r/Filmmakers • u/jragsdalemusic • 3h ago
Looking for Work I'm a composer and I recently made this folk-horror adrenaline piece. Let me know what you think!
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
r/Filmmakers • u/C47man • Jun 09 '25
Thank you all for participating in the poll! Here are the results. To accurately gauge everyone's collective acceptance vs rejection for each, I've tallied the total votes among all choices as pro/anti for each category. So for example, a vote for 'no changes' would be a -1 to Gen AI, AI Tools, AI Comms, and AI Discussion. A vote for 'Ban GenAI + AI Tools' would be a +1 to GenAI and AI Tools, and a -1 to AI Comms and AI Discussion, etc. So here are the results for each category of AI. Keep in mind that a higher number indicates a stronger group decision to ban the content:
From the results it is clear that sub overwhelmingly approve a complete ban on all generative AI. However, people are more or less fine with allowing discussion of AI, and are fairly mixed on the topic of AI Tools and Communication. So here is the new rule for all things AI:
-------
Rule 6. You may not post work containing Generative AI elements (Midjourney, Neo, Dall-E, etc.). You may use and demonstrate the use of AI assisted tools (ie magic masking, upscalers, audio cleanup etc.) so long as they are used in service of human-generated artwork. AI Communication, like post bodies or comments composed using ChatGPT are allowed only in very reasonable cases, such as the need for someone to translate their thoughts into another language. Abuse of AI assisted communication will result in the removal of the offending post/comment.
r/Filmmakers • u/C47man • Dec 03 '17
Below I have collected answers and guidance for some of the sub's most common topics and questions. This is all content I have personally written either specifically for this post or in comments to other posters in the past. This is however not a me-show! If anybody thinks a section should be added, edited, or otherwise revised then message the moderators! Specifically, I could use help in writing a section for audio gear, as I am a camera/lighting nerd.
Topics Covered In This Post:
1. Should I Pursue Filmmaking / Should I Go To Film School?
2. What Camera Should I Buy?
3. What Lens Should I Buy?
4. How Do I Learn Lighting?
5. What Editing Program Should I Use?
This is a very complex topic, so it will rely heavily on you as a person. Find below a guide to help you identify what you need to think about and consider when making this decision.
Alright, real talk. If you want to make movies, you'll at least have a few ideas kicking around in your head. Successful creatives like writers and directors have an internal compunction to create something. They get ideas that stick in the head and compel them to translate them into the real world. Do you want to make films, or do you want to be seen as a filmmaker? Those are two extremely different things, and you need to be honest with yourself about which category you fall into. If you like the idea of being called a filmmaker, but you don't actually have any interest in making films, then now is the time to jump ship. I have many friends from film school who were just into it because they didn't want "real jobs", and they liked the idea of working on flashy movies. They made some cool projects, but they didn't have that internal drive to create. They saw filmmaking as a task, not an opportunity. None of them have achieved anything of note and most of them are out of the industry now with college debt but no relevant degree. If, when you walk onto a set you are overwhelmed with excitement and anxiety, then you'll be fine. If you walk onto a set and feel foreboding and anxiety, it's probably not right for you. Filmmaking should be fun. If it isn't, you'll never make it.
Are you planning on a film production program, or a film studies program? A studies program isn't meant to give you the tools or experience necessary to actually make films from a craft-standpoint. It is meant to give you the analytical and critical skills necessary to dissect films and understand what works and what doesn't. A would-be director or DP will benefit from a program that mixes these two, with an emphasis on production.
Does your prospective school have a film club? The school I went to had a filmmakers' club where we would all go out and make movies every semester. If your school has a similar club then I highly recommend jumping into it. I made 4 films for my classes, and shot 8 films. In the filmmaker club at my school I was able to shoot 20 films. It vastly increased my experience and I was able to get a lot of the growing pains of learning a craft out of the way while still in school.
How are your classes? Are they challenging and insightful? Are you memorizing dates, names, and ideas, or are you talking about philosophies, formative experiences, cultural influences, and milestone achievements? You're paying a huge sum of money, more than you'll make for a decade or so after graduation, so you better be getting something out of it.
Film school is always a risky prospect. You have three decisive advantages from attending school:
Those three items are the only advantages of film school. It doesn't matter if you get to use fancy cameras in class or anything like that, because I guarantee you that for the price of your tuition you could've rented that gear and made your own stuff. The downsides, as you may have guessed, are:
Seriously. Film school is insanely expensive, especially for an industry where you really don't make any exceptional money until you get established (and that can take a decade or more).
So there's a few things you need to sort out:
Don't worry about lacking experience or a degree. It is easy to break into the industry if you have two qualities:
In LA we often bring unpaid interns onto set to get them experience and possibly hire them in the future. Those two categories are what they are judged on. If they have to be told twice how to do something, that's a bad sign. If they approach the work with disdain, that's also a bad sign. I can name a few people who walked in out of the blue, asked for a job, and became professional filmmakers within a year. One kid was 18 years old and had just driven to LA from his home to learn filmmaking because he couldn't afford college. Last I saw he has a successful YouTube channel with nature documentaries on it and knows his way around most camera and grip equipment. He succeeded because he smiled and joked with everyone he met, and because once you taught him something he was good to go. Those are the qualities that will take you far in life (and I'm not just talking about film).
So how do you break in?
Alright, enough talking! You need to decide now if you're still going to be a filmmaker or if you're going to instead major in something safer (like business). It's a tough decision, we get it, but you're an adult now and this is what that means. You're in command of your destiny, and you can't trust anyone but yourself to make that decision for you.
Once you decide, own it. If you choose film, then take everything I said above into consideration. There's one essential thing you need to do though: create. Go outside right fucking now and make a movie. Use your phone. That iphone or galaxy s7 or whatever has better video quality than the crap I used in film school. Don't sweat the gear or the mistakes. Don't compare yourself to others. Just make something, and watch it. See what you like and what you don't like, and adjust on your next project! Now is the time for you to do this, to learn what it feels like to make a movie.
The answer depends mostly on your budget and your intended use. You'll also want to become familiar with some basic camera terms because it will allow you to efficiently evaluate the merits of one option vs another. Find below a basic list of terms you should become familiar with when making your first (or second, or third!) camera purchase:
This list will be changing as new models emerge, but for now here is a short list of the cameras to look at when getting started:
Much like with deciding on a camera, lens choice is all about your budget and your needs. Below are the relevant specs to use as points of comparison for lenses.
This is all about speed vs quality vs budget. A zoom lens is a lens whose *focal length can be changed by turning a ring on the lens barrel. A prime lens has a fixed focal length. Primes tend to be cheaper, faster, and sharper. However, buying a full set of primes can be more expensive than buying a zoom lens that would cover the same focal length range. Using primes on set in fast-paced environments can slow you down prohibitively. You'll often see news, documentary, and event cameras using zooms instead of primes. Some zoom lenses are as high-quality as prime lenses, and some people refer to them as 'variable prime' lenses. This is mostly a marketing tool and has no hard basis in science though. As you might expect, these high quality zooms tend to be very expensive.
Below are the most popular lenses for 'cinematic' filming at low budgets:
Lenses below these average prices are mostly a crapshoot in terms of quality vs $, and you'll likely be best off using your camera's kit lens until you can afford to move up to one of the lenses or lens series listed above.
Alright, so you're biting off a big chunk here if you've never done lighting before. But it is doable and (most importantly) fun!
First off, fuck three-point lighting. So many people misunderstand what that system is supposed to teach you, so let's just skip it entirely. Light has three properties. They are:
Alright, so there are your three properties of light. Now, how do you light a thing? Easy! Put light where you want it, and take it away from where you don't want it! Shut up! I know you just said "I don't know where I want it", so I'm going to stop you right there. Yes you do. I know you do because you can look at a picture and know if the lighting is good or not. You can recognize good lighting. Everybody can. The difference between knowing good lighting and making good lighting is simply in the execution.
Do an experiment. Get a lightbulb. Tungsten if you're oldschool, LED if you're new school, or CFL if you like mercury gas. plug it into something portable and movable, and have a friend, girlfriend, boyfriend, neighbor, creepy-but-realistic doll, etc. sit down in a chair. Turn off all the lights in the room and move that bare bulb around your victim subject's head. Note how the light falling on them changes as the light bulb moves around them. This is lighting, done live! Get yourself some diffusion. Either buy some overpriced or make some of your own (wax paper, regular paper, translucent shower curtains, white undershirts, etc.). Try softening the light, and see how that affects the subject's head. If you practice around with this enough you'll get an idea for how light looks when it comes from various directions. Three point lighting (well, all lighting) works on this fundamental basis, but so many 'how to light' tutorials skip over it. Start at the bottom and work your way up!
Ok, so cool. Now you know how light works, and sort of where to put it to make a person look a certain way. Now you can get creative by combining multiple lights. A very common look is to use soft light to primarily illuminate a person (the 'key) while using a harder (but sometimes still somewhat soft) light to do an edge or rim light. Here's a shot from a sweet movie that uses a soft key light, a good amount of ambient ('errywhere) light, and a hard backlight. Here they are lit ambiently, but still have an edge light coming from behind them and to the right. You can tell by the quality of the light that this edge was probably very soft. We can go on for hours, but if you just watch movies and look at shadows, bright spots, etc. you'll be able to pick out lighting locations and qualities fairly easily since you've been practicing with your light bulb!
Honestly, your greenscreen will depend more on your technical abilities in After Effects (or whichever program) than it will on your lighting. I'm a DP and I'm admitting that. A good key-guy (Keyist? Keyer?) can pull something clean out of a mediocre-ly lit greenscreen (like the ones in your example) but a bad key-guy will still struggle with a perfectly lit one. I can't help you much here, as I am only a mediocre key-guy, but I can at least give you advice on how to light for it!
Here's what you're looking for when lighting a greenscreen:
OK! So now you know sort of how to light a green screen and how to light a person. So now, what lights do you need? Well, really, you just need any lights. If you're on a budget, don't be afraid to get some work lights from home depot or picking up some off brand stuff on craigslist. By far the most important influence on the quality of your images will be where and how you use the lights rather than what types or brands of lights you are using. I cannot stress this enough. How you use it will blow what you use out of the water. Get as many different types of lights as you can for the money you have. That way you can do lots of sources, which can make for more intricate or nuanced lighting setups. I know you still want some hard recommendations, so I'll tell you this: Get china balls (china lanterns. Paper lanterns whatever the fuck we're supposed to call these now). They are wonderful soft lights, and if you need a hard light you can just take the lantern off and shine with the bare bulb! For bulbs, grab some 200W and 500W globes. You can check B&H, Barbizon, Amazon, and probably lots of other places for these. Make sure you grab some high quality socket-and-wire sets too. You can find them at the same places. For brighter lights, like I said home depot construction lights are nice. You can also by PAR lamps relatively cheap. Try grabbing a few Par Cans. They're super useful and stupidly cheap. Don't forget to budget for some light stands as well, and maybe C-clamps and the like for rigging to things. I don't know what on earth you're shooting so it is hard to give you a grip list, but I'm sure you can figure that kind of stuff out without too much of a hassle.
Great question! There are several popular editing programs available for use.
Your choices are essentially limited to Davinci Resolve (Non-Studio) and Hitfilm Express. My personal recommendation is Davinci Resolve. This is the industry standard color-grading software (and its editing features have been developed so well that its actually becoming the industry standard editing program as well), and you will have free access to many of its powerful tools. The Studio version costs a few hundred dollars and unlocks multiple features (like noise reduction) without forcing you to learn a new program.
r/Filmmakers • u/jragsdalemusic • 3h ago
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
r/Filmmakers • u/Artistic-Produce-525 • 5h ago
r/Filmmakers • u/Yaya0108 • 1d ago
Someone actually ended up giving them the $500 without buying the Emmy, which is really nice. But obviously $500 won't change a life.
The fact that someone can still end up unemployed for that long after winning one of the biggest awards possible in that industry is a bit depressing. I guess it shows that networking will always be the most important thing no matter how many awards you get.
r/Filmmakers • u/pavanmoondi • 1h ago
We flipped over a car, shot a story that takes place over a year in 16 days, and shot in both Toronto and Los Angeles at over 30 locations including the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The film was shot on the FX3 with Canon FD vintage lenses by cinematographer Jared Raab (Nirvanna The Band the Show the Movie, BlackBerry).
We're self-distributing our theatrical release and have a digital deal via Quiver that will have the movie out in November.
There's two Q&A screenings in LA (Laemmle NoHo on the 29th and Laemmle Royal on the 30th) before the film is at the Laemmle Glendale screening daily from July 31st to August 6th.
If you're in the area I appreciate it if you can make it out. Tickets can be found here:
https://www.laemmle.com/film/middle-life
If you're in NYC, the film screens at Cinema Village from August 7th to 13th. Tickets are here:
https://www.cinemavillage.com/Now-Playing/middle-life.html
Thank you!
PM
r/Filmmakers • u/BunyipPouch • 2h ago
I organized an AMA/Q&A with legendary filmmaker/screenwriter Nicolas Winding Refn. He has previously directed films/series Drive, Only God Forgives, Bronson, The Neon Demon, Pusher trilogy, Copenhagen Cowboy, Too Old To Die Young, Valhalla Rising, and more.
It's live here now in r/movies for anyone interested in asking a question:
https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/1v3mkcv/i_am_nicolas_winding_refn_director_of_drive_the/
He will be back at 4:45 PM ET today to answer questions. I recommend asking in advance. Please ask there, not here. All questions are much appreciated!
His new film, Her Private Hell, premiered at Cannes in May and is out in theaters via Neon this weekend. It stars Sophie Thatcher and Charles Melton.
Thank you :)
r/Filmmakers • u/OkBaby2073 • 3h ago
I’m 20 and at a crossroads in my creative career.
For years I’ve wanted to be a filmmaker, specifically creating meaningful, story-driven films. The type of content I naturally imagine making is life-lesson dramas, emotionally grounded short films, and cinematic stories that leave people thinking long after they end.
Recently, though, I’ve been seriously considering building a content marketing agency and focusing on photography and short-form content because it seems like a more practical way to build a business.
The problem is that I recently realized something that bothered me: I may have been walking away from filmmaking because I’m afraid of how difficult the path is, not because I actually stopped wanting to do it.
Filmmaking is expensive, competitive, takes years to master, and success isn’t guaranteed. Building an agency feels like a more predictable business, and I could see myself enjoying that too.
For those of you who have worked in film, creative entrepreneurship, or both:
How did you know whether you were genuinely outgrowing filmmaking versus just being intimidated by it?
Have any of you built a business that funded your films rather than trying to make films your primary source of income?
If you could go back to age 20, would you focus on becoming a filmmaker first, building a business first, or intentionally do both together?
I’m not looking for motivation or reassurance. I’d appreciate honest advice, especially from people who have actually faced this decision.
r/Filmmakers • u/izgrevv • 8m ago
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
In 'Twyla,' a young woman becomes obsessed with saving a caged dog she believes is being mistreated by her neighbor.
Set during a hostile summer in the rural midwest, this film explores what it's like to enter young adulthood after surviving CSA.
This past spring, we were only able to film because we raised the minimum costs of production - around $12000!
Our Kickstarter is still open and we are now crowdfunding for our stretch goals to be able to fund post-production. You can still opt in for rewards if you would like to help us complete the film.
Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/vanesastoynova/twyla-short-horror-film
Or get in touch if you're interested in making a fully tax deductible donation through our fiscal sponsor! Generous donors have the opportunity to be credited as executive producers in the film and on IMDb.
r/Filmmakers • u/MARKS-the-movie • 1d ago
A tale of salvaged parts!
My old clapboard top broke off and I've had this iPad Pro sitting in a drawer for years at this point.
I was kind of shocked to find that nobody sells a clapper case for tablets... So I made one in Blender and 3D printed it. :)
Needs some tweaks, but should do the trick!
(STLs + Bambu files in comments below)
r/Filmmakers • u/jimmycthatsme • 1d ago
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
r/Filmmakers • u/keyUsers • 2m ago
I’m a student studying filmmaking. I wish to practice the craft by doing 1-2 minutes reels for Youtube and Instagram. However I don’t have good ideas for scripts. I checked a couple of scripts on Scriptrevolution, but they require changes to adapt to the locations that I have access to. Where to find beginner screenwriters who are willing to come up with engaging scripts for social media and work with the location and equipment limitations?
I’m not an influencer and I don’t earn from social media, so I don’t have money to pay. However I plan to include the screenwriter as a collaborator. Is that reasonable?
r/Filmmakers • u/Balsackes • 4m ago
r/Filmmakers • u/Significant_Tear_667 • 4h ago
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
Sou do interior e decidi começar um quadro “No interior também tem filme”
Decidi parar de procrastinar e trazer esse mercado para dentro
O vídeo final vocês podem ver no meu Instauram @hugogarciacine
r/Filmmakers • u/OneSeptillionStars • 37m ago
The opening credits for The Sound of Music (1965) feature various shots of churches and cathedrals around Mondsee and Salzburg.
All can be precisely located except this bell tower which should be in Sankt Lorenz considering the Drachenwand cliff face in the background:
This one simply doesn't exist and there are no old photos or records about it in the area (original thread for geolocation attempt).
Are there any telltale signs that this is either a miniature or a composite?
As a non-expert there are few things that stick out but maybe some are due to the way it was filmed:
Any ideas how this was done or why would they go to such lengths just for a short credits scene? Thanks!

r/Filmmakers • u/Sad_Court_3407 • 58m ago
Hi. So im building a portfolio in order to get into film school.
I do directing and screenwriting
So I have been working on a screenplay about generational trauma right. My vision is an animated short film like 5 to 10ish mins nothing crazy tbat will look good on my portfolio
I thought that as a screenplay itl look good on my protfolio
But a friend recently told me that i can actually build a team with others who are also building their portoflios. So i was wondering. To people in the industry and also people in my situatiton
Is this true? Can i really assemble a team to make this a real movie?
If true like I'd need editors animators music composers etc right?
Is it that i have to pay or non pay or share revenues of the potential film
Would greatly appreciate some perspective/feedback. Thanks
r/Filmmakers • u/MisterRoebot • 1h ago
Hey all, I directed this short film a few years ago and I’m starting to put all my stuff on YouTube for public viewing and open notes/critique.
Would love your feedback on this film!
It was made for less than $2K with the hopes of making a feature version of this film for sub $100K.
Feature logline: When a young woman, who has been held prisoner for ten years, is forced to watch over another victim, who means to escape, the two join forces to fight against the monstrous warden of their apartment prison.
r/Filmmakers • u/evilhal77 • 1h ago
Im trying to use some music from epidemic sounds in my independent film and I wanted to know if I could, Im submitting film to Tubi and other streaming services.
r/Filmmakers • u/a-sleeping-sheep • 10h ago
I’m the 1st AD on an eight-person student production. We have two directors, one producer, a cinematographer, camera operator, sound recordist, and one person handling script and props.
We’ve been working on the project since October, but I feel like I’ve barely been involved. The producer has worked closely with the directors and has handled casting, locations, scheduling, and other organisational tasks without consulting me.
For example, I asked several times for a logline and synopsis so I could contact acting schools. Later, I found out they had already cast someone and were discussing payment.
I then became less involved because I had other projects, but now the schedule, actors, locations, and shot list are all done without me.
I’m also funding most of the film because I’m in a better financial position. I don’t think anyone is intentionally using me, but the situation still feels uncomfortable.
Now I’m mainly being asked to keep the peace on set because tensions were already high before the summer break.
So I guess my questions are:
How much overlap is normal between a producer and a 1st AD? What should I do during the week before the shoot, and what should my role actually be on set if most of the planning is already done?
r/Filmmakers • u/i_am_death7 • 1h ago
I know it looks shit but still, can you all tell me how it looks. This is for an indie pop song and I want to make sure the pacing feels right before we start shooting. Any feedbacks?
r/Filmmakers • u/champagne-super-Nova • 2h ago
I'm sure this post has been made before, but I wanted to hear some ideas. I will be graduating next spring with a B.S. in Media Arts Production. I would really like to get a masters in Film, or something closely related. I have considered staying where I am for grad school and relocating after, as it would be more affordable and I enjoy it a lot. However, I know Ohio isn't a good place to be for the field I want to be in (ideally, film production). Does anyone have any experiences/recommendations for film schools (or general schools with good film programs) that are more affordable then the general NYU, UCLA, etc. and not extremely selective? I've considered Brooklyn College, UNSCA, Stony Brook, Columbia Chicago, things like that. But I am looking for more recommendations!
r/Filmmakers • u/ImaginaryAmbition820 • 2h ago
I am a social media manager with an experience of 4 years in the content space. I have worked with brands from various niches but recently got to worked with a indie sci fi film and actually loved it, they also liked my work and extended the contract.
So I am now looking to take on another similar project. Anyone who needs help with marketing their film feel free to DM!
r/Filmmakers • u/Lizardelic • 3h ago
Hello, I am Jerome,
I am working on a composing services for Horror/thriller filmmakers.
With this idea in mind, I am trying to spotlight some aspects of a director, like for example what are his/her frustration and his/her real needs.
I really want to make the best service possible, and to do so I need your help.
I have nothing to sell, and it is totally free. I Just need a bit of your time.
So if you are willing to help me, just send me a message.
Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read me.
r/Filmmakers • u/mkc120 • 3h ago
Hi everyone! Sorry if this isn't allowed, but I'm a WGA screenwriter who has done a variety of prestigious writing fellowships in LA and I'm about to direct my first short film. I'm currently trying to fundraise the last 20% of my production costs, and I thought I could offer a pay-what-you-can script coverage service if you'd be willing to donate to the project (fiscally sponsored by Film Independent and 100% tax-eligible for deductions). Suggested donations are $1 per page of the script you're submitting, but flexible if it's a feature. I don't want to dox myself so I can send you my credentials in DM if you're interested! Also, if you have any advice that you wish you had as a first-time director, let me know below! Thanks so much everyone. :)
r/Filmmakers • u/Extension-Season9924 • 23h ago
I'm trying to key-word trying to make a no-budget feature as the writer-director-actor. What are 3 crucial roles I can't risk not having?