7 Filmmaking Lessons You Might Want to Learn This Year

 

 

We're almost halfway into the first month of 2016, which means 90% of us have forgotten about our New Year's resolutions, while the other 10% still don't really know what we're doing. But don't worry -- there's help!

If your resolution was to become a better filmmaker in 2016, you might want to check out this helpful video by Caleb Pike of DSLR Video Shooter, in which he lists 7 things he's learned about making films this last year. Serving as a great checklist of sorts for the rest of us, Pike mentions things that will help all types of filmmakers, whether you're working on a solo project or shooting something for a high-profile client. Check out the video below:

 

In case you aren't able to watch the video, here are the 7 lessons Pike mentions: (For a more detailed explanation of each, head over to his blog post.

1. The Importance of Mastering the Art of Producing
2. Finishing/Shipping is More Important Than Achieving Perfection
3. Embracing/Working Around Obstacles
4. Know Your Motivation
5. What Got You Here Will Not Get You There
6. Be Comfortable and Honest About Who You Are and What You Do
7. Find What You Love to Do and Do It!

All of these things are important to grow as a filmmaker, as well as find joy in using your craft. However, one thing that I think is particularly important to learn as a filmmaker, artist, human being is the 5th thing Pike talks about: "What got you here will not get you there."
Believe it or not, failure is not the most painful thing to experience as an artist -- it's stagnation. There's nothing worse than looking at your work today and realizing that you're making the same 1.) creative choices, 2.) mistakes, and 3.) excuses as you were at the beginning of your career. 
So, maybe you broke into filmmaking by taking a gamble by spending your savings on camera gear, or moving to L.A., or quitting your day job to write a screenplay (me), and that's fantastic and brave and good job, but as you progress in your career, you're going to be challenged to make more (and different) decisions that get progressively more mature as time goes on -- and you've got to be ready for that.
Of course, if you're satisfied with where you're at, kudos! Relax and enjoy the ride. But if you want to grow and evolve as a filmmaker, if you see yourself in a different place creatively and professionally than where you are now, just keep repeating Pike's words -- all together now: "What got me here will not get me there."
What filmmaking lessons did you learn this last year? What are some things you're trying to improve on as a filmmaker? Let us know below!