It’s that time of year where college seniors in film departments create their final projects to show all they have learned their four years of school. These are the emerging filmmakers of the future…each could be the next Spielberg or Scorsese or DuVernay. I’ve been in the entertainment industry for over 30 years, but it’s only been 9 since I ventured into film and made my first short. I admire these students who spent years learning the craft to go out in the world since I jumped into it after a one weekend workshop on filmmaking.
I decided in 2023 I was going to push myself into other creative areas. Doing background work on a TV series, writing a feature film script with a partner and most recently, acting in front of the camera in a student film. I think we can learn from whatever we’re doing and I found myself watching the director and crew on the TV set and with the student film, it will allow me to know what my actors go through the next time I get behind the camera.
I learned so much watching these young filmmakers over this past weekend. I was inspired by their talent, dedication, and knowledge. From the Director to the Director of Photography to the Assistant Director to the Gaffer overseeing all the lighting: each of them knew so much about their departments and came together to make the best movie they could.
I also learned much about myself as an actor. I’ve spent years performing on stage and in front of camera is different acting. I changed my delivery. I worked hard to do movements exactly the same way to aid in continuity of editing. I really enjoyed creating my backstory to get in the mindset of this character. I even learned that perhaps I still have that desire that originally brought me to NYC to act.
If I could offer advice to the young filmmakers of America, I would say the following.
It’s so important to have a vision of what you want your film to be, but also collaboration is imperative. It takes a village to create a film and you need the knowledge of each person working from actor all the way through each department head.
There is no perfect shot. There is no better. There is different. Art is subjective and spending hours to get the “perfect” shot is counter initiative to a productive environment. There must be someone on set (director) who makes the call and you move on.
The assistant director is one of the most important people on set as they keep it moving. LISTEN to your AD. They are there to keep you on schedule and on track. They realize perfect isn’t attainable and you need to move on. Once you move beyond school, you will not have the luxury to spend endless time on each scene set up. Time is money.
You can know everything about your script and “think” you know everything you want to do…but things are going to go wrong on set. Be flexible to roll with it and work on time management so that curveballs don’t set you back too much. (I had to cut 3 pages of my script once on a set and write new transition lines for that cut or we would not have finished. My ego had to go along with my lines and that film went on to win numerous awards and play at the American Pavillon at the Cannes Film Festival.)
If you love storytelling and you are passionate about what you do…don’t give up. Keep making films and getting your name out there on film festival circuits. And attend those festivals! Networking is very important in this industry.
It’s only February and I can’t help but wonder what 2023 has in store for me personally. I’m allowing myself to stay open to new things. Sort of like my advice above about being flexible…I realize when I’m an actor on set; that’s what I am - I’m not the producer & I’m not in control. Perhaps being flexible this year will allow me to get outside my own box and try some things I never would have experienced.