What 2 Things Hold Most Filmmakers Back?

There's always an excuse not to make something. Whether it comes from the production company or an executive, people love to pass on a project because it takes real skill and courage to get things going. But when you get that green light or self-fund, what's coming down the bend, then there are always two more things that hold every filmmaker back. Today, we're going to unpack those topics and offer some solutions to help you out. Let's dive in.What's Holding You Back? I love videos from In Depth Cine because I feel like they have a great perspective on what it takes to make a movie and sustain a career. This video discusses two things every filmmaker wants more of in order to improve their lot in life. Time and Money Like it or not, every project you work on will always feel like it's short on time and money. Even if you have a ton of cash, you'll always be limited by shoot days, and even if you have a lot of days, you'll always be limited by the amount you can spend. Time and money are the inevitable barriers that every project carries with it. No matter who produces it, every filmmaker will have to plan around these two things, and shift focus on each when they have to either shoot more scenes or they're running over a meal penalty. Let's dig into them. Battling the ClockTime is relentless. Limited shooting schedules can mean compromising on the number of takes, potentially affecting shot quality. Even seemingly simple elements, like capturing the perfect "magic hour" light, are bound by nature's schedule, adding another layer of pressure. Every minute on set counts.The Power of the PurseMoney dictates the scale. The budget impacts everything – the quality of gear, the accessibility of locations, the size and experience of the crew. While a bigger budget might allow for a larger team, potentially speeding things up, it might also limit the total number of shooting days available. It's a constant balancing act.What Can You Do About It? Look, you're not doomed by the amount of money you have or the amount of time. You just have to learn to handle them well. And the video has a bunch of practical strategies to overcome these hurdles: Shoot a working script: Spend time making the script perfect, and it'll save you money from fixing it later. Plan Your Shots: Carefully planning the number and type of shots helps maximize precious shooting time and money. Streamline Setups: Minimize complex technical changes to avoid wasting time reconfiguring lights and cameras. Pre-Light: If possible, lighting locations in advance can save significant time during the actual shoot. Pre-Production is Key: Thorough planning, including storyboards and detailed shot lists, is non-negotiable. Fix It In Post: Sometimes, minor technical issues encountered on set can be addressed more efficiently during post-production, saving valuable shooting time, even if it costs a little money. Summing It All Up Filmmaking is an art of informed compromise. It's about making smart decisions, finding creative solutions, and strategically navigating the inevitable constraints of time and money. Understanding these challenges gives us a greater appreciation for the magic we see in the final cut.Let me know what you think in the comments.

Apr 23, 2025 - 21:54

What 2 Things Hold Most Filmmakers Back?

There's always an excuse not to make something. Whether it comes from the production company or an executive, people love to pass on a project because it takes real skill and courage to get things going.

But when you get that green light or self-fund, what's coming down the bend, then there are always two more things that hold every filmmaker back.

Today, we're going to unpack those topics and offer some solutions to help you out.

Let's dive in.

What's Holding You Back?

I love videos from In Depth Cine because I feel like they have a great perspective on what it takes to make a movie and sustain a career.

This video discusses two things every filmmaker wants more of in order to improve their lot in life.

Time and Money

Like it or not, every project you work on will always feel like it's short on time and money. Even if you have a ton of cash, you'll always be limited by shoot days, and even if you have a lot of days, you'll always be limited by the amount you can spend.

Time and money are the inevitable barriers that every project carries with it.

No matter who produces it, every filmmaker will have to plan around these two things, and shift focus on each when they have to either shoot more scenes or they're running over a meal penalty.

Let's dig into them.

Battling the Clock

Time is relentless. Limited shooting schedules can mean compromising on the number of takes, potentially affecting shot quality.

Even seemingly simple elements, like capturing the perfect "magic hour" light, are bound by nature's schedule, adding another layer of pressure.

Every minute on set counts.

The Power of the Purse

Money dictates the scale. The budget impacts everything – the quality of gear, the accessibility of locations, the size and experience of the crew.

While a bigger budget might allow for a larger team, potentially speeding things up, it might also limit the total number of shooting days available.

It's a constant balancing act.

What Can You Do About It?

Look, you're not doomed by the amount of money you have or the amount of time. You just have to learn to handle them well.

And the video has a bunch of practical strategies to overcome these hurdles:

Shoot a working script: Spend time making the script perfect, and it'll save you money from fixing it later.
Plan Your Shots: Carefully planning the number and type of shots helps maximize precious shooting time and money.
Streamline Setups: Minimize complex technical changes to avoid wasting time reconfiguring lights and cameras.
Pre-Light: If possible, lighting locations in advance can save significant time during the actual shoot.
Pre-Production is Key: Thorough planning, including storyboards and detailed shot lists, is non-negotiable.
Fix It In Post: Sometimes, minor technical issues encountered on set can be addressed more efficiently during post-production, saving valuable shooting time, even if it costs a little money.

Summing It All Up

Filmmaking is an art of informed compromise. It's about making smart decisions, finding creative solutions, and strategically navigating the inevitable constraints of time and money.

Understanding these challenges gives us a greater appreciation for the magic we see in the final cut.

Let me know what you think in the comments.