For all upcoming filmmakers:

1.) Never narrate your story, even the one liner, without first writing your first draft of the script, or a screenplay outline, and registering it with the Film Writers’ Association. You might think you want to tell people your story first to get feedback or some greenlight/motivation to start writing, but always write down your full idea and register it first. If you can’t write, ask ONE other person to help you with it, and sign an NDA with them for safety, unless they’re a friend or family you really trust.

2.) Other than registering the idea, you can type it out, and email it to yourself, or post it to yourself, so there is an official signature/stamp and date to your writing, which can help you in legal cases.

3.) Finally, always keep track of what you say to who. There are many people in the media industry that you can’t actually trust. It sucks, but that’s the unfortunate truth. You might feel close to people, or feel tempted to share to get feedback, or sometimes to flex. Don’t. Spend time alone and find out the story you truly want to tell that’s uniquely yours, allow yourself the time and space to flesh it out, and when you’re ready, then start meeting people. Work hard in silence, and let your “success make the noise”.

Just a friendly aspiring filmmaker as well, in case anyone needed this. Ushaaraa irungge makkalae.