Understand and Stand Firm in Your Filmmaking Goals
As I got started in my M.F.A. in Creative Producing program, I was quickly put in situations where classmates, especially from the sister grad program for Directing/Writing, would ask to collaborate. The structure of our graduate program was established to promote collaboration between the Creative Producers and the Directors. While this worked sometimes, it also created a sort of imaginary wall between the two groups.
The nature of our assignments led to this perception that the students from the Directing/Writing cohort were the artists and the students from the Producing cohort were the creative entrepreneurs that could bring the Directors’ ideas to life by handling the logistics of development and production.
I got this overwhelming sense that it wasn’t my place to write, but rather, to give notes to the directing students to help them write better. It was frustrating, especially coming from an undergrad program where I wore many different hats: writing, directing, producing, and editing. I truly enjoyed wearing the different hats and found it creatively energizing and freeing.
As my time in the grad program progressed, I admit that I did make some really good friends and long-term collaborators within this “partitioned” structure. However, I never really liked that the organization of the program felt stifling to my identity as a writer.
Oftentimes, I would think, “I don’t want one of the directing students to write this. I want to write it.” But, our cross-program assignments frowned upon that.
We were really supposed to collaborate with the directing cohort to write. I get it. The program was trying to teach collaboration. It was trying to teach that it takes a village to make a film, and that you need to let functional experts work on various parts rather than trying to tackle everything yourself.
But, as someone who had already spent years in undergrad screenwriting, and as someone who was really hoping to improve as a screenwriter, this was so demoralizing.
Even so, I wanted to advance through the program within the established structure, so I put screenwriting on a shelf for the majority of the grad program. This was a mistake.
I should have never allowed attending grad school for filmmaking to cause me to write films less often. The main reason that happened was because I didn’t have a clear sense of my filmmaking goals.
I was interested in so many aspects of filmmaking that I never really took the time to build a vision statement and stand by it. I sort of knew the types of films I wanted to make in general, but I let the pressures of my assignments and the structure of the film program override that. I never stood firm in a vision statement.
Don’t get me wrong; it’s great to practice working with a variety of people on a variety of projects. However, your time and resources will be greatly limited in film school, so you need to protect your filmmaking goals. Not doing this could lead to you taking on projects that may mean the world to your colleagues, but very little to you.
Indeed, there were a few projects for which I gave lots and lots of my personal time, but did not feel a deep connection to the films, or, at times, even fully understand what the films were truly about. They didn’t resonate with me. How can you expect to make something good if you don’t really even understand what you’re making? Creating a film takes so much work, so if you don’t feel passionate about an idea while in film school, consider skipping it.
Don’t be like me, accepting above the line positions or key roles on projects because you feel like it’s something you’re supposed to do given the structure of the program or the expectations of your peers.
It’s too much work. You could be spending all those resources and all that time towards a project you’re actually passionate about. Sure, maybe you can PA some side projects for a few days here and there if you want to help a colleague. — But, unless you’re on fire for the idea or it directly moves you towards one of your goals, I would not recommend taking a key role on the thing (Quick side note here: I’m talking about student projects while in film school, which are typically unpaid; if it’s a paid gig, you’ll want to construct your own criteria for taking jobs or not). It feels good being sought out by colleagues to produce or work in a top position on their projects. I get it. It means you’re wanted. Also, it can be hard to say, “no,” especially to friends. But you’re going to have to at some point.
You can’t please everyone, and in film school you need to keep your eyes on your own personal filmmaking goals. A guiding vision statement can help you do that.
What’s that? Well, it can really be any summary statement that helps you:
- Keep in mind what you want out of film school.
- Select which projects to work on and which ones to skip.
- Convey the filmmaker you want to be.
The following is a suggested format for your vision statement, one that would have really aided me in grad school.
Before we get to that, keep in mind that your vision statement can totally change as you develop as a filmmaker and learn more about yourself. It probably should change. Keep it organic and look at it often, making adjustments as needed.
Ok, back to the suggested format. Consider this, filling in the blanks for yourself.
By the end of film school, I want to have __________ so that __________. The main areas in which I need to learn and grow to achieve that goal are __________. In ten years, I want to have __________ because __________. As an artist, I value __________. One specific action I plan to take after film school is __________. To prepare for that action I can __________ right now.
So for me, this might have looked like:
By the end of film school, I want to have produced at least two short films I’m proud of in the buddy comedy genre that developed from my original ideas, and have written at least one feature length screenplay with a complete pitch package, so that I can convey to agents and managers my ability to bring an idea to screen in a genre I’m passionate about, and that I’m a serious screenwriter with a complete creative property ready for studio consideration. The main areas in which I need to learn and grow to achieve those goals are pitching, industry networking, film financing, and dialogue writing. In ten years, I want to have independently produced a feature film I also wrote, sold a feature screenplay on spec, and achieved representation as a screenwriter because I will be positioned to independently make films I’m passionate about while also having a chance to get my screenplays picked up by other producers or major studios. As an artist, I value giving people hope and courage through storytelling and guiding the processes behind the art form to be fun and efficient. One specific action I plan to take after film school is attending an industry mixer with agents, managers, and other filmmakers. To prepare for that action I can practice making loglines, public speaking, and pitching ideas to others right now.
As you can see, your guiding statement can actually be pretty long. Also, don’t get discouraged if it takes a long time to build this into something helpful. That’s good. It means you’re doing the work and really thinking about your filmmaking goals.
So often while in film school, I didn’t stop to ask myself, “Why am I doing this?” and, “What do I hope to get out of this?” A guiding vision statement like the one I put together above would have really helped me to keep in mind the big picture and remember the whole reason I was in film school. This would have been a valuable tool for me in deciding which projects to work on vs which to let go, because I’d have been able to evaluate how closely something aligned with my values and goals as a filmmaker; — if I wasn’t the creative force behind the original idea, the theme or emotion of the story didn’t resonate with me, and I wasn’t going to be practicing screenwriting, learning about financing, or put into opportunities to pitch ideas and speak publicly while on this project, then it sounds like a skip for me.
I hope a guiding vision statement encourages you to stand firm in your goals as a filmmaker and can help you avoid some of the mistakes I made in film school. If you do write one, I’d love to read it. Feel free to share it with me and other readers in the response comments.
