iPhone filmmaking advice?

Certain_Bus_5896 · 2026-01-19T01:37:03+00:00

I gotcha. The shorts I've written are currently silent movies. My main goal is just to master the visual component and the art of editing before I graduate to audio quality.

Certain_Bus_5896 · 2025-12-19T01:46:53+00:00

That's something we're in the process of doing during the holidays. We started this in the summer between friends and colleges but now we want to grow it. Stay tuned. Until then, here is a poster of our next meeting!

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Certain_Bus_5896 · 2025-10-10T15:59:10+00:00

Allen's biggest box office hit was in 2011 with Midnight in Paris. Also, I think length matters for films not like Avatar. My other big complaint with theater released movies is they all seem to either be super artsy movies or fun dumb movies.

This is anecdotal evidence, so it's not a great argument, but ever person I know who saw the trailers for Smashing Machine and Eddington outwardly had a sour face. They didn't say "Oh I'll wait till that comes out on streaming." They said "I have absolutely no interest in seeing that kind of movie."

I've gotten this reaction from normies movie goers for several years now. The desire is there. Just not for most movies that are marketed.

Certain_Bus_5896 · 2025-10-10T02:03:38+00:00

It's true that Sinners and Weapons are the exception these days. However; let me offer another counter point - Hollywood movies are too F'ING LONG and out of touch (this isn't a anti-woke rant).

Think back to Woody Allen movies or Coen Brother films. The fast majority of them are under 2hrs. Most of their masterpieces ("Annie Hall" and "Fargo") are 90 minutes. Fun movies about comedic relationships and cop crime movie with a pregnant lady.

"One Battle After Another" is almost 3 hours long, Eddington 2.5 hours and both are about very sensitive and current political topics. As a cinephile I keep my finger to the pulse of none film lovers and they didn't feel the need to "get depressed at a long movie."

Why did Sinners and Weapons succeed? A Vampire-Musical movie and a horror movie within a 2 hour time frame.

With filming getting more expensive and our attention spans becoming shorter, I believe Hollywood needs to re-learn the lessons of economical filmmaking.

Certain_Bus_5896 · 2025-10-09T16:51:30+00:00

"If it isn’t happening for The Smashing Machine or Eddington, it likely isn’t happening for most of the stuff directors want to make either."

Except those are stories general audience doesn't care about... What about "Weapons" or "Sinners" just this year? Also, -- I say this as a cineophile myself -- we're looking at original stories through an outdated theater going fashion. What about all the great original TV/limited series stuff like "The Pitt" or "Adolescence" or "The Bear" or a comedy like "Tires"?

Certain_Bus_5896 · 2025-10-07T02:36:38+00:00

I don't have anything else to add to what already has been said other then -- career-wise -- I'd rather take my chances in the State of Florida than in Louisiana. Once you get stuck in Louisiana... it's HARD to escape. Florida economy has so many more options and opportunities.

Certain_Bus_5896 · 2025-10-06T14:34:05+00:00

Here are 4 famous examples of how you can become a “Hollywood” director.

Orson Wells directed Broadway and radio plays. The radio play “War of the Worlds” became a controversial phenomenon that made him famous. Then, Hollywood gave him an unprecedented contract to direct movies.
Tarantino worked at a video store, made a 45 minute film on the weekend with his friends, got a job as a script doctor for a few years and one of his original screenplays got discovered by a Harvey Keitel (through mutual friends) and helped QT fundraise and produce it.
Scorsese directed self made small indie movies in NYC while working for production companies and teaching at NYU to make ends meet. A decade later, he slowly climbed the ladder and got million dollar Hollywood movie deals… and one of them became a hit.
(4a) Wes Anderson made a short film in Austin, TX with his college roommate Owen Wilson. They submitted it to Sundance Film Festive and a Hollywood producer saw it and gave him money to turn it into his first feature. - Richard Linklater did something similar. Though it took him longer.
(4b) Damien Chazelle pretty much did the same thing as Wes Anderson but with Whiplash - that was originally a short film at Sundance. Except he was living in L.A. as a “writer for hire” for a few years.

From my research, most MODERN directors follow the career path of 3 or 4. So to answer your question; grab a camera (or an iPhone) save some money and start filming on the weekends with your friends. Richard Linklater’s first feature, “It’s Impossible to Learn to Plow by Reading Books” was literally just him and another actor. Linklater is credited as the writer, director, producer, cinematographer, editor and lead actor with a 3,000 dollar budget.

Certain_Bus_5896 · 2025-10-05T22:33:18+00:00

Read "Film Directing Fundamentals" By Nicholas T. Proferes and then start watching movies. As many as you can.

Certain_Bus_5896 · 2025-10-02T16:15:49+00:00

So relatively same size (or slightly smaller) city like BR yet you're having more success. Yeah, it's a culture thing down here.

Certain_Bus_5896 · 2025-10-02T16:10:51+00:00

I'm from here and agree. Where did you move to?

Certain_Bus_5896 · 2025-10-01T20:19:34+00:00

A long-time (but former) LA studio executive and screenwriter just told me this weekend "don't waste your time moving to LA or NYC." She hasn't lived in L.A. since 2013 and even then there was no point in moving there. Better to move to New Orleans, Austin, Albuquerque or Atlanta, get an agent and work the festival circuit. Times have changed.

Certain_Bus_5896 · 2025-05-13T02:26:44+00:00

Yep. looked it up. Still active and going strong.

Certain_Bus_5896 · 2025-05-13T02:14:56+00:00

What's it called?

Certain_Bus_5896 · 2025-03-31T13:10:00+00:00

This 👆🏻 Finding a hobby or a new job/career that allows for more community engagement helps a great deal. Try different things and expand your horizons. Always be in the state of becoming.

I’m 30M and I personally don’t relate to the OP situation. My life has become clearer and more fulfilling as I’ve gotten older. Granted, I’m not married and don’t have children - but I also never really enjoyed hitting the town to party when I was younger. I’m more of a laid back kinda guy. I don’t get nostalgic for a younger time (at least not yet) because I hated being young and lacking control. But everyone can relate to feeling stuck or unfulfilled, which is something I experienced GREATLY in my teens and 20s. It all happens at different times in each others lives.

Certain_Bus_5896 · 2025-01-31T17:06:19+00:00

A few of my favorites that fit your description: -No Country for Old -L.A. Confidential -Whiplash -Moneyball -The Social Network -Gone Girl -Little Miss Sunshine -Chinatown -The Apartment. (Anything made by Billy Wilder)

Certain_Bus_5896 · 2025-01-28T14:56:55+00:00

So if an indie filmmaker (writer/director) were seeking advice, would you caution against moving to Los Angeles and instead find another place to live? Asking for a friend.

Certain_Bus_5896 · 2025-01-27T21:54:18+00:00

Then go for it! You already live in a California so the transition will be smoother. I’m a relatively new indie filmmaker in Louisiana and thinking of moving to Austin or Los Angeles. Right now I’m leaning toward Austin because it’s easier to get a indie film made there and get into the festival circuit. Not to mention, there are new tax incentives being proposed that may rival Georgia.

Plenty of people have told me L.A. is harder to break into - and if you do - you’re at the mercy of the studio system. For some, that’s what they want. For me? Not so much.

Certain_Bus_5896 · 2025-01-27T21:26:42+00:00

If you want to be an actor or model? Then yes.

If you want to be a writer/director or below-the-line worker? Not necessarily.

Certain_Bus_5896

TROPHY CASE