Questions

Miscellaneous questions and troubleshooting about film-making.

Q: I want to work in film, but I'm not that creative. Is there a place for me?

A: Absolutely. On a film set you have numerous jobs that involve zero creative input. Caterers, drivers, locations management, are just a few examples of jobs that are essential to the crew yet require no creative background. Departments will often hire laborers to work on various simple tasks as well.

Q: I'm working on a student film / smaller production and I don't know what role I want.

A: It's OK to be indecisive about what role to take at first but keep in mind you need to be useful to the production. Try take on a role that suits your strengths and don't be afraid to do a little extra. You want to make sure you are doing your part in having the production run smoothly. Even if you are not an expert at the role, try to do your best.

If you work with the camera, print up a gear checklist and bring lens cleaning supplies. If you're the script supervisor, show up with a clipboard and extra pens. Demonstrate you have pride in your work and it will be noticed.

Q: I feel my films are not very good.

A: It's very rare for someone to make a masterpiece out of their first film. Don't just sit around and plan a film, go out and make one. Now this sounds easy but what I mean is that you need to understand your gear. Often times I will be using my camera and realize I don't understand a certain control on it. Or I run into an issue with audio, etc. It's important to go out and just film things so you become more comfortable with the process.

After doing this, you will feel more confident after making mistake after mistake. You will correct these mistakes, learn from them and then when it comes time to develop your own creative vision you will have a better understanding of how to achieve it.

Q: I have no ideas for a film.

A: There is no science to inspiration. It can strike at any moment. Get in the habit of keeping a journal of ideas. A journal can help preserve that spark of an idea. If pen and paper are not handy, record yourself on your phone.

A film doesn't need to be dramatically unique. If you have no creative ideas, look into shooting B-roll or making documentary-style interviews. Look into capturing the real world and it may lead to ideas you can use for something else.