Tips for amateur filmmakers:
We are living in a new era of filmmaking, take advantage of new consumer friendly equipment to tell your story, it is easier than ever to practice, practice, practice. You can cheaply and easily film on equipment similar to what Hollywood Blockbusters are shooting on, and Final Cut Pro just dropped their price significantly!
Keep it short and simple while you hone your skills; put the feature length films, death scenes and car chases on the back-burner until you've learned how to successfully tell a story visually.
Don't break the bank on you're first few films. When you're a skilled filmmaker and have the ultimate story to tell you'll want all the funds you can get your hands on for the endeavor.
The internet can help with all stages of production; funding, casting and crewing up, distributing and marketing, but what it can't do is launch your career if you don't have a firm grasp on the craft. An old industry saying goes something like this, "If you don't have a good script, you can't have a good movie", so hone those skills, start with a great script and strengthen the voice with which you tell your stories.
If you're a young filmmaker with questions about the process, don't hesitate to email me. I'll give you as much advice as I can on the subject: silentgiantproductions@gmail.com
