Productive Habits for Filmmaker Career Growth

The weirdest thing about being a director? Most of the time, you’re not actually directing. For every intense week of production, there are months—sometimes years—between projects. And if you’re not careful, you can drift. You can lose momentum. You can start to feel like you’re waiting for someone to let you direct again. This is one of the biggest reasons why so many talented filmmakers struggle to break in or sustain a career. They put all their energy into one film, and when it’s done, they have no plan for what’s next. So what should you do between gigs? I’ve found that the most successful directors keep three habits, no matter where they are in their careers: • They network consistently—building and nurturing relationships so that opportunities come to them. • They develop their own projects—so they always have something ready to pitch. • They keep studying the craft—because filmmaking is a skill set that constantly evolves. These three habits are non-negotiable. They keep you sharp. They keep you in the game. They ensure that the next time someone asks, “What’s next for you?”—you have an answer. What do you do between directing gigs to stay sharp?

As a creative who specializes in photography filmmaking, I usually receive emails and messages from creatives seeking advice. Over the years, I’ve written down and reminded myself of certain key points with each project. I thought it would be beneficial to share some of these ideas here on LinkedIn. 1. Debrief: After each project, taking the time to debrief is essential. Reflect on what you did to achieve the goals, identify the challenges faced, and consider how you and your team can learn from the experience. Evaluate whether your ideas were too ambitious or if the brand or client didn’t fully connect with your vision. Gathering all this information helps you refine your approach and apply these lessons to your next project, guaranteeing continuous growth and improvement. 2. Clear Communication: Establishing open and transparent communication from the start ensures that everyone is on the same page, from the production team to the client. This helps manage expectations and keeps the project moving smoothly. 3. Collaboration: Successful projects are built on collaboration. Engaging with your team, valuing their input, and working together towards a shared vision is key to creating something special. 4. Adaptability: Flexibility is crucial in creative work. Whether it’s adjusting to last-minute changes or finding creative solutions on the fly, being adaptable keeps the project on track. Remember to be Nimble! 5. Storytelling: At the core of every project is a story. Whether it’s a photo shoot or a film, the ability to tell a compelling story that resonates with the audience is what sets the work apart. Story is everything. 6. Attention to Detail: The little things matter. Paying close attention to every element—from lighting and composition to styling and post-production—elevates the final outcome. It's all in the details. 7. Client Relationships: Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients is just as important as the creative work itself. Understanding their needs, keeping them involved, and delivering on promises fosters trust and long-term partnerships. Remember no client is the same. 8. Passion and Purpose: Bringing your passion and sense of purpose to every project keeps the work authentic and impactful. It’s not just about the final product, but the process and the message behind it. This is your personal stamp and DNA don't forget it. 9. Professionalism: From meeting deadlines to maintaining a positive attitude, professionalism sets the tone for the entire project and ensures a smooth experience for everyone involved.

I shot two features while working full time as a video marketing lead. My biggest piece of advice for anyone who wants to do the same? Take your film wherever you go. Your job should come first. You need to keep it for this to work, and also it's the right thing to do. But your lunch breaks? Your nights and weekends? Those can be a HEALTHY MIX of social life and film work. (You can't make good art, if you don't live your life). Some other tips: 1. Only date people who "get it," or at least support you. 2. Pack a lunch (in office), or prepare a lunch ahead of time (remote). 3. Carry your home laptop around (in office) or use a separate browser for film work (remote). 4. Close your work channels during lunchtime, eat and work on your film. 5. Split you PTO between your social life and film work. 6. Leave work (and/or sign off) on time, as often as possible 7. Stop somewhere at the way home (in office) and/or block off some film time to take place immediately after work 8. Put in an hour. Writing, prepro. Meetings. Whatever. 9. Block off 2-4 hours on one weekend day per week. 10. Remain flexible but consistent with all of the above. Pay attention to that last one. Flexibility is crucial. You need a system you can stick with. You can't stick with this system if you're broken-hearted, because your partner left because you were too stringent. You can't stick with it, either, if you burn out from working two full-time jobs. This framework can carve out 10-14 hours per week. That's not a lot, but it's not nothing. Use that time to perfect your script. To plan for as many eventualities as possible in prepro. To learn software, study up on gear, to make connections. Then take your vacation days, and set your shoot. And go do it. #indiefilm #independentfilm #filmmaking #filmmaker #filmproducer #filmdirector #startupfilmmaker #creators #creatoreconomy