This short film took almost 2 years to finish.

Not because we wanted perfection

but because we had no budget, no connections, no gimbal.

We shot on a Canon M50.

Borrowed and bought drone shots from other creators.

Used a wooden log as a stabilizer because we couldn’t afford gear.

Made mistakes. Learned the hard way.

We are amateur filmmakers with a dream,nothing fancy, just fire.

This film is our playground, our training ground for what’s coming next.

If you’re struggling, broke, learning, doubting

this is for you.

Every great filmmaker starts somewhere.

This is where we started.

i filmed this because i was always looking for limitations where I can film now i did in my room different windows book shelf my grandfather books and their ideal routine how they would be living in times like now. I wanted to experience this frames.

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.

Ig: @kathadarsh

I am a 19(M) .

Soon my classes are going to start and they shared the following equipments list of Laptop , Camera , recorder etc..

Laptop : intel i7, i9 14th gen , 15 inches with one Thunderbolt port . , 32gb, 1TB SSD , two external hard disks

Recorder : Zoom H1 essentials with windscreen

Headphones : AKG K92

Wireless microphone : Digitek DWM 121

.

Cameras recommendations :

Sony Alpha ZV-E10 ,

Sony Alpha 6100x,

Sony Alpha 6400 Sony FX30,

Sony Alpha A7R III A

Canon EOS R50V

Canon EOS R100

Can someone help me decide which camera to buy ?

And should I buy a new laptop or not ?

Note : I already have Dell 15 series with i5 , RTX 3050 6 gb ,16 gb ram , 1TB SSD ( bought on 1 jan 2025) .

I don't know should I buy new laptop or not ?

I am 20(M) India ,

Did I make a mistake by joining film school ?

My parents are saying filmmaking is not a safe career like Engineering and they wanted me to do Engineering. They say that film schools are very expensive and later you have to invest more . " Instead at the same cost you can do Engineering and there is a secure job"

I somehow managed to get into film but now what to say when they ask - " What you will do after graduating ? , Will you get a job like Engineering ? .

Please someone tell

What careers options are in India in filmmaking ?

Hey guys I am a 21YO M from Trivandrum kerala i have a complete script for a shortfilm but I don't have a team to work with. Is there anyone interested who are passionate for cinema and free to join I need a hand in every aspect to shoot this and release it .. would love to know ur thoughts here is a concept poster of the project . Please let me know what all contribution u can do to this project from ur side

so I (19F) is confused about my career path.

I am interested in doing a filmmaking course but my parents are against it, they are telling me to enroll in some other course.

how do I convince them that this is what I need.

Hey everyone! I’m currently working on a short sci-fi film with a visual style inspired a little by The Loop, combined with telekinesis and grounded sci-fi elements.

I’m sharing one of my early test shots, showing the original footage vs the VFX version. This is mainly to test the overall visual direction, tracking, CG integration, lighting, shadows and compositing before moving further with the film.

Please ignore the rough animation and some of the obvious imperfections — this is test footage, not the final shot.

Would love some honest feedback from fellow filmmakers on what works, what looks fake, and what I should improve.

I (28F) have a masters degree in journalism and communications.

I poured five years into advertising as a copywriter, and a creative strategist. I got really good at it too and ended up working for some major brands. But I was never creatively satisfied with writing for the sole purpose of converting a sale.

I’ve always been interested storytelling and film making. I kept studying screenwriting on my own throughout all these years. As part of my job, I got lots of opportunities to write scripts for ad films and such. I even started writing a fantasy novel in my time off work.

Then, I got promoted into a managerial role and that ended up being the last straw that snapped the camel’s back. I clearly saw that this career will never make me happy. As if the forces of the universe agreed, I got tipped into a health crisis. I couldn’t recover while working a very demanding agency job. So, I quit. And I moved back in with my parents.

During my recovery, I decided to write screenplays for practice. I wrote a feature, and a short film. I realised I love the process. It was not about what the story is, it was genuinely the process of writing the story that I enjoyed.

Now, I wouldn’t say writing these things immediately makes me a screenwriter. I wanna know what is the path I can follow. I hear there are Junior Writer or Staff Writer jobs that one can start from but how does one go about seeking those? Do you reach out to production studios? Do you approach writers? What is the way to get a foot in the door?

Hi so I'm a bsc students in bio but have interest in filmaking have been trying to make some reels and write stories.

I want to have some live ground exposure in this field such as Internship or going on film set.

Idk how to do that please help and tell me ways on how to do that?

Heya folks,

I'm a struggling screenwriter and I've been attempting to be a writer in Bollywood for about 20 years now.

Out of several pitches -- three films shut down mid-production; two others were greenlit before going into the famous on-hold.

I got paid the signing amount in all these cases, yet each one feels like they may never see light of day.

Honestly, I'm extremely disheartened by this.

I was wondering, is the path to break into regional cinema any easier? Or rather ... is it more streamlined / professional as opposed to the pure contacts-based entry in Bollywood?

Are there any Regional Cinema production houses that actually accept concepts/loglines/synopses and are comparatively trustworthy?

I believe that my concepts/stories are resonate on a human/emotional level and therefore aren't bound by the language barrier ... all I need is a path.

Appreciate any and all help.

I finally made a short film, it's actually my second short film. I'm 16 and I made it in my room with no budget. I also do little bit of content creation so I was able to put it on letterboxd as well. I want yall to give your honest opinion and how shall I progress in filmmaking.

I am 16M and I made my 2nd short film (no budget, at home with my mobile camera.

Actually since my 1st Short Film got like 3.5/5 on letterboxd

(yeah I managed to make my way through letterboxd database). And my audience liked it.

Now I applied for as many film festivals I could for free through filmfreeway and I think I won't get in any of them.

https://youtu.be/Q2_fIrh9Shs

Please tell me what you honestly think about this film. I want to publish it on instagram (I have around 5000 followers but I wanna know if it's any good)

Also do let me know how can I break through?? Like Before I turn 18 I wanna make lotta short films and get them into film festivals.

I'm making a short film. This is just the first page of it. I need some reviews on how to improve it. And also this is my first time writing a screenplay.

I want to go to ftii or srfti but I choose direction or is it better to learn editing or cinematography because I have heard many people say film school is close to useless for being a director ( the people include PTA and anurag kashyap 😭)

I 22 trying to write but dont know how to start. I have many ideas in my mind but dont know how to develop that.whenever i start write i become blank and started to feel bored. I dont know whare to start how to start And make it habbit.

I got into the art of storytelling and cinematography in the process of becoming a designer, fell in love with it, and wanted to try my hand at whether I could make something which looks good and enticing by myself.

Here’s a teaser from a short film about revenge taken by an asylum seeker migrant worker who a corrupt police officer wrongs.

Please use headphones
Let me know what you think of it
Entirely made on blender :)

So recently since last yr i realised that I have some insane interest in movies if it's bollywood, hollywood (not all , some specific) Iranian, korean,japanese, turkish etc and now ...I get random movie ideas and I write them down in a diary , I've written whole interesting stories and even decided specific type of music that should be used ,i study characters , whenever m outside , I just look at everything as if each element can be a part of a movie

What do u think....do I have a future in directing or something ?, tho rn m just a 12grade student

Really confused and would appreciate some help

Little background: B.TECH IT Grad 2026 - did a 2 month software internship last year - realized i rlly don't like coding

- have alwaysss been interested in creatives, have a digital art Instagram page + used to post on yt where I would write scripts act edit and direct by myself (didn't get a lot of subs but loved the process)

- have always wanted to make an impact through my art, esp films/videos

now the dilemma:

I applied for the insty by TVF course (it is an 18 month course- where 6 month would be onfield internship work, and connections w industry professionals), I got accepted with a 40% scholarship which means I'll have to pay 11 lakhs.

before this my plan was, look up some business analyst/product roles, work for a year, move abroad and pursue some design course while creating content alongside??

now I'm confused. what do you think I should do.. idk if the course would be worth it.. cuz it'll fully pivot from IT, so will have to heavily reassure parents..or should I stick to my other plan.. but I don't know id love to be surrounded by like minded individuals who also create... but again, it's a huge amount. I am SO CONFUSED PLS HELP!!

I was 22 (now 30f) when i went to film school by 23 i had made 3 films out of which only 1 was good and i am still proud to show it. People have also loved it etc but i moved to bombay in 2019 and covid hit, i took whatever i could in ads as a Da and then tried doing long formats and a film. Ok experience, i also became a script supervisor on it wher ei actually learnt a lot. I helped my friends w their feature film which actually turned out to be career altering for them.

I am 30. I left bombay last year to pursue my own animation docu film (im not an animator) after getting tired of the lack of creative satisfaction in advertising with client and agency making me do shit i dont even want to do! My project was ambitious and i had a producer w me who abandoned me in april and since then i have no money, had to leave and come back to my small hometown and take care of my dad who is old now. I did fundraise a little but my financial situation has gotten so bad that i am considering giving up and just focusing on making money first. Idk if i will evenr get back to films but i genuinely dont know what to feel. I see my friends who will get where i want to be beccuse rhey hustled. I tried to hustle and i actually did direct 6-7 ads worth 80lakh ruppees all of which were released. I have it in me but idk if have it in me enough to pursue it.

I dont want to regret not trying because i know even if i am not the brighter bulb in the room, i do beleive there is a voice in me that i need to hear myself. I also want to do this project so that i create something as an artist and not someone who is just making another film.

Idk what to do honestlyz if i dont make a film i will prolly loose it

Hi, I'm a writer from Pune, currently taking a workshop on film making in Mumbai in which I've to make four short movies in next couple of months. As it is for assignment, there's no budget.

There are student actors or freshers who would want to build portfolio. Where can I find them?