In my limited experience, I’ve made 13 short films. These have been immensely challenging and amazing experiences. My most recent film was accepted into 33 Film Festivals all over the world, and I love every single one of my films. Reflecting on my experiences in making short films, I can confidently say that knowing these 38 tips would have made a huge difference in ensuring a smooth shoot on all my films.

If you are a beginner at filmmaking, you have many wonderful experiences ahead of you. You also have many painful, cringe-worthy, experiences ahead of you as well. The reason for this is simple. As a filmmaker, your attention will be pulled in many, many directions. There are at least 15 things you must
concentrate on and decide on, seemingly at the same time. There are going to be fuck-ups… a lot of them. And, most importantly, you must keep your eye on telling the story in an engaging way.

The way to be successful and to have a long career in filmmaking is learning how to be fluid and open to these mistakes. Move into them and thru them. Most of the time, a “mistake” is an opportunity to look at the situation from a different standpoint. It gives you an opportunity to go another way. And sometimes, it is this very mistake that will lead to the “magic” that happens on most sets.

Learn how to be forceful when you need to be to get the shot you want. And at the same time, learn when to stand back and let your team do what they are good at doing. Learn how to be patient and forgiving when mistakes are made…because believe me, there will be many, many mistakes.

Because this business is a business!!! It is ALL about making money. Don’t kid yourself into thinking any differently. Creativity is just icing on the cake. However, on the opposite side of the coin, it can be the most rewarding experience you will ever have as well. Both financially, creatively, and spiritually!

Remember, THE ultimate goal is to have folks watch and enjoy your film. Or as we actors like to say…Getting butts in the seats. I have created this short e-book to share with you the many mistakes that I have made on my film shoots; as well as the mistakes that other beginning directors that I have worked with at film school have made. Here is the GOOD NEWS… most of these mistakes can be avoided if you take the time to be prepared for them.

When I have not let fuckups completely throw me out of the moment, or let some stupid mistakes push me into some insane emotional reaction, then I have personally found that what replaces the intended shot is something that will work as well if not better than I had planned.

You can count on many of these happening to you! Most of them cannot be avoided either. But they don’t have to ruin your film or your enjoyment of making your film. So, with that being said… let’s jump in.

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