Filmmaking / Directing : How do you begin to begin... by Nikita Okhade

Dear Nikita --- Shmuel Yacobi, Eretz Ephraim Pictures - Producer / Director / Writer ---- Just jump with me. I will take care of you. If you don't trust strangers, read my post above. shmuel2yacobi@gmail.com

Wow. That's an offer... cool if it works! Wish someone would say this to me. =)

Dear Elizabeth --- to see you always happy, I say the same thing to you. ---- Shmuel

Hey Nikita. There are a ton of instructional videos on the Stage 32 website from professionals in the field. I'd recommend researching those in what ever areas concern you.

Hey Shmuel! I read the post. That's amazing! I will surely try it. Thanks! :) Hi Jim! Yes of course! I will definitely look into the database. Thanks :)

Nikita Dear! You are welcome. We will keep in touch. shmuel2yacobi@gmail.com

Main thing is if you have the passion just go for it. If it is what you truly want to do you have to try otherwise you will beat yourself up for a long time. When I was growing up there wasn't much film work in my area and I found it hard to to get involved in anything so got a regular job then a few year later realised it is what I truly want to do. I am still learning now and I have been doing it for some years now. Go out and make a short, see what happens. There will always be someone local to you who will lend a helping hand. If there is anything particular you need shout out on here and I sure someone will give great advice. Hope this helps

Hey Wayne! Thanks for that. That really helped. I guess I needed to hear from someone like yourself who did in fact jump right in without much of a culture or film work area, because that's just where I am at. I am definitely going to test it out now. Thanks!

Good luck , all the best and most of all enjoy.

Do what Wayne Thompson says, I mailed photo you see on my profile and was sent to several productions. Now I choose to stay farther back. Folks here know what they are doing.

Wow, Wayne, that sounds very much like my story. With the difference that it took me decades before I realized I really want to work in film business and why I was beating myself up all the time. In my case it was because over the years I met people who were already working film related or at tv stations and I loved being in their circles but always thought it's their thing until I discovered it was me who attracted these people because of my own inner wish that I couldn't name. Thanks for this motivation!

Yeah Elisabeth I was in my late 20's possibly even 30 when I finally pushed myself. Since then I have toured the world with short films in festivals, met some great people. I even went back to further education (which is something I thought I would never do!) and qualified in Make up FX after self training initially. Don't get me wrong I still seek the funds for a big feature but I know I will one day. Pleased I helped with motivation. Keep up the great work. All the best for the future.

Thank you Wayne! Wish you all the best for you and your projects too.

Start with your destination. Do you want to be an actor, a writer, a producer, an editor? Then, be careful of the sharks in the ocean. For actors, read "the Disaster Artist", it's funny, and it shows how actors get exploited and conned, but also how they land real jobs. For writers, many writers have written memoirs, so have directors, and crew members. There are also a few big names on Masterclass, and some very good free course that introduce you to filmmaking (especially crewing and producing) on futurelearn.

Thanks Lorenzo! I am definitely going in soon :) Phillip thanks a lot about the recommendation. I suppose I do need to make sure what I exactly am looking to make my way in. And then the big sharks :) Thanks!

Hi, Here's some advice I can offer when you are just starting out. 1) Study films and figure out not only what you like, but what kind of filmmaker you want to be and can be. 2) If you are writing your own story, write something that is restricted and simple and within your means. If your actors are going to be friends your age, don't write a drama that is over their heads. Create good characters using the limitations you have. Take a similar approach to locations. 3) Focus on making something incredibly short and simple, and doing the best you can at it. What you need, is fast cycle times. You will learn more quickly if you tackle a bunch of really short projects, than if you go out and try to make a feature film on your first try. Give yourself a timeline. Maybe not a 48 film project, but give yourself a month to write, shoot and edit a very short project (1-3 minutes). 3) Don't worry about mistakes. Just work, learn, and repeat. 4) Work hard on being organized. Sketch out simple storyboards. Create a shot list with all your shots in the film. Creating a shooting schedule based on location, and the camera position in the scene. A lot of film work depends on good organization, so it's good to get into that habit early. 5) Be nice to your cast and crew. Feed them, compliment them, push them, encourage them. 6) Listen to your instinct - if you have good instinct. There are many times where I've thought "maybe I should do this shot one more time and get this angle". Or, "maybe I should have the actor perform it this way". What I've learned, is when you hold back and don't follow your instinct, it often turns into regret later. It comes up later on, whether it was more of a business decision or an artistic choice, and someone (maybe yourself) says "Man, it would be great if this happened"... and the worst feeling is when you remember you had that idea, and you just didn't push for it or go for it.

Hey Ben! Thanks for that. That's one good list of all the things I should be focusing on. The more I am hearing from here, the more confidence I am gaining. Thanks again everyone for helping me out with this! Much appreciated.