Low-budget filmmaking tip #147
If you want to get a little experience under your belt, browsing online classifieds (such as Craigslist, Mandy, etc.) can help you find productions in your area that are crewing or casting. Usually, they pay little or nothing, but if you’re just starting to learn, this sort of experience can be invaluable.
One in general might find it advantageous to not take advantage of any crew, regardless of pay status — doing so makes it harder to keep good crew around. Eventually, you wind up with a crew of people who have crappy boundaries.
And who needs that?!
Low-budget filmmaking tip #128
If it’s not a small set or a closed set (well, why isn’t it?), make sure that the people who are supposed to be there (cast & crew) have badges or some other clear and obvious identifier. Everybody should keep their eyes out for people who don’t have this identifier.
Low-budget filmmaking tip #120
You may run across people who try to discourage you. They may not even mean to do it, but whenever you talk with them, you’re discouraged. Your best defense is the following mantra: “Just get the shot.” Most of the folks who are discouraging are really trying to discourage themselves. Don’t buy into their limitations.
It’s funny — I hadn’t realized until just recently that there are people who are encouraging on the outside, but somehow, no matter what they say, when you walk away from them, you feel as if you can do less than you thought. I don’t think it’s mean or anything, it’s just kinda’ how they are, I guess.
Best defense against that is to keep yer chin up, to keep your mantra alive, and to keep shooting.
Either they catch up and get in the swing of things, or they don’t.
Low-budget filmmaking tip #46
Network, network, network! Meet other people making movies!You’re all in this together and you all offer unique talents. Yes, there’s a lot to be said for keeping your head down and working, but once in a while, you need to get out and meet other filmmakers.
Sure, it’s possible to hide in a hole until you’re discovered, but the odds against that are so astronomical, you’d be better off buying Powerball tickets.
I know a person who self-identifies as a writer and has done so for close to twenty years, yet hasn’t published a single thing yet. “I’m just not good enough.” It’s such a foreign concept to me!