Is the key a short film that goes viral? Or, and angel who can fund a money making project?
Over the past five years I’ve chatted with 2,000 plus beginning filmmakers who are confident that if they create the right short film, it will open up doors of incredible opportunity. I’ve recently talked with scholars who also think the right short film would launch a career. A few friends have also suggested that a stirring short film might re-launch me back into the industry.
The truth of the matter is that out of the 4,000 plus filmmakers that followed my writings in various ezines, and the 16,000 writers who read my screenwriting column, none of them had a short film launch their career. In fact, out of the 100,000 plus filmmakers attempting to make their mark over the past five years, only two got a shot in Hollywood based on their short film. The one’s first project crashed and burned and brought demise to his career. The other’s career was launched with budgets he had no idea how to manage.
In the meantime, several dozen filmmakers launched new programs into the peripheral market and have found enough success to live off of it. They have started to build an audience and make enough money to make additional projects, while living off of its revenue. In my mind, these are the people who have found success.
Unfortunately, few people are able to enter the market at this lower level without some angel providing a break for them. Each one that I’ve talked with found someone to believe in them enough to front anywhere from $25-$125,000. These filmmakers also relied heavily on the team approach and pulled together the people needed to make the film.
This is the exact opposite of the going trend. Numerous people are suggesting that filmmaking is becoming an individual based process where one extremely talented person runs the whole show, especially in the area of short films. But the proof still resides with those who team together and create a mini or macro studio to make productions outside of the Hollywood system.
The last time I was at a film convention, I bumped into hundreds of arrogant filmmakers who all had extreme talent in one area and mediocre talent in other areas. I suggested that some of them get together to merge their talents and blow everyone away in the following year with an exceptional film that utilizes everyone’s expertise. They all looked at me like I was nuts, as they were each other’s competitors and would never stoop to such a ghastly thought.
I heard from a few friends that the last convention saw weaker films than the previous year. The quality of production and story had dropped. Few of the “competitors” were able to out do their previous attempts. This resulted in several of the filmmakers changing their life direction – All because they wouldn’t lower themselves to partner with other experts.
Those sharing the mentality that an individual filmmaker must make it on their own, see the drop off as a weeding out process that sifts out the real filmmakers. The odd thing is that most of those who gave up had more talent than those who stuck it out. Its sad to realize that the mediocre are now driving parts of the industry that used to be a collaborative art form for master craftsmen.
So, what are your thoughts? Should filmmakers keep on making shorts in hopes of being discovered or should they create a project that can make them enough money to live off of their art form?
Copyright © 2011 By CJ Powers
CJ's Corner 
I’m all for the power of “WE” and agree with you completely. I think that as people bring their strengths to a project and work together in partnership they can EXPONENTIALLY increase creativity and impact. Of course it takes humility and team work and trust to work as a “WE.” And working with others entails risk a certain amount of risk; but life=risk, doesn’t it? I hope this year more creatives find the courage to work together to create something beyond what they could ever do alone.
I’m convinced that macro studios are the wave of the future and collaboration between independents will be the future of films. The power of “WE” you mention will become a reality, but unfortunately the quality of story will drop among those who decide to remain as an “I”.
Great article, I’ll be sharing it over on Christianfilmmakers.org as it will interest many there. Hearing your experience and the feedback you’ve received confirms two things for me:
1.) The value of partnering with other filmmakers, especially established ones, or those who have complementary skills to one’s own
2.) The importance of securing funding over continuing to work exclusively in shorts.
So that’s where I’m at as a filmmaker. Having completed many shorts, an award-winning documentary and several instructional videos, I’m now looking to move forward into feature storytelling. I’m planning on doing this by relying on the wealth of skilled individuals with whom I’ve connected over the years and putting together a package that invites investors to share my vision for telling stories that entertain and build up viewers.
Thanks for the nice words and for sharing the article with others. The more who become like minded in this new pattern of production and distribution, the more great stories we get to see. I’ll look forward to seeing your next production.
Im getting a small issue. I cant get my reader to pickup your rss feed, Im using google reader by the way.
I’ll look into it, but my google reader is picking it up.
Im having a tiny issue. I cant get my reader to pickup your feed, Im using msn reader by the way.
We’re looking into it. In the meantime try https://cjpowers.wordpress.com
Please let me know if that works.
Here is what the tech guy said…
Howdy,
I’m able to see your feed just fine here:
https://cjpowersonline.com/feed/
It’s possible that some users aren’t using a proper feed reader in order to view the feed.
You might send them a link to this page to learn about using feeds:
http://en.support.wordpress.com/feeds/
Feel free to ask them to drop us a line, and we can look into this further for them 🙂
Best,
Chris
Wanted to drop a remark and let you know your Rss feed is not functioning today. I tried including it to my Yahoo reader account but got absolutely nothing.
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Wanted to drop a remark and let you know your Rss feed isnt working today. I tried adding it to my Yahoo reader account and got nothing.
I love that website layout . How did you make it. It is very sweet!
Thank you! I used a WordPress template and built the header from an illustration, my cj logo, and a picture of a friend behind the camera. My friend was shooting with the RED and I colored him and the camera in black and dropped out the background.
How come you do not have your website viewable in mobile format? Can not view anything in my phone.
The website is set up for mobile devices. You might want to check your phone settings.
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You’re welcome. Thanks for visiting the site.
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In order to republish, please give me the appropriate credit, by line, or quote. Also, linking to the site is a great idea.
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