Get into the Right Frame of Mind
If you are going to make a micro-budget film, you are beginning a long and arduous process. It sounds sexy and exciting, but like everything else in life, when you get down into the weeds, it’s not as sexy as you thought. Some days will be full of energy and joy, and other days you’ll wonder why you ever started down this pathetic path. You have to have the right mindset going into your project. You have to have the unbending desire to continue at all costs. You have to keep your eye on the final prize, the premiere of your first feature film!
And you are going to have the nay-sayers. I don’t know about you, but typically what drives me are the nay-sayers. I love when people tell me I can’t accomplish something. It’s even better when they laugh or tell me I’m not smart enough. They actually may be right, but nothing drives me harder than someone telling me it will never happen. It’s like throwing gas on a fire. Look out!
Unfortunately, this same kind of negative input sometimes pushes people in the opposite direction. It pulls them down. They start doubting themselves. They start buying what the nay-sayers are selling, and the project never gets off the ground. You can’t allow this to happen to you!
The fact of the matter is that the nay-sayers typically have done nothing of note themselves. So, either disregard what they say or use it to your advantage. Use their negativity as fuel to propel you through your project. Keep an eye on the end result - when you succeed and they have to eat their words. Use it in a positive way to keep you on the path of success. It works for me and I know it can work for you.
Weekends, nights? Forget it. They are gone. There are no weekends or evenings out on the town during production. Days are made up of hours to be used exclusively to complete your project. All-nighters? You may have a few. Shit needs to get done and you can’t be the bottleneck, nor can any of your cast or crew.
You are the captain of the ship. Leaders lead and you have to act the part. You are working with many talented people and they all have great ideas to share, but you have to make the final decisions. Ron Howard says he takes input from several people on his sets, but everyone is clear - he makes the ultimate decision. That’s the way it is and you need to carry yourself in that manner. You are in charge.
Next week we’ll talk about the importance of attacking a niche with your production - unless you have unlimited funds for marketing and distribution – then skip to next blog (he says sarcastically!)
Army & Coop trailer: www.armyandcoop.com