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Top Filmmaking Tips from Seasoned Directors

Today’s world is choc-full of advice, some of it is great, some of it is better left unsaid. Most fall somewhere in between and is acceptable and to some degree useful. The best directors tend to have plenty of working knowledge to share if given the opportunity. These are the top filmmaking tips from seasoned directors in the industry.

BBP camera crew 1-10

Follow along to hear what seasoned directors have to say about everything from scriptwriting to editing and distribution. While you may not need every bit of advice that comes from these directors, there is certainly information here for aspiring filmmakers to backlog into memory.

Whether you’re working on a first film, or seeking an opinion on a specific element of production that’s new to you, these directing tips are sure to help.

Don’t Ask Questions, Just Do It

story question mark

Seasoned directors tend to feel the same about this in general. Instead of asking questions and hovering for an answer, get your hands dirty and learn for yourself. Filmmakers often get hung up on asking. Asking how. Asking why. Asking when. Asking where. But when you finally say enough is enough and dedicate yourself to doing whatever it is that you are asking for, real progress is made.

Follow Your Instinct

As a director you know exactly what you want to see in a film. Nobody can change that and certainly nobody can see the finished project through better than you. Every individual on the film set will see the film with a unique expertise and from their own perspective.

None will see it exactly the way the director sees it. It’s your job to help the crew understand the entirety of the project and keep pushing forward to the finishing goal.

When the set gets most rushed for time, and the tensions run highest, you may feel like taking someone else’s idea and running with it would be easier and acceptable–but you need to follow your instincts and keep pushing forward with YOUR vision, not theirs.

A Director is Only As Good as Their Crew

Team Beverly Boy

Amazing films don’t come from slackers, they come from seasoned crews that work efficiently and effectively together to reach the goal. You need a crew that will push themselves to the outer limits, and take on a challenge to make the film a success.

You need a crew that will take risks with the full understanding that the best and biggest rewards come from risk-taking and hard work. If it were easy, everyone would do it!

Crews that have tight-knit relationships and who bond together are more likely to perform well when on set too. When there’s no time to go home and be around family or friends, your crew is all you’ve got.

Best to make the most out of it and come together. The morale will help you through even the toughest workdays and will show in the end quality of the films that you and your crew produce.

Use Names

It’s polite to call people by their name, especially when working on set but it’s also more effective when shooting. Why? Because as the director, you are able to see the actor’s on the screen and know who you are speaking to as you call out demands such as, “Turn a little to the left next time,” or “as you walk away, maybe just casually nod your head.”

Whatever the demand is, if there are several actors on set, and you don’t address them by name, you create a ton of confusion. In times where you’re behind, everyone is tired and you just want to be done for the day, something as simple as calling out a name before your order can save time, prevent confusion and make everyone a bit happier.

Calling out the name also ensures that your crew knows where the changes are taking place in the scene. This way they can accommodate for lighting changes and camera angles and sound capture. It’s not hard, but it’s something we tend to overlook.

Have everyone wear their names on stickers during rehearsals so that you can practice learning who each person is. This way you can avoid calling out “hey, you over there,” and instead connect with each individual on the set.

Mold Your Actors

talent getting a mic

It’s the director’s job to mold the actors and other talent into the character they want them to be. You have to create the environment that they will feel safe and comfortable in so that they can do what you wish and be who you wish for the film.

Actors that are comfortable in their environment will perform better than those who are uncomfortable. Create an atmosphere where there is no censorship. Where your actors feel that they can be themselves and actively aim without restraint to capture a role.

Nothing Can Stop You

Finally, as a director, you need to remember and hold true the thought that “nothing can stop you.” Don’t let anything get in your way. Filmmaking is about pushing the limits, being told no over and over again, persevering and pushing through with a dream.

If you let anything derail you, which plenty of situations will arise that lead you to feel derailed, you probably won’t succeed. Force yourself to accept that nothing can stop you and keep pushing through for the better no matter how many times you are told no or sent home.

Keep getting up. Keep working hard. Keep setting goals and working toward your dream. Nothing can stop you!

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