In a land not so far away, in a time not so long ago, the veil to the film world was a mighty feat to cross. I'm not saying it still isn’t tough to get out there and become a financially stable filmmaker. However, we hold the power now.

What started as a simple picture of myself that I shared on Instagram, one taken while I was filming a Docuseries using the RED Epic and Cooke Anamorphic, turned into a wild adventure called social media. That one picture launched me into so many opportunities. Filmmakers World, Learn Filmmaking and many other pages began reposting my picture and I woke up to brand deal offers. I wasn’t searching for attention or looking to become an influencer, it just happened that other filmmakers connected with the journey I shared. One that we all have experienced in one way or another, the ups and downs. Sharing hard stories, it’s not all rainbow and butterflies, but it’s worth the trials and tribulations.

HOW TO DP AND DIRECT AT THE SAME TIME:

As a Director I have always been a DP as well, it took a few years of courage to actually call myself such. More often than not, I was told I couldn’t be both, but the more I thought about it, the more I wondered why. I am a Director/ DP/ Writer/ Editor/ Producer, I have worked hard at each position and I love it all so much. I became proud of what I have built as a filmmaker. Being a DP while Directing is just an extension of my arm, there’s something so magical about being that close to my actors and making adjustments if needed in the moment. I Directed and DP’d my last feature film “River” and I was able to do so by the strength of my team. The trust I had in my gaffers and camera department. I think that is one of the most important aspects of balancing both positions at the same time, your team. You are nothing without them. So if you wish to do both, have a solid team around you and prep like your life depends on it, because your team depends on your preparation. Doing diagrams, shot lists, and all. Having everything mapped out is absolutely key.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Utilizing your social media platforms helps elevate you to be seen. Choosing the right content- others love seeing BTS, examples of you in action, and how it’s done. Personally, the shorter the snippets you share with trending songs, the more I've found it pushes your videos. I keep nothing a secret when it comes to sharing knowledge. Reels have changed across the board. TikTok has become a huge platform to get your work seen. That’s how Tubi discovered me. The head of original content saw the trailer of my movie that I shared, me in action through videos, and they emailed me directly. We then met in person at Fox Studios and they hired me the same week to Direct their original film! “Married to a Baller” was filmed and wrapped on April 12th, 2024 and I edited the movie as well.

At the end of the day be you. I have also made some wonderful friendships in the film world by bravely sharing on social media. Go into this with the intention of authentically building friendships vs trying to get things from people. There's nothing worse than feeling used.

YOUR NUMBER ONE FANS:

In my opinion, this topic isn’t talked about enough- the keyboard warriors and trolls that come with social media. It used to bother me in the beginning, and I’m here to tell you that you can use them as fuel. So many people are too afraid to put themselves out there, out of fear of rejection, but there is something magical about releasing that fear and being ok with it all. It is worth it. Building your brand, we are entrepreneurs at the end of the day, no one will fight for you as hard as you will for yourself. So keep moving forward and ignore anything that doesn’t serve you in the direction you are going. Once I decided that, everything changed in how I viewed things.

BRANDING:

With social media platforms at our fingertips, brands want to pair with filmmakers. That’s why I only use and work with brands that I use already and can feel comfortable supporting. Everything that I put out on my platforms is true to how I feel. I give honest thoughts on gear.

How does one get brand deals? I’m often asked this. Originally, I was tagging brands that I was using when I would post videos or images and that’s how RED discovered me and then LUMIX. LUMIX emailed me to be an official paid brand ambassador. If you want to work with a specific product or company, tag them in your content and show them why they should work with you. Every opportunity I received was from putting myself out there and showcasing my hard work and passion. You have those same opportunities, you just have to seize them.

DO I STILL DP AND DIRECT TOGETHER?

Yes and no. When I'm considering personal passion projects or projects that I feel compelled to do both together, I absolutely will. For my next Sci-fi short that I’m doing in September. I’ll be Directing and DPing. While filming my recent Tubi movie, I chose to just Direct and Edit, however, I did camera operate here and there. As I have been evolving as a creative, my desire to do both isn’t as fierce, and I'm particular in choosing the projects that I wish to DP. When it comes to being a Cinematographer on other people's projects, I have to really feel a connection to want to work with other Directors.

IN CLOSING:

We hold the cards. It’s our time as filmmakers to take a chance on ourselves. Stage 32 has so many wonderful tools to learn from as well. It’s a built-in community where you can make endless connections and seek out help, advice, and understanding. But you should be promoting yourself across all social media platforms by regularly sharing content that showcases you, your passion, and the work that you're doing. There are no more excuses. Don’t focus on what everyone else is doing, your only competition is with yourself. People will always have something to say, either negative or positive. I tend to be detached from both.

Be that change. Be kind. For more in-depth breakdowns, I have a “30-Day Filmmakers Challenge” on my website, each day has a goal and has been very helpful for those who like to journal and see how you can conquer each day.

This Week's July Filmmakers Club Challenge!

For your fourth week of July Filmmakers Club, we want to know what you're doing to put yourself out there and share your work and passion with the world! By completing this week's challenges, you can set yourself up for further success and be entered to win a FREE DaVinci Resolve License from Blackmagic Design that will be announced LIVE on Stage 32's Instagram this Friday, July 26th at 12:00 pm PT! 3 winners will be selected!

I'll also be LIVE on Stage 32's Instagram (@Stage32) tomorrow, Tuesday, July 23rd at 12:00 pm PT, sharing more stories and advice from my journey. I'll also be hosting a FREE Ask Me Anything event in the Stage 32 Cinematography Lounge on Wednesday, July 24th to answer ANY questions that you all may have about being a DP and Director. Click HERE to ask your questions!

Week Four Challenges:

1. Comment on this blog below sharing your thoughts- did you learn anything new about marketing yourself online and sharing your work from this post? Did it give you any new ideas? Do you have any questions for Emily?
2. Post in the Stage 32 Filmmaking Lounge sharing your work! We want to see your reels, trailers, photos of you on set, etc. with an explanation of one thing you learned while making them. If you don't have anything to share yet, use this as an opportunity to ask questions about the kind of content you should be making and sharing online (You can find the lounge quickly by clicking HERE).
3. Go NOW and follow @stage32, @blackmagicnewsofficial, and @rbwalksintoabar on Instagram! Tag two people that you know on THIS INSTAGRAM POST (Click HERE)!

All of these challenges must be completed for you to be eligible to win one of the 3 FREE DaVinci Resolve Licenses from Blackmagic Design!

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Got an idea for a post? Or have you collaborated with Stage 32 members to create a project? We'd love to hear about it. Email Ashley at blog@stage32.com and let's get your post published!

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