Things I’ve Learned as a Moviemaker

by Stephen Mack | Published February 3, 2007

Show respect for your subject matter.

Robert Duvall played both Adolph Eichmann and Stalin, yet he found in their characters a sense of humanity and created performances that weren’t cliches.

Do a little research.

Before there was a cinema there were painters whose use of light could inspire a cinematographer’s eye, plus the subjects and scenarios they chose to capture on canvas are often timeless and universal.

Resist the urge to over edit.

Resist the urge to chop up someone’s good work—whether it be an actor or the DP.

Get to know other film professionals.

Learn what professionals in different disciplines do and why. Offer your services to edit their sample reels and you’ll meet actors, art directors, DPs, costume designers and more. They need your help. You’ll get to screen the best of another’s work and re-edit it in a way that platforms their contribution to filmmaking.

Don’t be afraid to discount.

Charge half your normal rate but get paid in cash. You’ll practically end up with what you’d take home from a real paycheck.

Don’t over-embellish your resume.

It will only get back to the person who really did the work.

Don’t burn bridges.

Remember, creative differences are real and there are honorable ways to “get out without burning bridges.”

Editors are like therapists.

You must be paid. Protect you salary, schedule your payments and expect that the schedule is met, especially when you work with new people. Contracts can be simple, only a few sentences sometimes. I’ve freelanced for over 30 years and have never been burned.

Appreciate people.

Get to know and appreciate people, all kinds of people, even people who aren’t filmmakers.

The key to fighting boredom is hobbies.

“The key to fighting boredom is hobbies, hobbies and more hobbies,” says Bobby. Don’t be ashamed to jump right in. Remember you work in film, and everything you do is research. And, like Robert Duvall, believe that you’re always yet to reach your potential.

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