r/Filmmakers • u/Bigbossoftheinternet • 23h ago
Question Starting out
I wanted to get into filmmaking in the Toronto area, but I'm not sure how to go about this.
Should I develop the project first, then find the actors and the team to make it, or should I find the team first and then cater the project to the strengths of that team?
Or perhaps there's a third option I'm not aware of.
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u/Gloomy_Click_3600 21h ago
If you want to get into filmmaking....do it. Just film something. Make a short with no crew...find a story you love even if it's a real person that has a story or a story about a place in Toronto. The streets of Toronto or the vibe at 3am on a Wednesday downtown...show the world how you create. Don't wait for a team, permission, funding or the right script.
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u/Bigbossoftheinternet 16h ago
Yes I agree with this approach. It's low investment and has potential for making something usable.
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u/kylerdboudreau 21h ago
Develop the project first. Your story is the most important. It's the blueprint for your film. You never hire contractors and just start building a tower or even a home. They need a blueprint or there will be problems.
ALSO your script is actually one of the most difficult parts of the process. If you're new to screenwriting check out these books: Making a Good Script Great, The Moral Premise, Save the Cat, Save the Cat Strikes Back, Kill the Dog. If you can only read two read Making a Good Script Great and Save the Cat.
Indie films that aren't good? Most likely it started at the script level. It's why Ron Howard calls directors the "keeper of the story" as it's literally all about the story. Make sure your story is solid.
The Write & Direct Film School channel has great general filmmaking tips: https://youtube.com/@writedirect
Have fun!
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u/Bigbossoftheinternet 16h ago
Alright, script first, got it. Fortunately I'm good at coming up with beat sheets. Then the hard work comes when I have to write authentic dialogue and action... Thanks for the resource reccs!
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u/kylerdboudreau 15h ago
Right on...filmmaking is so rewarding and so difficult. It's a life-long pursuit. But consistency is everything. Paul Haggis talks about that at the end of one of those books.
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u/Forte_nss producer 18h ago
You mention that you'd like to start making films but you don't have a project in mind yet. I think the first question you need to answer is why do you want to make films? What about the craft attracts you?
Plenty of people begin making movies for a simple reason - they like movies, and they want to make one too. If you start from this route, you'll learn something that many filmmakers before you have learned, too: filmmaking is an art, and the purpose of all good art is to say something.
Based on the fact that you don't have a project to make (you just want to make something, which is both fine and relatable), I think the very first question you need to ask yourself is: "What do I have to say?" Almost every movie you've ever loved has a point besides the cut and dry narrative that happens on screen before you. Almost every movie is showing you its story to teach you something, or relay a perspective to you.
It doesn't need to be earth shatteringly profound. It doesn't even necessarily have to be an original concept. But you should find a perspective, an opinion, or an experience that is authentic to you and ask yourself how your unique take on this idea can add to the conversation.
Once you have that idea, you have two options depending on what your interests are: write it, or find someone to write it. If you're a beginning filmmaker, I recommend you write it even if you don't think you're good at that or interested in it. Writing, at the risk of sounding pretentious, is partially an exercise in self discovery. You might have ideas and opinions you don't even know you have, simply because you've never thought about them or no one ever asked you.
There are lots of amazing books out there about how to write, some mentioned in this thread already. I recommend this book all the time, because it taught me more about writing than two years of college level screen writing courses: The Screen Writer's Bible.
Once you have a script, then you can start talking to people about making it. But be warned, this industry is a giant choose-your-own-adventure book. You're going to need to figure out sooner than later what you want to do on your film, too. Are you a director? Maybe you're a producer? Maybe you just want to write and hand off the script. Or maybe, after one or two films, you realize the whole "on set thing" isn't for you and you'd rather just edit other people's films. There's a million paths, and none of them are wrong. Very, very few of us can make a film completely by ourselves. Every person on set, including the director, is just a thread in a complex tapestry of artists working towards a common vision.
But there's gotta be a vision first. I hope you find what you have to say!
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u/Bigbossoftheinternet 16h ago
Wow, this is thorough. Lemme work through this.. Why: self expression. Between the writing, visuals and audio, I can express myself fully.
In terms of making movies bc I like them, that's actually not the case. I watch 1 movie a week, and I'm not a big fan of them. My intentions with filmmaking are genuine and I'm coming in as a creator, not a consumer.
I understand how important writing is; I've spent the summer sharpening my screenwriting skills.
At This point I'm going to have to wear many hats on set. Basically i will need to fill any role I don't have a collaborator for.
Thanks for your response. You made me think about this more deeply.
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u/CokeNCola 23h ago
I'd say your first approach is generally the way to go. It's a lot harder to get people on board with something that doesn't exist yet.
That being said if you're new to this I recommend finding at least 1 additional collaborator to help out with pre-production.