Directing Your First Film, For Reel

Many aspiring filmmakers end up spending a lot of money on a project that looks as amateurish as they feel. This doesn’t have to be your fate.

Learn how to spend as little money as possible while putting together your directorial debut, with funding and support from industry professionals. Although breaking into the film industry is notoriously difficult, it doesn't have to be impossible. Follow these rules and steps to success and create a reel film that doesn't disappoint.

If you've watched, studied, and loved film for years, perhaps you would make a good director. It's easy to catch the filmmaking bug, but how do you actually make it happen?

The ability to see a story in pictures and manage people is essential, but so is the capability to see the project through from start to finish. There’s hard work and long hours ahead, but if your goal is to have a finished project that you can proudly showcase, it’s entirely achievable. Remember, just because it's not easy doesn’t mean it can't be a fun and truly rewarding experience that you’ll talk about for years or that might even kickstart a new career.

This book will guide you from your unrealized dream of being a director to your completed film. We'll start by showing you how to plan meticulously to ensure your project runs smoothly, avoiding common pitfalls that often trip up first-time directors. You'll then dive into the production itself, from keeping your crew content and productive to directing actors to deliver the performances you've envisioned. Finally, your vision will come alive in the post-production process, with tips and hints for maximizing the footage you have.

Perhaps more importantly, this book will show you how to make enough money or gain enough notoriety to enable you to make a second film, ideally funded by someone else.