r/Filmmakers

I was talking to a friend of mine the other day who works in the fashion industry. He's been freelancing for over 10 years, serves the biggest brands in the world. But he's "just" a freelancer by title.

We got into the pros and cons of being a freelancer vs being a business owner. He held his ground hard. As a solo freelancer he says he has less stress, more profit, and more control than any of his agency-owner friends. He doesn't see a world where running a business is the better play.

That doesn't match my experience as a video agency owner.

On the freelance side, sure. But being solo means doing the WHOLE process for the client alone. Discovery, pre-production, shoot, edit, color, deliverables, revisions, invoicing. I know hiring contractors helps with the load, but that's still not the same as having a full-time team that's actually invested in the work.

So I'm genuinely torn after that conversation. He's not wrong about the freedom and the margins, and I'm not wrong about the scale and the support.

For anyone who's worked both sides, solo high-end freelance vs agency owner. Does any of this match your experience? And where was my friend actually right, vs just defending his own path?

So I will be shooting a short film this summer, all exteriors over the course of a few weekends. As a result, I've been thinking of getting a genny or electric portable station to use on set for lights and recharging batteries.

In terms of lighting, I plan on using 4xnanlite 30c tubes (obviously re-chargeable) and LED Mats (max 220 Watts, but also have gold mounts) for night exteriors.

I've never worked with an electric portable station on set and so I dont know much about their efficiency and what the best models would be.

Its a low scale production and I would prefer something quiter (which is why Im leaning towards electric). Shoot days would typically run from 7-9 hours.

Essentially, it would be used moreso as a chargeable station as I would prefer to have the LED Matt's run on gold mount batteries and the tubes operate on internal battery. Then of course camera batteries (blackmagic), and NPF batteries for monitors

My budget is $1000, if anyone could recommend good electric portable station. And if gas is the better option, I don't mind investing in that. Recommendations under same price range but quiter would be great.

Unless you have a way to view your work on a big screen, or you use an actual editor who knows how to make things look seamless, it's still incredibly obvious on a monitor or TV screen, and will be even more cringe in the theater. It would be terrible for your otherwise amazing film not to get programmed because your AI makes it painful to watch

Hey everyone! I posted a few months ago looking for a Toyota Tercel in KC and that was for this shoot! I thought we'd share it with the Kansas City community since it's--entirely about KC, ha. Would love to hear what people think! Go KC!

a friend of mine told me they hired an "acting director" to work with actors on a commercial. i said 'isn't that the directors job?' and he said nicolas roeg did the same thing. he also said hitchcock hated working with actors. is this true?? are there directors that have someone separate directing the actors on set?? i get that commercials and features are different. but i am shook.

Apple approved our drug visualizer as long as we didn't directly reference any.

Free forever, hoping to see some good FEEEEEEDBACKKKKK.

MacOS version should be approved later this week, enjoy

Hey guys I want to get into directing/ screenwriting but I’m very limited on the schooling options I have which is why I’m even asking this. Is a liberal arts degree comparable to a film degree?? I of course want to go to film school but don’t think I can. Please help I’m stuck in a rock and a hard place right now !!

It took me SO DANG LONG to get a mannequin head and stand (purchased on Amazon).

Place it at the approximate height of talent and dial in lighting, focus and framing ahead of time. And if you act in your own films? This saves so much time pulling focus.

Here's a recent shot with the mannequin in place. For this shot I had a silk on windows behind camera, Aputure Lantern 90 softbox on key and floppy for fill side control.

Lighting, fill, framing and focus dialed in head of time.

Camera view of the mannequin. It was cloudy so the back window didn't need any help. This also helps if you're an actor in your films. Saves SO MUCH time on pulling focus.

https://preview.redd.it/t8eizwzoxb2h1.png?width=3830&format=png&auto=webp&s=597766e5b9d5eeb74cfcfe12ce9f89d94cf5f7c1

Here's the shot with a minor framing adjustment for the actor:

https://preview.redd.it/oqx0x1dyxb2h1.png?width=3824&format=png&auto=webp&s=c609cfd236020385af464c86dec4479b68a8b143

Waiting until talent shows up to do all of that wastes valuable time on set. If it's all dialed in you can focus more on directing and working with actors.

One note: it's tough to find mannequin stands that are high enough. Make sure you check that on Amazon. Most are short for whatever reason.

I’ve been learning how to write scripts for a while now and i finally decided I want to bring one of the short films I’ve written to life for fun. This will purely be for me. I want to get a good camera that won’t break my pocket because I am a college student and once again this is purely hobby based. What’s a good camera for beginners? I know I could use my phone but I’m looking for a camera.

A while ago I posted here about our Finnish indie Lovecraftian film Majakka, asking for help and support from the horror community.

Since then, the project has continued to grow. We have shot more material, built sets, gathered an amazing cast and crew, and pushed this strange little lighthouse nightmare further than we first thought possible.

Now we finally have a new official trailer to share.

Majakka is a dark, atmospheric psychological horror film set in the early 1900s. It follows a man drawn toward a mysterious lighthouse, obsession, old rituals, and something far beyond human understanding.

The film is still in production. Filming continues this year, and the project will carry on into next year as we work toward completing it properly. It is a very ambitious indie project for us, but everyone involved has given so much time, talent and passion to bring this world to life.

To everyone who supported, shared or commented on the earlier post: thank you. It genuinely helped us keep going.

The light is calling.

Hey Reddit. I am currently majoring in Graphic Design, Art Studio and Minoring Art History but I want to transfer to a Film and Media Major because I have so many written stories ready to bring into life. Make my own movies and comics. Im talking about simple as a cowgirl Mom who is out to avenge her childrens death in 1900s to a genocidal supervillian who has cosmic powers in 2030s. I am two yrs of graduating with a bachelors and another two yrs if I want to persue a Masters, either in Fine Arts(plan A) or Film and Media(plan B). I wont be looking for fame or doing it for only just money. I have enjoyed animating things, made a live action music video, painting and thought maybe I can do both. Bring my characters and stories to life either in animation or live action, with digital character design and watercolor as my side hustle. My main concern is that I do want a family of my own and being in a nasty contract with a corporate industry who thinks they own you. I read other subreddits about being a Film Director or director in general that those are the cons.

I have many experience in life. I am 24 as of now until June 2026 who is in the Army National Guard for 6yrs and deployed once. Came out fine with an upgrade in 5 different Martial Arts. Got an associate degree in Media Arts in 2023 and currently not an any relationship. My focus is in college and stay in the National Guard for another 6yrs. I just hope to be a Multi Media Director either in Animation or Live Action Film or Painting Professor by 2030. Either or, I think I can manage to have a stable income by having one full time job, and a side hustle but Im worried if I begin to have a family of my own. I wont able to keep them.

Is a Film Director too competitive and worth it as of 2026?