Find the helpers.
Greetings, Scribblers.
My favorite part of the wild world of filmmaking is the creative community. The like-minded folks that’ll help you turn those words on a page into pixels on a screen.
Don’t wait ‘til you step off the Amtrak at Union Station and Uber to Hollywood and Vine to start building your scribbling tribe. Wherever you are, find the helpers! The local movie-making ne'er-do-wells like yourself with whom you can collaborate, get support, and share popcorn visions.
Orchestra musicians blend their talents to create something epic. The same happens when filmmakers, scribblers, and production creatives team up.
Remember the good old days when Tim Burton and Johnny Depp got together for screen magic like "Edward Scissorhands."? Or how about that Scorcese, Schoonmaker, and Deniro movie Mafia? And the blockbuster bunch of Spielberg, Ford, Lucas, Kennedy, Marshall, and ILM?
Connections like these don’t happen on LinkedIn. They happen in schools, movie theater lines, house parties, XBOX lobbies, and Sunday brunch at the anywhere diner. Where business cards are weird, and Letterboxd is king.
Building a network isn't just about who you know; it's about what you learn. It's an endless stream of lessons, from writing tricks to film production hacks. Get character development tips from the adjacent scribbler at Starbucks or cinematography insights from the dude with the Sony FX30 at Cars and Coffee. It's all about growing your skills via sharing and caring.
The filmmaker's odyssey isn’t a linear narrative or story circle; it’s a freakin’ random rollercoaster. So, having a network of friends who get what you're going through is priceless. You need cheerleaders, advisors, and sometimes tough-love givers to drive your project from good to great.
Connecting with peers in the cinema scene keeps you in the loop with the latest trends, gigs, and insider info – the stuff that careers are made of. The right connections can open doors you didn't even know existed. Networking can get you those PA jobs, scribbling collaborations, and maybe someone willing to hold the boom pole at zero dark thirty on Saturday night.
Your tribe of creatives can give you the honest, constructive feedback you need. The gold and gore required for refining your work and upping your movie-making game. Surround yourself with ambitious people, and work together. Being accountable to friends keeps you focused and on mission.
These aren't just professional contacts. They’re your people and your community. The family you choose. A Muppet Show ensemble to share your highs and lows and split that baked potato appetizer pre-paycheck.
A network is personal PR. They'll hype up your work, spreading the word far and wide. And you’ll do likewise. When one of you gets in the studio door, keep the portal wide for as long as possible. Pull, drag, and toss each other over the back lot fence like roaches invading the dumpster at Dan Tana’s.
Remember, when you team up with like-minded creatives, you're not just making art; you’re not just making money; you're creating work that resonates and leaves a legacy.
Pro-scribbling is not a solo sport. It’s a team effort. It's about emotional support, skills acquisition, employment opportunities, sharing the struggle, splitting the check, and making tons of inside jokes.
So, go to the movies, log in, sign up, say hello, hold the boom pole for a stranger, and get connected to some like-minded peers.
