It’s important for filmmakers to take small steps to achieve their goals.  Often times, we want to jump right in to making a TV pilot or a feature film without the proper tools to do so.  And I don’t mean having access to an ARRI cinema camera and vintage lenses; I’m referring to creative tools that help you tell a story to the best of your abilities. 

There’s no need to “Make Big Things Happen” at the start of your filmmaking journey.  You don’t need a full crew, tons of locations, and complicated camera setups.  You need a good script and a few actors to bring it to life.  It’s important to limit yourself at the offset.  You’ll face limitations throughout your entire career, so start off by imposing them on yourself!  Try to write a short film that is under 5 pages with only 2 characters and 1 location.  Craft your shot list to be entirely handheld or on sticks.  Only use props you have immediate access to.  It’s a challenge to make something interesting when your resources are finite, but it will force you to work harder and be more creative.

I’m also a strong believer in developing your craft in small but meaningful ways for a long period of time.  I made dozens of short films before I attempted my first web series, which turned out to be a disaster and was never completed.  I then went back to making short films and tried again a few years later.  Now, I’ve almost completed two web series and am ready to move on to something bigger… or so I think. 

It’s hard to tell when you’re actually ready to take the leap and create something larger and more challenging than you’ve done before.  I know I still have a lot to learn about filmmaking and being a director, but I also know the best way for me to continue growing as a filmmaker is to jump into it and make a feature film.  I could, technically, continue making short films and web series, but if my goal is to one day make a living as a feature film director, I guess I might as well get started.  But I plan on starting small.

I wrote my first feature screenplay last November and while it was a huge learning experience, it’s a movie I simply do not have the resources or skills to make.  It’s far too big for my experience level.  Too many actors and locations, big set pieces, lots of action… Not very Cobblestoned.  So, I’m working on something smaller.  Something with only a few characters that mostly takes place inside a single location.  It’ll be dramatic and horrifying, but done on a small scale so that I only have to hire my friends to help me bring it to life.  We will, undoubtedly, learn a lot in the process and if it happens to be a success, we can do it again on a larger scale next time!

Just to reiterate, it’s important to do things that scare you, but it’s equally important to build up some confidence ahead of time.  Keep grinding out shorts that help you develop your voice.  Don’t make a feature because that’s the only thing that sells, make a feature because you’re ready and hungry for it.  Make small things happen that can grow into big things over time.