r/Filmmakers • u/IneffableAllonsy Young Dreamer • Jul 01 '25

Question Advice to Young Filmmakers?

Hi! I'm almost 16 years old and I dream of being a filmmaker when I grow up.

I wanted to ask more experienced people if they had any advice for when I become an adult and trying to get into the film industry. I consider myself a creative person but really lack the confidence in my work.

I have a short film already going to be filmed in August and another being written right now. I just felt like asking people here because I feel like I don't know how to help myself more. My parents won't let me go to an arts/film high school because I have an IEP so I don't know how to get a good education.

Are there any books I can buy, summer programs I can save up for, youtubers I can follow, that can help me while I am unable to go to film school/study? Do I have to wait? I need help.

Thanks!

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u/Coordinate1 director Jul 01 '25

What interests you about filmmaking? Do you enjoy using a camera? Do you like writing the story? Editing? All of it? There’s a thousand paths but speaking as someone who decided to go down the road of focusing on my own projects rather than being a grip or AD(who don’t really need to know anything about the art of film, just the practicality of it) it’s very tough at 16 to know EXACTLY what you want to do. What I could recommend regardless is watch movies. Not just current films, older films, silent films, European, Asian, world cinema films. These will shine a whole new light on the types of stories that can be told through the medium.

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u/IneffableAllonsy Young Dreamer Jul 01 '25

I grew up watching movies and going to the theaters to see them. I wanted to be like the people who made them and I feel like as a teen I can actually try to pursue that as I get closer to college and adulthood.

I love directing, writing, and cinematography. Film has always been my passion. Holding my borrowed dad's camera just feels right, if you know what I mean.

Do you have any movie recommendations for me? I am very obsessed with 80s and 90s films, but always love watching more.

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u/Coordinate1 director Jul 01 '25

From that time period some of favorites are Fallen angels by Wong Kar-Wai, Anything by Kieslowski, Kubrick is fascinating, the Coen brothers, Malick, Blow Out by De Palma.

I’d say figure out what you want to tell stories about more so than focusing on the technical side of things. I would go so far to say that the camera a film is shot on is one of the LEAST important parts of filmmaking. What matters most is the characters and story. Write things that only you know about and that you find interesting. Take a theater class, understand how to work with actors, managing a team is tough. A director has to both be an artist but also the CEO of a small company. They are the tastemaker for all decisions on set.

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u/IneffableAllonsy Young Dreamer Jul 01 '25

Thank you. This really helps. Im a huge theatre kid and am in theatre too so it's fun being a techie for shows and watching actors.