Filmmaking / Directing : General tips by Joe Moody

From my experience, being a good director means being a practical visionary for a project that only you see while others trust in how you go about making it real. Also, finding and engaging the best actors always makes the director's job that much easier and the results that much better, with quality that rubs off on everyone involved.

I am very interested in the same path! I realize we are far away, but I can be of any help, I have experience writing stage plays and am currently working in a screen play. My experience is with Theatre but I want to make the jump to Film!

Plan well. Have a solid script, storyboard, and shot list. When you are on set you want to be able to focus on working with the actors. If you're screwing around figuring out your shots on set then you're wasting everyone's time. Work with a producer, and an AD. If that must be you, then your work is doubled or tripled. In this case also plan your schedule, food, and what equipment and people you'll have on set and when and how people will know. Finally over communicate with everyone so everyone is on the same page and moving in the same direction as you.

My first advice to you would be: if filmmaking is your passion and dream, don't label it as a hobby. Even though you will be working at it part-time, look at yourself as a successful director / producer of film. Otherwise, it will most likely always remain what you've declared it to be: a hobby. Now, break a leg...

Great advice, Greg...Well said.

i will tell you to try to right a little short. call a couple friend and shoot it. from the short film you will know where you stand as a director. directing is really hard but people look at it like a easy job. i learned a lot from directing my first short film

Well... There's the obvious; write or find several short scripts, set a schedule and put together a small crew and cast, then direct. Today it's cheaper than ever with the availability of cameras and audio equipment. Make one a month and by the end of the summer you'll have six completed short films as a director. The first one will be pretty bad, but the sixth will be better. With six finished films you will be seen by your peers as a serious director and that usually convinces people to help with your next, more ambitious project. By the first of 2014 you will be on your way to being a good director You up for that kind of challenge and commitment?

Thanks for everyones advice. It has really answered a lot of questions that i've had for a while.