10 Things A Filmmaker Needs Every Day
Work in style and with the right tools and you’re halfway there. Here is a handy list of the tools we think are essential if you want to make it as a filmmaker.
Not everything on this list needs loadsa cash. I splashed out on my Apple laptop (see number 3) and cut corners on everything else. I consider my laptop my axe and a really important tool in felling obstacles. You might feel differently.
See what you think of this list:
1. A good mobile telephone
A good telephone will become your mobile film production office.
Get the best phone you can, one that can allow you to surf and accept and write emails, and take location pictures. An invaluable tool that lets you stay connected even when you are on the fly.
Your phone is also a film studio in your pocket.
2. A good email address and website
Yahoo, Gmail and Hotmail might be free and easy to access, but getting your own domain name means you can have an individual and bespoke email address.
Register a domain at whois.com, and get a basic package that allows you to create your own email address, like elliot@raindance.co.uk, and join the professionals!
To build a website, use a programme like Apple’s iWeb and DIY. Doesn’t need to be fancy, include a section About You, Contact Details, Current Projects and your Showreel.
Read: 5 Tips On Building A Filmmaker’s Website
3. A good laptop with a good battery
Load it up with a useful editing programme like Final Cut Pro, an office admin programme, like Word, and something you can make good presentations with. It is also really useful to have a software package that will let you resize and optimise pictures for the web.
Of course you will need some cool software.
Here is the Zero Budget Software Guide – over £14k worth of software – legal and free.
4. Camera
It used to be the GoPro Camera. How one blogger got over $20,000 of free publicity using a cheap camera like the Go Pro.
Now it’s the camera on your smartphone. And they are getting amazing. Perfect for getting those spur-of-the moment interviews to add to your DVD extras.
5. Building your social networking groups
Get tooled up.
Creating Facebook and Twitter groups that are interested in your projects will pay dividends when your movie gets out there.
Get in the habit of spending 15-20 minutes every day.
6. Business Cards
Who said a business card needs to be made of paper? Make one out of sacking cloth.
One thing to be very sure of is that your details can be easily read. If printed on paper, make sure the back of the card is clear and has a matt finish so details can easily be written on the back.
Some other ideas for alternative business cards.
Presentation is everything too.
Here are some great ideas on how to present yourself.
7. Pitching Skills
Tongue tied? Many filmmakers avoid pitching – likening it to snake-oil-salesmanship.
Most movies start with a pitch, and if the gift of the gab evades you, chances are you won’t get the money, the crew or the talent to participate in your film.
Here’s a free article: Pitching Essentials. Check out our Live!Ammunition! Pitching Competition
8. Fig Rig or other stabilisation tool
Our good friend Mike Figgis developed a camera stabilization device called the “Fig Rig” for holding a lightweight camera. He first used it for making “Timecode” the digital feature made with 4 cameras running at the same time.
Watch Mike Figgis do a Fig Rig tutorial.
9. Get Networking
A successful filmmaker will budget part of their time to attend networking events. Join filmmaking groups and associations where you live. London is spoiled for choice.
Online groups where you can meet people and exchange ideas include Talent Circle, and Shooting People.org.
Raindance has several monthly events aimed at networking, including Boozin’ N’ Schmoozin, our Open House, 99 Minute Film School and Live!Ammunition! events.
We also have regular networking events scheduled in London, Toronto, New York, Brussels, Berlin, and Los Angeles.
10. Training
Decision number one is: Do you want to learn filmmaking? Or do you want to become a filmmaker?
The best way to learn how to make a film is by doing it. Getting advice from someone who has made films and made mistakes will save you time and energy duplicating those mistakes.
Two people will approach the same project in very different ways. Raindance film training courses will help you to discover different ways to approach the challenges of filmmaking and give you the tools to succeed.
Here is a Raindance must when it comes to film training: Unless tutors have practical experience in their field they won’t be able to show how the industry really works or how they solved problems in their own projects.
The Raindance way to learn is always through people who have first hand experience of working in the industry. At Raindance we don’t teach filmmaking. We make filmmakers.
Here’s a list of fim traindance programmes world wide.
Raindance Film Festival is the only film festival with a training programme in writing, directing and producing in the world. Have a browse through our catalogue of mouth watering filmmaking courses. Compare them with other trainers in Britain, Europe and the world.
With literally dozens of postgraduate film degrees popping up around the world, we thought it was about time we bang the drum and tell you why we think our HND, BA and Postgraduate Film Degrees are so good.
11. Bonus
Lots of times you might need some expert advice.
– draft cast and crew contracts
– sample business plans
– a short seminar on film finance
– script registration
Maybe not everyday, but enough times to make it essential. Join Raindance Membership and for just £50 you can get all of these benefits plus 700+ original screenplays, 40+ draft legal contracts, free events and more.
Happy Filmmaking
Did you know?
- Raindance members save 20% on evening and weekend filmmaking courses?
You can join online >HERE< and start saving immediately - Raindance Open Classes are FREE for our HND and Postgraduate/MA/ students
- You can book a free 1-1 consultation about our full-time degree film courses HERE
- The Raindance Guarantee:
If this course fails to meet your expectations, let us know at the break.
We will make a full, 100% no-questions-asked refund - We don’t teach ‘filmmaking’ at Raindance.
At Raindance we make filmmakers.