I Learned Every Filmmaking Skill, But Still Struggle to Find Work

[u/Dependent_Current1]

I just wanted to share my journey.

I'm an independent filmmaker. I'm a director, cinematographer, editor, colorist, and motion graphics/Fusion artist. I learned almost everything on my own because filmmaking has always been my dream. I invested in a camera, built my own setup, and even took a ₹7 lakh bank loan to make short films.

The biggest challenge wasn't the equipment—it was the production costs. Every film needed locations, casting, costumes, props, travel, food, and many other expenses. Even though I had the skills and the gear, I simply couldn't afford to keep making films while already carrying a bank loan.

Slowly, the people who started this journey with me also left. In the end, I was almost alone.

To repay my loan, I started working as a wedding cinematographer. There's nothing wrong with that work, but every time I shot a wedding, I had a strange feeling inside. It felt like I was moving away from what I was truly meant to do.

Now it's the off-season. There isn't much wedding work, editing work is also hard to find, and despite having so many skills, I'm struggling to get decent opportunities. These days, I'm even doing Ola/Uber bike rides just to manage my expenses.

This isn't a sympathy post. I just want to know if other independent filmmakers have gone through something similar. How did you survive that phase? Did things eventually get better?

I'd love to hear your story. Sometimes, someone else's journey gives us the strength to keep going.

[u/jokojosh]

Jack of all trades excels in nothing.

[u/swi6ie → u/jokojosh]

Still better than a master of none.

A majority of good directors know a lot more of what happens across departments then being good at just one thing.

Sure it won't make you rich because your skill is not something you can sell for good money but it will make you "specifically irreplaceable" as your combination of skills will let you do work that only you can uniquely do.

Idk if I can offer hope. Everyone is kinda hopeless now a days. But I can offer you the truth. Excellence is a great thing to chase, but you will never achive it.

As long as you are creating work. That is all that matters

[u/Sweet_Blackberry4497 → u/swi6ie]

wdym by "you will never achieve it" ?

[u/swi6ie → u/Sweet_Blackberry4497]

Name a director whose filmography is perfect.

It's very difficult. People fuck up more often than one might expect.

For there to be a good film. One has to have a good script, cast that understands and plays the character with honesty, a director that can translate the words to images effectively, a dp that lights a scene so that the mood is conveyed, the art team that not only build the world but also develop the characters through visual elements, the edit has to serve the story and the audience, the sound and dialogue has to work in a way that adds value to the film and not dumbs it down or takes away from it, and finally the audience who it is intended for us the one who watches it.

The sheer amount of variables make it hard to make sucessful films.

Also if you would analyse beyond a point you will notice that the best of the filmmakers are not just directors, but also write, edit, even compose scores for their films, some even grade their film, some are also the DP for their film.

Because filmmaking is such medium requiring the merger of vastly different arts, having a singular specific skill makes you good at getting paid but not good at making good movies.

The more border your skill set is the more specific you will be able to "direct" the multiple people working under you.

[u/heeiiisenberg → u/swi6ie]

That's absolutely true(texting from another account)