? That’s an entirely different story.

• You have to wake up at 6:00, 5:00 or sometimes 4:00am just to get to the set and wait for five hours before you can do anything. 

• If anyone’s late, it throws the entire day off. 

• Breaks are a figment of your imagination, especially if you are good at your job, or a grip. 

• Sometimes projects get canceled halfway through production.

• You get to work 10, 12, or 14+ hour days so the director can “that ONE shot!”

• And most of the time, unless you’re famous, the pay isn’t too great.

So why, you ask, am I still a filmmaker?

It’s my dream

Yes, it’s cheesy and cliché, but it’s true. 

I, Brooke of Granon Film Productions, absolutely LOVE being a filmmaker. Just ask my co-founder Kate.  We both have dreamt of making movies ever since we saw our very first one. For me, it was Spiderman.

The OG Tobey Maguire one, not the amazing Andrew Garfield one or the new and probably most comic accurate Tom Holland one. 

FLASHBACK:

I sat on the couch at a friend’s house when they popped in the DVD and the opening credits began to roll. My mom was uneasy about a six year old girl watching the Spiderman movie with violence and kissing, but for whatever reason I watched the whole thing. After that, I was forever enamored with Spiderman. And movies.

I could go on and on about all the movies and shows I watched in my teenage years (Harry Potter, Doctor Who, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Star Trek: Voyager to name a few),  but I’m here to tell you why you should NOT be a filmmaker.

1) You’ll never work your way to the top

Yeah, sure, there are some people who have done it. People who grew up with connections in the industry, got started early and worked their way up into Paramount or Universal or wherever. You on the other hand are not likely to have that experience. 

Don’t waste your time waiting for that one connection, that one lucky chance to break into the biz. You will waste so much time waiting and dreaming instead of doing. This is what you should do instead:

Just make a movie

If you’re at all connected to the indie film community, you’ve heard them say “just go make a movie! It’s not hard.” Technically, they’re not wrong.

But…they are wrong. Making a movie IS hard.

You could simply grab a camera, a few friends, and make a movie. More than likely, though, you’re not going to see a Hollywood level film. Making quality movies requires the three stages of movie making. You can read about those here: 3 stages of movie making. How hard could it be?

But, what if I don’t want to put in the effort?

If you think you’re going to make the next blockbuster with little to no experience, knowledge, or help… then good luck to you.

To be a successful filmmaker, you have to work hard. Gain knowledge and experience by connecting with people near you who are also interested in film. No one near you? Be willing to drive. After all, if you’re not willing to sacrifice a little time for your dream, what are you willing to sacrifice for?

2) You have to sacrifice a lot

Maybe not everything in your entire life, but you’ll have to give up late night parties, days off, and your daily drink from that coffee shop you love.

If you’re like me, it can be easy to justify “just one coffee” or “I’ll only stay for a little while.” Then you find yourself with less money, less energy, and less time than you had before you started. The remedy, though, is simple.

Self-discipline

This was the hardest part for me. Telling myself that I can only stay out until 10:00pm because I had to wake up at 5:00am for a film shoot means giving up some time with friends. It also means gaining valuable experience and quality time with people who have the same goal as I do. 

As an indie filmmaker, we have to sacrifice more than most. From saving every penny for that nice camera, light, or microphone, to not seeing family and friends for an extended amount of time because we’re spending so much time editing.

Giving up on time with friends and family was terrifying for me. I love visiting relatives, hanging out at restaurants, and goofing around at all hours of the night. What changed for me was how I structured my time. Instead of random texts saying “hey, wanna hang?” it became scheduling movie nights weeks in advance. When I prioritized my dream, my free time became more valuable.

Schedule your time

Planning isn’t everyone’s strong suit. I’m lucky that I enjoy planning. You, on the other hand, might not. 

When you have a dream, whether it’s filmmaking or something entirely different, you learn to prioritize better. My quality time with family and friends didn’t really change. It was the half an hour in the morning scrolling through Facebook, then the wasted time picking something on Netflix, and the excessive standing around wondering what the heck I’m doing with my life. 

You don’t need a daily planner, or an hour by hour structure to your day. Unless you really want to do that. I use a to-do list and write out what I need to do each day, like taking vitamins, calling my grandma, and writing a script.

All you need to do is re-focus your time from things that don’t benefit you, to all the things that DO benefit you and your dreams. When you can do that, you will be set for success! 

Just don’t expect to be on Jimmy Fallon anytime soon.

3) You won’t be famous

We love to imagine ourselves being interviewed for our latest film, or recognized on the street, or hiding from the paparazzi. Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen.

At least, not right away.

Even Millie Bobby Brown, who became famous quite young from her role as Eleven on Stranger Things, had to work for it for years with various audition tapes, small roles on NCIS and Grey’s Anatomy, and ultimately sacrificing her free time. But, it was her dream.

I have known since I was six years old that I wanted to make movies. Until I met Kate, though, I never thought it could be possible. I assumed it was a silly dream and some girl from Yakima, Washington could never be good enough to make movies as a career. That was my first mistake.

My second mistake came after I met Kate. I thought it would be easy to just make a movie and have it turn out beautiful. I was very wrong.

Thankfully, my trials and errors have taught me enough to share this information with you: don’t get involved with movie making if you just want fame. There are much easier ways to become famous.

Is it your dream?

I’ll say it again: making movies is truly my life's dream, the passion I’ve had since I was a child. I make movies because I want to tell stories that change people, make them think and feel, and can have a positive impact on the world. If you don’t have a similar reason to make movies, there are plenty of other great mediums out there from writing (in all its lovely forms) to traditional painting to acting! 

Even if you don’t have the drive to produce, direct, or be “above the line,” you can still be one of the many talented people required to make movies happen. The only question is, are you willing?

Find your niche

There are so many roles to fill in the entire process of creating a movie. Find what you’re good at. I guarantee there is a roll for you on a film set.

Props, costumes, set design & building… filmmaking incorporates countless art forms. If you are determined and willing to follow through and put up with the difficult times, you will experience the immense satisfaction of having your creation shared with the entire world. 

There is no greater legacy than the one that left a positive impact on the world around you. So go make a movie. Be a filmmaker!