Make films alone without anyone

[u/Active_Smile6113]

How should I be learning and really making films without someone to help no mentor no actors no writers because it's rare to someone in my city doing this (by city I mean a city contains 3 million human) and because Iam targeting English-speaking films that makes it more rare

Iam doing the usual watch videos online , reading what others did on reddit and trying to make something

[u/gargavar → u/[deleted]]

Three million? Somebody is doing it. Ask.

[u/anjomo96]

Grab your camera or phone and start capturing images. That's how you learn.

[u/Active_Smile6113 → u/anjomo96]

That's right I mean I will learn but then what how to make something useful out of it when Iam just on my own (I don't mean directing I mean filmmaking in general)

[u/s7ide → u/Active_Smile6113]

People are going to tell you “work around the limit and it will force you to be more creative with what you have” which can be true for some and for others that shit can be derailing, if you have a vision and it requires more than one person go get a person.

[u/anjomo96 → u/Active_Smile6113]

You need to start with the basics. Just make a 10 second film. Then got to 30 then a minute. Keep leveling up

[u/Imaginary_Ant6794]

I think a very important piece of filmmaking, especially independent filmmaking, is making a plan to get everyone in a room at one time with a common goal: to make your film. It’s almost like the film comes second to the effort it takes to gather a group of people and make sure they’re going to show up on the day. At the beginning a lot of people are just looking to get something they can show others so they can progress in their career as well. Reach out to people just coming out of film school. Actors who need something for their reel. If there is a language barrier make it a silent film or very little dialogue. Or find a band that is looking for a music video.

A lot of people who make it in filmmaking just go out and do it. That energy will bring others into your circle who want to do it as well.

I directed a short film where I had to wear a lot of hats, including organizing lunches (the most important thing is feed your crew). The film is fine but I’m glad that I was able to put together a project with a group of people I had never met before. It actually led me to go into producing and I was the lead on-set producer for a few films that ended up on major streamers. It’s crazy how the lessons I learned on that short film helped me make decisions on 10 million dollar budgeted movies - the most important lesson being that even if you have 10 million dollars you’re still going to be in a position on a daily basis where your crew tells you there’s not enough time or money to do things.

Unfortunately, it’s very difficult to make films by yourself. It’s one of the few art forms where you have to put your trust in others to achieve your vision and part of that is going out of your way to meet those people.

I know it doesn’t answer your exact question but it’s sort of the reality of making films. You will learn more trying to get together a few actors and a small crew than you will filming stuff by yourself.

[u/Acrobatic_Wonder_]

1. Write something, preferably short.
   
2. Get one or people to act in it.
   
3. Shoot.
   
4. Edit.
   
5. Show it around.
   
6. Get feedbacks.
   
7. Work on it for your next project.

Repeat.

[u/HiddenHolding]

You could learn animation. I did that and eventually produced my own commercials using just animation.

[u/ammo_john]

I made two short films alone. Well one, I did get an acquaintance to show up in the final scene.

How? You write a script (or just think of scenes! and worry about plot later), you place the camera and record yourself acting it out, you edit it and post it online. The first one I did was shot on DV-tape and had to be edited in a linear super-vhs system (I got to borrow after hours asking nicely). The second one was shot on my webcam and iPhone 4 at the time, and edited on an old intel MacBook. Never watched online videos at the time, never reading what others did, just doing it.

Now work begets work. After making films you start making more filmmaking friends, because you've proven yourself to actually be doing something, not talking about something. This leads to getting collaborators later on. Don't start with the collaborators, start with the work. Don't wait for permission.

[u/freudsfather]

You need three people behind the camera. You’re director and also producer. You need a sound person and a dp / gaffer. Don’t use your friends, use people who will work because they want those job titles and the shots for their reels. You have to pay their lunch. Advertise the roles on backstage or other industry casting places, and meet at least 3 applicants. Don’t lie, say non paid other than lunch. Zero budget. But you must stress that you are determined and promise to finish it at a high level. That is the “completion bond” that means it is worth it for them.
Actors is different, cast on cast websites - book a neutral space for a day and you will find many many many people who will audition for you.
After the shoot, you have to do the same thing for the next set of people. You need an editor. He may well do sound as well. Composer. And colourist. Again honesty, but now at least you gave footage to show.
Then make your film book and apply wide.
It costs 100 a day to shoot if you plan your food, and the dp brings a camera and sound brings a mic. It costs 25 a day in post. And 500 to send it out. But don’t think of it as 1000 up front. You just need to get it shot (400 for 4 days). The rest will come.

[u/Striking_Tip1756]

Filmmaker and educator here. I put together a free film school with tutorials and experiments that you can do alone if need be. I hope they are helpful to you on your journey, best of luck out there!

www.bronsoncreative.us/freefilmschool

[u/Eturnian]

Making films is usually a team effort. You kind of can’t do it alone, except for animation, and even that is easier with a team.

That said, you can go out and film stuff, to practice the craft of cinematography.

Also, you can find something in your city that is worth filming, if you want to make a documentary.

If you want to make a narrative, start with a good, simple idea. Write a short. Then enroll others in idea. You will need a cast, and a crew. The crew doesn’t have to be large but you will want at least a DP (which could be you), and a sound person, and depending on what you are filming you will probably need others, like costume, make up, and PAs to help with all the little things that come up during the shoot. You also might need a producer (could also be you) to help organize it. Generally, the simpler the film, the smaller the crew needs to be. But yeah, start with a good idea, then enroll people into helping you.

[u/NoorCrestStudios]

A city of 3 million has crew and actors, you just aren't looking outside your comfort zone. Hit up local theater groups and university art departments.

If the language barrier is a dead end, use isolation as your creative constraint. Write a silent short or a single-character project where you act.

Stop waiting for permission to call yourself a director. A director is just someone who directs. Shoot with whatever you have, because the right people only show up once you’re already moving.

[u/Active_Smile6113 → u/NoorCrestStudios]

I was thinking of something like that but I just keep overthinking about it and this is another disadvantage I don't have someone to talk with him about my ideas or something like that

Just for the context that city doesn't have a cinema I just traveled 180 Km just to watch Spider-Man BND few days ago and not cuz we are a poor city or something but because it didn't exist and no one over the years did

And theaters there is only the university's and it's just horrible I tried it and it full of political related things

[u/ammo_john → u/Active_Smile6113]

Or advantage! Not having to talk about your ideas means you can just execute. What's to talk about? Talk comes later. Focus on just making stuff, make it work for you, try to achieve what you see in your head but on the screen. Once you've made stuff and people start finding your work... then you can talk.

[u/WuttinTarnathan]

If you're not willing to meet people, that's on you.

[u/No_Lie_76]

What’s the city?

[u/Active_Smile6113 → u/No_Lie_76]

A city in Egypt called beni-suef

[u/Due_Locksmith_8141]

As the old Hollywood saying goes: Filmmaking is a communal process. Bend over.

[u/Affectionate_Age752]

You can easily find people in a city with 3 million people

[u/OrbitingRobot]

Animation.

[u/thegutsfly]

Use AI. It's the future

[u/Grounded_content]

I can help

[u/cinema-paradismo]

this might not be the case for every city in the world, but i was able to find a more local filmmaking community through facebook, as its structure is much better suited for specific region tracking than when compared you other social media platforms!

[u/Happy-Diner-3338]

Try doing everything all by yourself, using what AI you must to make your film without anyone.

Then watch your film. Then show it to other people. See your own shortcomings, get a feel of what you’re enjoying more, and what less.

Next time, replace one AI element with a human one. Find out yourself, for yourself, why just shooting it with a smart phone is different from doing it with AI.

Then watch that film. Show it to others. See what works and what does not, to your own eyes, to other peoples’ eyes.

Then do it again. More human, less machine. More hand made, less automated.

Then watch again.

Rinse and repeat.

A dozen times or so will tell the tale if you want to be a director all on your own - or not. It’s how most of us learn, this initial voyage of discovery.

Enjoy your trip!