What No One Tells You About Being a Filmmaker

Editor’s Note
There are a lot of new friends here this week and I want to thank you for joining! The BAD ANIMAL giveaway is running until the first week of July — then I’ll reach out to the winners.

I hope you find this bi-weekly bulletin of great value to your creativity… and I hope this week’s post gives you the push you need. There’s a challenge at the end – one real project, 30 days – and I’d love for you to be part of it.

We Love a Good Number

What’s your follower count? Views? Income?
Our world is ruled by attention. An it can feel like your influence is your greatest currency. We see it flexed every day.

Let me tell you… as artists this is toxic.
Comparison can paralyze you — sometimes for decades. Life isn’t that long! And even worse, it can push you to chase trends.

If you’re ready to stop your mindless attention and start creating with intention, I’ve got something for you at the end of this post.

Your Voice Is the Only Thing You Own

Yes, it’s a cliché. But it’s true.
Your instincts, your taste, your strange point of view – these are your most important tools and need to be protected.

You have to follow that truth and create in your wheelhouse. Otherwise, there’s nothing separating you from the next person, and this career is ruthlessly competitive.

There will always be someone with more money, more friends, more access than you. But success can still be yours.

If you feel young and current and inspired absolutely embrace it, but to have longevity in this career you have to recognize that one day you will change. And the weight of your history can feel like baggage.

If that’s you, let it go.

If you want to stand out, you have to make something undeniable.
Whether it’s a movie a short series or a Tik-Tok channel the first step is making something that works. And you won’t know how to to do it until you get there.

But one piece of advice you ignore at your own peril:

Never Ignore the Audience (Even If You Hate Marketing)

This is the biggest mistake you can make.

That doesn’t mean chasing mass appeal. In 2025, even the biggest studios don’t have the secrets anymore. The box office is broken. Streaming is especially bad for creators and producers.

But marketing is not corporate anymore. It’s personal.

The goal isn’t to speak to everyone. You have to find your people. The 10 people who actually care. Then 100. Then 1000.

These ones will follow your work, share it, show up again.

They can’t find you if you hide. You have to put the work out there and be unafraid of critique.

The more juice you get, the more haters come out. It’s just the way it is. And one critic stings harder than 100 fans. It sucks… but we have to get on with our lives!

at the world premiere for my latest feature doc – the subject was beloved my many and so the fans showed up

Wear All the Hats

It might be my MO to a fault, but if I’ve had any success at all, it’s from being willing to embrace a lot of roles.

I started my career as a cinematographer with aspirations to direct.

But directing is a winding path, and it’s rarely about talent.
It’s about who can push the boulder up the hill, over and over.

I’ve been the producer, editor, production designer, composer, – sometimes all on the same project.

Don’t get me wrong, I relish collaboration.
But sometimes, to make something happen, someone has to steamroll the excuses.

If no one else around you will, then you have found your calling.

You Can Quit Anytime — But You Haven’t Yet

Look, you joined this community because you are a creator, or you want to see what makes artists tick. You punched the clock and showed up. That is frankly the hardest part. Now the real challenge is to be the last one standing.

As time marches on and you find yourself moving through life without achieving exactly what you hoped for, the question creeps in: Why am I still here?

You can quit anytime.

The circus doesn’t need us.

We need the circus.

Make One Real Thing in the Next 30 Days

send me your bts shots behind the camera!

If you’re ready to actually make something (and I’m assuming that is why you’re here) let’s begin.

Don’t wait for permission.
Don’t wait for funding. Or the equipment to show up./
Don’t wait for someone to “greenlight” your creativity.

Take the next 30 days to make something original
A short, a scene, a doc, a series.
Cast with who you know. Shoot with what you have. Document the process.

If nothing else, you’ll learn.
And for everyone who joins in, I’ll amplify and share your work next month.

It’s an opportunity to workshop your craft and get it in front of new eyes.
If you can’t embrace that, I don’t know what to tell you.

And yes, I’m doing it too. I’m currently in production on a new mystery short film, part of a new anthology, and I’ll be sharing the process along the way.

Stop Waiting for a Sign

Make your case. Looking forward to seeing your results.

–R