Filmmaking / Directing : From Setbacks to Success: My Journey to Completing a Feature Film by Omari Washington

Hey Superstars!

Hope you all had a fantastic Oscar weekend! I was truly inspired by the incredible talent being honored and wanted to share some exciting news along with a few valuable lessons from my own journey.

I currently have a feature film set to release this year, and throughout the process, I’ve learned some key lessons that I believe can benefit all filmmakers.

1️⃣ Choose Your Team Wisely – Work with people who genuinely want to see you succeed. Unfortunately, I experienced a major setback when my Director of Photography—someone I considered a friend—stole footage from Days 1-5 out of jealousy, which delayed production by a month and increased costs significantly.

2️⃣ Pre-Production is Everything – The more you prepare before shooting, the smoother things will run on set. While unexpected challenges will arise, thorough planning helps alleviate unnecessary stress.

3️⃣ Always Overbook Extras – If your scene requires extras, always book more than you need. It’s inevitable that some won’t show up, so having a backup ensures you’re never short on talent.

4️⃣ Contracts & NDAs are a Must – No matter how close you are to someone, always have contracts and NDAs in place. A paper trail protects both you and the production if anything goes sideways.

5️⃣ Feature Films Take Time – The average viewer may not realize how much effort and time goes into making a feature. That’s why having a trustworthy filmmaking community is so important—you need a solid support system.

6️⃣ Invest in the Best Crew You Can Afford – Cutting corners on key crew positions can cost you more in the long run. For example, hiring a cheaper sound mixer might mean spending extra in post to fix audio issues. Always aim to hire the best within your budget to ensure quality from the start.

7️⃣ Don’t Rely on ‘Fixing it in Post’ – It’s always better to address issues on set rather than pushing them to post-production. Fixing things in post is often more expensive and time-consuming, and in many cases, avoidable with the right approach on set.

I hope these insights help you navigate your own filmmaking journeys more smoothly! I truly appreciate all the support, and I’m looking forward to inviting you all to the premiere of Back Burner in July. I’ll keep you posted once I have an official date!

Thank you all for being part of this journey with me!