Filmmaking Is Hard. Are You Up for It?

For a lot of people who aren't in the film industry, it might see like filmmaking is all kinds of fun and glamour. Peer just a little bit behind the curtain, though, and you'll realize just how complex and stressful that life can be.

Okay, so the video's title suggests that those watching it are already in the industry, but it's still well worth a watch for someone who's thinking of getting into filmmaking or just interested in general. Featuring two of my favorite channels in one video, Ted Sim from Indy Mogul sits down with the legend that is Ryan Connolly from Film Riot. It's equal parts a lesson on the industry's pull and push effect on filmmakers' energy levels, a warning to those thinking of going down the path towards the silver screen, and a co-written love letter to the industry that has brought so much joy to two friends.

I've never been involved in filmmaking. It's something I think about doing all the time, but each time I get close to making a decision, something pulls me back again. Maybe it's where I live, and I'm just not acquainted with people like Sim and Connolly, but when it comes down to it, if I really wanted to do it, I would figure something out, make something on my own, etc. It's people like these, though, whose passion is truly infectious, that inspire up and coming creators. They share so much of their hard-earned knowledge that's it's difficult for anyone to make excuses.

For those of your who are either thinking of quitting filmmaking or are curious as to whether it's a good fit for you, Sim poses five questions that every filmmaker should ask themselves — another illuminating peek behind the curtain for those of us not familiar with the reality of it.

Are any of our readers thinking about entering the film world? Are any exiting? Let us know in the comments.  

Mike O'Leary's picture

Mike is a landscape and commercial photographer from, Co. Kerry, Ireland. In his photographic work, Mike tries to avoid conveying his sense of existential dread, while at the same time writing about his sense of existential dread. The last time he was in New York he was mugged, and he insists on telling that to every person he meets.

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3 Comments

This seemed more like a promotional piece. I didn't make it far enough in to the video to see if they eventually got to answering 5 questions. After a lot of gumpf they said the full information would be found in their podcast rather than the video, and that was the final straw for me!

It's only as hard as you want to make it.
Got an idea for a short film?
Go shoot it.
You can shoot it with your phone.
It can be that easy.
Now if you want to make a major motion picture, or major documentary that can be a lot more work.
I have only one question for aspiring film makers.
Do you have a story you really,really want to tell?
If your answer is yes, you'll find a way.

I've directed 3 no budget feature films. It was blisteringly hard work. I gave it up about 6 years ago. I found the difficulties inherent in making a film for no money meant I was always thinking logistically and rarely got the opportunity to enjoy being creative past the scripting phase. And it takes such a long time. To stay enthused about a project when you're 2-3 years in can be a serious challenge. It was also just too expensive. Even films on the scale I was making we're still costing me $10k. Only so many times you can do that.

Photography suits me a lot better. I can have an idea one day, and have a finished shot a couple hours later. Show it off straight away and get paid for it. Much more pleasant experience on a bunch of levels.

That said, I started scripting a new story last week. I'm 30 pages into the story and thinking I've got to make this film. So while photography is more satisfying on pretty much every level I still find I have to follow my passion which, sadly, is film. No matter how much I despise the process.