Creative On A Budget

Look, the making of anything movie based is shitty hard...if you're in Los Angeles. I suggest making something simple. A short film doesn't have to have gun play or blood and guts. I often tell people who want to make a short film...look at the things around you and see what you can do with it. You fancy yourselves creative, so naturally...you should be able to knit a sweater with a ball of twine.

Getting something done when you have nothing is remarkable to getting something done with an inflated budget. Most people with the money to make what they want...I'd say are a little bit more carefree when it comes to story telling. Simple fact is, most of them don't get to make YOUR movie. You have to make THEIRS. Some people can thrive in that. Others will find it really constrictive.

The point to making something that people watch and has it sit with them, is to have people do...well, mundane things. We instantly can relate to that. When I watched the Hollyshorts Festival, most of them were about...simple things. The married life. Annoying people visiting. While banally sitcom-ish, these small moments work. A guy can't get off his toilet. Works. A girl won't go out on a date with a nerd. Works. The tiny twist in the story sets it apart.

Everyone suggests I do film festivals with my movie. I've got really mixed feelings about film festivals. As a person who sees it from the inside out, unless it's being seen by someone who matters, it's really smoke and mirrors. That's what sets the film festival I choose to create apart. It does have industry professionals judging. But I get that a lot of other film festivals, it's just getting their movie screened on the big screen. Be honest, it's pretty thrilling. Also very nerve wracking. Most people who show to these festivals are basically there for their own films. So, the popularity contest could make your stomach cringe.

That said, keep writing, keep making, keep doing. Just make something whenever and wherever you can. YOU are a creative person, right?