Why Your Reasons Are Important When Making Your Films – Indie Filmmaking Tips
When embarking on the challenging path of filmmaking, it’s essential to ask yourself what your motives are for choosing this route. Each person will have their own reasons for wanting to make a film, and it’s not for anyone else to judge if those reasons are right or wrong. However, based on my own experience with my first no-budget feature film, here are some quick insights on why having strong reasons is crucial.
1. Strong Reasons Fuel Your Project
Having compelling reasons for making your film can sustain you through the difficult times. Your motivations should be robust enough to fuel the project, keep you moving forward, and even inspire others to join and support you, especially when working with little to no budget. Strong motivations will help you persevere through the many challenges you’ll face.
2. Avoid Reliance on Future Outcomes
Your reasons for making the film should not be overly dependent on future outcomes beyond simply having a completed film. It’s important to focus on the process and the project itself rather than setting your sights solely on uncertain future successes. This approach helps in managing expectations and staying grounded.
3. Measure Success Thoughtfully
Be cautious about how you measure your success. Success can be subjective and may not always align with external validation or specific outcomes. Reflect on your reasons and the intrinsic rewards of completing the project to gauge your success meaningfully.
Final Thoughts: Understanding and clarifying your reasons for making a film is crucial. Strong motivations can drive you through the challenges, while avoiding over-reliance on future outcomes helps you maintain a realistic perspective. Measure your success in a way that aligns with your personal goals and motivations, first and foremost this is usually having a completed film to be proud of.
Do I Need a Professional-Grade Cinema Camera to Make a Film?
Like most dedicated filmmakers, I shared similar equipment concerns when I set out to create my first feature-length film. This topic is a common point of discussion among fellow creators. Dive deeper into equipment considerations by downloading my free, concise 4-page PDF guide, available here.
Steve Conway Films 