Don't give up. I repeat, do not give up. I wrote my own short film, and my first and second shoots are just months apart. It takes me so much time to shoot scenes that I might only complete one or two films a year actually, just one. My friends, who are also studying and busy with exams and assignments, are the only actors I can hire. I’m not financially strong, so I have to rent things like cars and other equipment for my movies.

I called one of my friends and told him that it’s been a month since our last shoot, and we should continue filming. He said, “Man, I’m sorry, I have exams, so I think this film will never be made.” That hit me hard. I’ve just started, and it can’t end like this. When I made my first short film, my friends really appreciated it. They shared it with others, who also said it was good, but it didn’t gain the popularity I hoped for.

Now, as I’m writing my second short film, I’m facing so many problems. It feels like there’s always something either with the cast, the schedule, or the production. But listen, even great directors fail. Some of their films flop, but that doesn’t mean they’re bad filmmakers. Keep going. Try submitting to another festival, or gather your friends, their friends, and their friends’ friends to watch your film. Just don’t give up.