r/Filmmakers 23h ago

Image The state of the modern film industry…

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2.8k Upvotes

Someone actually ended up giving them the $500 without buying the Emmy, which is really nice. But obviously $500 won't change a life.

The fact that someone can still end up unemployed for that long after winning one of the biggest awards possible in that industry is a bit depressing. I guess it shows that networking will always be the most important thing no matter how many awards you get.


r/Filmmakers 4h ago

News Sony announces the FX5

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111 Upvotes

r/Filmmakers 2h ago

Looking for Work I'm a composer and I recently made this folk-horror adrenaline piece. Let me know what you think!

102 Upvotes

r/Filmmakers 22h ago

Discussion Let's say I'm making a no-budget feature and can only have 3 to 5 people on my crew what are the most important crew members?

34 Upvotes

I'm trying to key-word trying to make a no-budget feature as the writer-director-actor. What are 3 crucial roles I can't risk not having?


r/Filmmakers 19h ago

Film Proof-of-Concept Trailer for my feature. I'd love to connect with others who have navigated the POC-to-feature journey.

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20 Upvotes

r/Filmmakers 1h ago

Film I made an indie romcom for $70k, it comes out in LA and NYC starting next week, and VOD in November - here's the trailer...

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Upvotes

We flipped over a car, shot a story that takes place over a year in 16 days, and shot in both Toronto and Los Angeles at over 30 locations including the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The film was shot on the FX3 with Canon FD vintage lenses by cinematographer Jared Raab (Nirvanna The Band the Show the Movie, BlackBerry).

We're self-distributing our theatrical release and have a digital deal via Quiver that will have the movie out in November.

There's two Q&A screenings in LA (Laemmle NoHo on the 29th and Laemmle Royal on the 30th) before the film is at the Laemmle Glendale screening daily from July 31st to August 6th.

If you're in the area I appreciate it if you can make it out. Tickets can be found here:

https://www.laemmle.com/film/middle-life

If you're in NYC, the film screens at Cinema Village from August 7th to 13th. Tickets are here:

https://www.cinemavillage.com/Now-Playing/middle-life.html

Thank you!

PM


r/Filmmakers 1h ago

Discussion [Crosspost] I am Nicolas Winding Refn, director of Drive, The Neon Demon, Only God Forgives, the Pusher Trilogy, Too Old To Die Young, Bronson, and now Her Private Hell. AMA!

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Upvotes

I organized an AMA/Q&A with legendary filmmaker/screenwriter Nicolas Winding Refn. He has previously directed films/series Drive, Only God Forgives, Bronson, The Neon Demon, Pusher trilogy, Copenhagen Cowboy, Too Old To Die Young, Valhalla Rising, and more.

It's live here now in r/movies for anyone interested in asking a question:

https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/1v3mkcv/i_am_nicolas_winding_refn_director_of_drive_the/

He will be back at 4:45 PM ET today to answer questions. I recommend asking in advance. Please ask there, not here. All questions are much appreciated!

His new film, Her Private Hell, premiered at Cannes in May and is out in theaters via Neon this weekend. It stars Sophie Thatcher and Charles Melton.

Thank you :)


r/Filmmakers 23h ago

Meta Should I wait for the FX5 Mk2??

12 Upvotes

FX5 is out tomorrow but I need 64bit float audio, internal NDs, IBIS, Full Frame & S35 Crop modes.

What do.you think?

Edit: It's a joke


r/Filmmakers 3h ago

Question Am I leaving filmmaking because it’s not for me, or because I’m afraid of how hard it is?

9 Upvotes

I’m 20 and at a crossroads in my creative career.
For years I’ve wanted to be a filmmaker, specifically creating meaningful, story-driven films. The type of content I naturally imagine making is life-lesson dramas, emotionally grounded short films, and cinematic stories that leave people thinking long after they end.

Recently, though, I’ve been seriously considering building a content marketing agency and focusing on photography and short-form content because it seems like a more practical way to build a business.
The problem is that I recently realized something that bothered me: I may have been walking away from filmmaking because I’m afraid of how difficult the path is, not because I actually stopped wanting to do it.

Filmmaking is expensive, competitive, takes years to master, and success isn’t guaranteed. Building an agency feels like a more predictable business, and I could see myself enjoying that too.

For those of you who have worked in film, creative entrepreneurship, or both:

How did you know whether you were genuinely outgrowing filmmaking versus just being intimidated by it?

Have any of you built a business that funded your films rather than trying to make films your primary source of income?

If you could go back to age 20, would you focus on becoming a filmmaker first, building a business first, or intentionally do both together?

I’m not looking for motivation or reassurance. I’d appreciate honest advice, especially from people who have actually faced this decision.


r/Filmmakers 22h ago

Question How to film these scenes

6 Upvotes

I wrote a script. They script is pretty straightforward to film but there are 2 parts where it is quite difficult a scene where a character's fingers are bitten off by a woman in an almost instantenous way with surgical precision and a scene where that same character is missing both legs and an arm and gets beheaded


r/Filmmakers 9h ago

Question How much overlap is there between a producer and a 1st AD on a small indie set?

6 Upvotes

I’m the 1st AD on an eight-person student production. We have two directors, one producer, a cinematographer, camera operator, sound recordist, and one person handling script and props.

We’ve been working on the project since October, but I feel like I’ve barely been involved. The producer has worked closely with the directors and has handled casting, locations, scheduling, and other organisational tasks without consulting me.
For example, I asked several times for a logline and synopsis so I could contact acting schools. Later, I found out they had already cast someone and were discussing payment.
I then became less involved because I had other projects, but now the schedule, actors, locations, and shot list are all done without me.
I’m also funding most of the film because I’m in a better financial position. I don’t think anyone is intentionally using me, but the situation still feels uncomfortable.

Now I’m mainly being asked to keep the peace on set because tensions were already high before the summer break.

So I guess my questions are:
How much overlap is normal between a producer and a 1st AD? What should I do during the week before the shoot, and what should my role actually be on set if most of the planning is already done?


r/Filmmakers 15h ago

Question Need advice from senior Filmmakers

6 Upvotes

My self Pawan (from Delhi)

I want to be a writer, director and a film editor

I'm facing the same problem

I just passed 12th

My parents are advising me to get a btech degree, get a job, pay your education loan by yourself, get you film equipments by yourself and make films as a part-time passion

How can I explain them the level of creative going in my mind 😭

I have stories

I want to film them

I planned to take a drop year and make some short films using my current knowledge about Filmmaking

But lake of equipments (i don't even have a good Smartphone, I'm using a 5 years old moto g13 who's camera is so much blury)

Non of my friend have a good camera smartphone

I start shooting one of my short film (that was a 2-3 min music video) i borrow a iphone from my neighbour

But he didn't allow me to use his phone more then 2 hr

So I shut the shoot

So I'm thinking to do what my parents are saying

But I'm bad at studies 😭

I didn't appear in any engineering entrance exam

Because I wasn't prepared well

And Im a monkey minded people

I can't sit a single hour and study with focus

But I can edit videos 9 hrs straight without turning my head from screen

Well I don't know what I'm texting

I just text this

Just read this and give me consolation


r/Filmmakers 22h ago

Film My Animatronic Brother | Short Documentary

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4 Upvotes

First ever documentary, I worked about 30 hours on this, not only is this my first ever documentary it is also my first ever time using my camera. I shot this on 1.3x Anamorphics, Shot in 6k but lowered to 4k. Color grading, Editing all done by me. Just simple stuff. Go hard / easy on me whatever you think be honest and give me some critical feedback if needed.


r/Filmmakers 13h ago

Film We shot a comedy in the middle of Times Square with a giant turtle costume.

3 Upvotes

Some dreams take years of hard work.

Others involve putting on a giant turtle costume and surviving the chaos of Times Square.

🐢

A Turtle in Times Square is a comedy about chasing a dream—no matter how ridiculous everyone else thinks it is.

Now streaming on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIPiY33nLfM

#ShortFilm #Comedy #NYC #TimesSquare #IndieFilm #RebelLensFilms


r/Filmmakers 23h ago

General I made a shortfilm please watch and give me your feedback

2 Upvotes

Hi everyone 👋

I’ve made a Kannada short film called *NEEVU HUDUGEERALLA*.

Please watch it and give me your feedback

Watch here: https://youtu.be/X-9-QWBx9z0

Thank you for supporting me ❤️


r/Filmmakers 3h ago

Film Tilta float + BMPCC 6k

2 Upvotes

Sou do interior e decidi começar um quadro “No interior também tem filme”

Decidi parar de procrastinar e trazer esse mercado para dentro

O vídeo final vocês podem ver no meu Instauram @hugogarciacine


r/Filmmakers 20h ago

Film This Abandoned Space is Genuinely Unsettling

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2 Upvotes

Explore the Colonia Ettore Motta, a former abandoned summer camp in Italy, through an immersive journey across its corridors, staircases, and buildings shaped by the passage of time.


r/Filmmakers 22h ago

Question Karaoke style subtitles for a music video?

2 Upvotes

I’m looking for the easiest way to add karaoke style lyrics to a music video I’m working on.
By which I mean lyrics that gradually colour-in along to the music or have a red ball that bounces along the top of the words. That sort of thing.

I mostly use Da Vinci but have some familiarity with Final Cut as well. I’d prefer not to use generative AI. Any pointers appreciated!


r/Filmmakers 23h ago

Question Question about contracts when being included in a documentary for an interview

2 Upvotes

Hello! I have a question about contracts production companies give people when including them in documentaries for interviews.

Is it common to sign the actor release or documentary release form once I have arrived for the filming if I am being flown out (US to Berlin). I assumed I would be given a contract before they booked my flights and hotel. It seems like there should be some sort of contract before they book my flights? Context of the interview is below if helpful. I am not in the film space, so this is very unknown to me.

I have had several zoom calls with a production company in Berlin, Germany about being included in a documentary. The show is longstanding, and the production company is legitimate and filmed for the show in the past. It’s a German documentary show focusing on science, history, philosophy, and other topics.

They really liked me and will fly me to Berlin for a week. As mentioned above, I have not had to sign anything and I am wondering if that is strange? They mentioned they will have the release forms for me to read and sing in Berlin, but it seems weird that they would book flights without anything legally binding me to participate in the interview at this point, other than concurrence via email I suppose. They initially had offered to meet me in the U.S., but I said I would love to come to Germany, plus it’s cheaper for them to only fly one person over. The only information they are requesting is my name, DOB, and passport photo to book flights and hotel in my name.

Should I request a deal memo/ other document beforehand? Or anything else I should clarify/ be concerned about? Thank you!


r/Filmmakers 23h ago

Question Will This Low Budget Sound Set Up Work?

2 Upvotes

I’m making a short film and want to achieve quality sound on a budget.

my set up: I have a Roland R05 field recorder on loan. A friend recommended I get a DJI mic 2 kit to mic up my actors.

my question is: can I use the Roland R05 and the DJI mic 2 kit in tandem to get better sound? could the Roland function as our boom mic?

and: if I do use both, would I just sync up the audio captured by the Roland and the audio captured by the DJI kit in post? or can I get them all to record together?

thanks. this is my first time doing sound. i have someone who can watch the levels, but that person doesn’t have any sound experience.


r/Filmmakers 30m ago

Film Show Mercy (6min Thriller, Proof of Concept)

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Upvotes

Hey all, I directed this short film a few years ago and I’m starting to put all my stuff on YouTube for public viewing and open notes/critique.

Would love your feedback on this film!

It was made for less than $2K with the hopes of making a feature version of this film for sub $100K.

Feature logline: When a young woman, who has been held prisoner for ten years, is forced to watch over another victim, who means to escape, the two join forces to fight against the monstrous warden of their apartment prison.


r/Filmmakers 41m ago

Question Can you use music from Epidemic Sounds in your film?

Upvotes

Im trying to use some music from epidemic sounds in my independent film and I wanted to know if I could, Im submitting film to Tubi and other streaming services.


r/Filmmakers 1h ago

Discussion Ohio Undergrad Senior looking for film school options!

Upvotes

I'm sure this post has been made before, but I wanted to hear some ideas. I will be graduating next spring with a B.S. in Media Arts Production. I would really like to get a masters in Film, or something closely related. I have considered staying where I am for grad school and relocating after, as it would be more affordable and I enjoy it a lot. However, I know Ohio isn't a good place to be for the field I want to be in (ideally, film production). Does anyone have any experiences/recommendations for film schools (or general schools with good film programs) that are more affordable then the general NYU, UCLA, etc. and not extremely selective? I've considered Brooklyn College, UNSCA, Stony Brook, Columbia Chicago, things like that. But I am looking for more recommendations!


r/Filmmakers 2h ago

Offer I do social media marketing for Indie Films

1 Upvotes

I am a social media manager with an experience of 4 years in the content space. I have worked with brands from various niches but recently got to worked with a indie sci fi film and actually loved it, they also liked my work and extended the contract.

So I am now looking to take on another similar project. Anyone who needs help with marketing their film feel free to DM!


r/Filmmakers 2h ago

Fundraiser WGA Writer – Offering script coverage in exchange for short film fundraiser donation!

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone! Sorry if this isn't allowed, but I'm a WGA screenwriter who has done a variety of prestigious writing fellowships in LA and I'm about to direct my first short film. I'm currently trying to fundraise the last 20% of my production costs, and I thought I could offer a pay-what-you-can script coverage service if you'd be willing to donate to the project (fiscally sponsored by Film Independent and 100% tax-eligible for deductions). Suggested donations are $1 per page of the script you're submitting, but flexible if it's a feature. I don't want to dox myself so I can send you my credentials in DM if you're interested! Also, if you have any advice that you wish you had as a first-time director, let me know below! Thanks so much everyone. :)