To give of the impression of someones wet/sweaty/teary eyes

Hello filmmakers,

I was hired by a director to caption his film that would be streaming on Amazon. He said that once he sent the invoice, Amazon takes about a month to send the check.

I’m currently out of the country, so he said he’d cash the check and the send the money via online payment platform (Venmo, Cashapp, Zelle).

I have previously worked with him in other capacities, but he’s never paid me. It was always for credit and alike.

I finished the work in October and sent him the invoice. He never responded to my text/ email. I didn’t hear from him until January when he said he was having personal issues and he wasn’t able to send the invoice, so Amazon wouldn’t pay him in about a month.

In February, I asked him to please give me an advance of the payment. He got upset that I asked and said that Amazon hadn’t sent him anything yet. Around the beginning of March I asked for an update about the payment, and he ignored my message.

I’m still waiting for my payment, which is $300, and Im getting worried I’ve been scammed or taken advantage of because of his behavior and inability to empathize with my financial situation and try to help me out.

Has anyone worked with Amazon and had their check take forever to be sent? How should I go about this if I’m being ignored through text?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

I keep seeing spec ads for specific brands and companies. I'd never heard of the idea until I joined this sub. They're all very good and creative, I was just wondering what the purpose of them are?

Is the aim to get that seen by the brand and ultimately turned into a proper commercial or is it more an excuse to be creative and show off your vision?

So this is a personal article about how I found my way, starting in a blue-collar town where making films felt impossible. I built a career alongside loved ones that actually opened real doors. And my god, it even led to working full time in film... and finally escaping a truly alarming diet of instant noodles and bourbon!

I hope it inspires folks at an earlier stage of their career, or those who have lost some hope.

Hey everyone, im an indie filmmaker and im making my second short film, i have an idea for the film but im struggling to come up with a name, I’d appreciate your help! 🙏

Premise: Zayn, an 18-year-old university student, hides her struggles with anxiety to meet the expectations of a society where mental health is still seen as shameful, even by those closest to her. But when her mother makes a painful discovery, they’re both forced to confront a topic they’ve avoided for far too long.

Theme: The stigma surrounding mental health in Middle Eastern culture, and the need for empathy, understanding, and open conversation within families.

By the way sorry for my poor english or if this is the wrong subreddit i dont have much experience with reddits

First time buyer hoping for longevity. These 12k cameras seem unnecessary as of right now but maybe I’m wrong?

Hey everyone, I'm sure something like this has been posted before but it seems not too recently. We currently just about to start shooting a season of TV and want to self distribute via places like Tubi, I know Filmhub use to be a way to do it but it sounds like everyone agrees that it has gone downhill.

What is a good place to go to so that we can end up at Tubi or something similar.

Hello there, I started the production of a personnal project, and among the question i had is how to create kaiju roars. I knew about few of the techniques used for the big movies (Godzilla for example) but i'd like to create my own and idk if there is a software adapted for creating sound effects. So if y'all know any free software that would help a lot, thanks

Hey folks, quick question for those of you submitting films through FilmFreeway—what’s the general etiquette around trailers?

Is it okay to have a trailer online (like on my website or Vimeo), or is it better to keep everything private until after the festival run? I was thinking of just uploading the film as a private link for friends/family and maybe sharing a few screenshots publicly.

How do people usually handle this? Do you keep it under wraps until it’s been selected or awarded somewhere, or wait until it’s done the full submission circuit before making anything public?

Would love to hear how others approach this.

Anyone hear anything yet? The narrative lab has been announcing placements for a while now. The producing lab takes place at the same time but I’ve heard nothing. Do they do placements for producers too? Or anyone hear/know anything?

Hey everyone!

I’m currently looking for a VFX artist to collaborate on my latest horror short, Stay with Me. This is a no-budget indie film, so it’s all volunteer-based; for practice, IMDb credit, and the love of horror! If you’re working on building your portfolio or experimenting with Blender or After Effects, this could be a fun, creepy little project to be part of. Obviously since this is no budget I’m not asking for a seasoned professional, just looking for someone who wants more practice or more credits!

About the Film:

• 4-minute horror micro-short

• Already shot and edited

• Focused on tension, atmosphere, and a disturbing creature reveal

What I’m Looking For in VFX:

• Minor touch-ups to enhance a practical creature design

• Ideally blending certain elements better, adding black veins or unnatural textures

• One key close-up of the creature’s hands—looking to possibly add claws, grime, or something to make them feel less human

• Open to ideas and input based on what’s feasible with Blender or AE!

I don’t know how possible this even is with what we’ve shot but I can send you what I have and you can let me know if it’s possible to work with or if it’s too difficult!

I’m also planning to crowdfund my next horror short (with an actual budget!) and would love to keep collaborating if it’s a good fit.

If you’re experimenting with VFX or want to add some spooky work to your IMDb and portfolio, feel free to DM me. You can check out my other work on YouTube at Macabre Productions (you can look up Darby After Dark and you’ll find my channel, there’s a few with the same name but they don’t post short films), it’s super indie right now, but slowly growing!

Thanks for reading!

Well i have been on a few sets and tried to charge my phone with a vlock battery and a d-tap but it just doesn’t work. Why? And how can I do it?

(D-tap to usb-C)

I’m in pre-production of a short film, and one of the actors that I’m considering to cast won’t be able to attend the in-person chemistry test.

Therefore, I’m considering doing it over Zoom. I know it’s not ideal.

Have any of you done something like this before? Are there ways to see the connection between actors without being physically here?

Film synopsis: Tales of Finch, a fantasy/superhero passion project of 50+ cast and crew all local to Charlotte, NC. Finch, a superpowered bounty hunter, and his iconic duo teammates Gav and Ace, begin a dangerous mission that meets unexpected challenges. From a flute/gun hybrid to playing card-shooting gauntlets, this action packed series aims to create the most iconic characters and superpowered abilities. Please enjoy ❤

Yes, this is mainly a plug for our film. We worked hard on it and would love for y'all to see it and hopefully love it. But here's some VFX experiences I had along the way that I hope you will also enjoy (in the comments).

My main questions are: How hard is it for fresher Production Designers to get a gig in todays industry? Which country is better for beginners, uk or usa; or some other entirely? (Especially with the current condition of both the countries). Does the college/place make any difference? Please read on.

To get into the details, I'm 23 years old, from india, and I just completed my architecture degree. I've wanted to work in the film industry since I was 12, I was really interested in animation/vfx etc. But due to how hectic my course was, I never got the opportunity to work on any set, or in any film/ shoot, or even be a part of a film club. So now I'm considering going to film school for masters. (I just got into Chapman and AFI for MFA production design, waiting for LFS results, I was called in for interview there)

And before anyone says "you don't need to", lemme explain. I'm an only child. My parents are old, they're not in their best of health, my father gets a pension that's sorta enough for all our needs (heavy medical bills). So unfortunately, I dont have the privilege of time and of exploring the industry by starting off as an unpayed assistant, since I need an actual paying job as soon as possible. So I figured going to a place like film school could give me better networking opportunities.

If I don't go, I'll have to slowly work on expanding my network in this industry, since I dont know anyone. Along with that I live in Delhi, and most film schoots happen in Mumbai, and unless I have SOME experience and/or connection, I'm definitely not getting payed to work there. Another thing is that I really dont wish to stay in this country, since I'm not a fan of the industty here (also simply not of the place, I wanna get out of here asap and never return).

But film school abroad is expensive af. Especially in the usa. European countries are cheaper but other than uk, none of them are directly tied to the main industry and don't big production houses/sets. I'll have to take heavy loans for this, and I don't wanna end up in a situation where I'm not able to repay them. But I also don't wanna be stuck as a low-key filmmaker working on small indie projects (your girl has high aspirations).

So. I want to know, specifically from people who graduated from "reputed" unis like LFS, NFTS in uk and AFI, NYU, UCLA etc in the usa, how hard is it for production designers to get a gig? A good paying gig. How has the process been like for you guys? I've read that the indutry has been difficult to break into and I understand that, I'm ready to put my blood and tears into this, but is it even doable? Does the college and the place/location/city really make a difference? Is spending that much money for masters even worth it? Would you recommend any other countries for this instead, where at least we get good pay and enough work? Or where the industry is growing?

I want to work on major sets eventually, but I dont mind grinding on smaller ones as long as I get payed enough to live by in the city, at least for a few years. Could someone give me a detailed account of how it has been for them recently? I have read threads from a few years back and I know times have changed now, especially for PDs, so I wanna know the recent accounts from others. Thanks a lot!

Hey everyone,

I’ve got a €900 (~$975) work budget to invest specifically in video post-production resources. I’m a photographer and filmmaker working mostly in DaVinci Resolve – currently shooting with a Canon R6 in C-Log3, often also in vertical format for social content.

So I’m now looking to spend the budget on creative tools and assets, such as: • LUT packs (for Canon/Log workflows or cinematic color) • Transitions & motion graphics templates • Resolve plug-ins to improve workflow or add creative tools • Sound effects / music libraries for long-term use • Occasionally: light VFX or animations for social or event content

I do a mix of short docs, events, and social media content, so I’m looking for a good balance between cinematic looks and tools for quick turnaround edits. I’m open to both one-time purchases and subscriptions, as long as they’re worth it.

Would love to hear what you’ve actually bought and found valuable over time!

Thanks in advance!

Greetings fellow filmmakers,

I’m a director/producer shooting my first indie feature soon. My current setup is a Sony FX3 with Cooke SP3 lenses. I haven’t hired a cinematographer yet so I'll follow their guidance for lighting.

I’m considering recording ProRes RAW with an Atomos Ninja V but I’m not sure if it’s worth it. A 2-hour film in RAW could need 20–40TB of storage adding around $2.5k–$3k (or more) to my budget. That’s a big chunk for a micro-budget film and that money could be spent elsewhere.

I’m confident in my storytelling and I believe the FX3 can deliver great results in internal recording. But I don’t want to regret skipping RAW if it makes a major difference in post.

Also, lens options available in my area and budget are Sigma Cine Primes, Zeiss Nano Primes, and Sirui Venus FF anamorphics.

Should I stick with the Cooke SP3, or would one of these be a better fit?

To give you some context, my film is a mystery thriller set almost entirely inside a house during a dinner on a stormy, rainy night, with a time loop element.

A fellow filmmaker buddy and I will be headed to NY for the weekend of June 6-8, 2025 We plan on hitting up Tribeca Film festival, a few tourist spots and we also wanted to see if we can hit up the Indie Film scene. Are there any meet ups happening that weekend? We’re from Chicago and we do a few events a month and was hoping to be able to network a little while we’re there. Any leads?

I'd rather not spend more than $500 or so, so I don't know if there's even a decent package. Anyway, any recommendation would be appreciated. Thanks!

Hey everybody. I'm an actor in NY but at this point I've just learned that I want to be in entertainment regardless of whether it's in front of the camera or not. At this point I am not booking enough to make a living, and I've started looking for a "regular job," but I don't want to. I don't want to just throw in the towel and start applying to 9 to 5s. I discovered the Made in NY PA Program, where unemployed/low-income NYC residents can become PAs, but it requires that you live in one of the boroughs for half a year to qualify. But I am in a catch-22 where in order to afford living in the city, I need a job, but in order to qualify I can't have a job that would make enough to work in the city.

I have experience on the production side when it comes to local and school theater, and I have been in front of the camera, but I don't have experience in film production. How would one go about trying to break into that side of the industry? I've tried Backstage and the like, but I barely have anything to put on a resume (in relation to production), and from what I've gathered it's really all about networking. If you have any advice, please lmk!

TLDR: How do you become a production assistant? How do you get to start working on projects consistently?

Does anyone have any experience using the newly launched Film Budget Breakdown Tool now offered by Greenlight Coverage? I'm extremely wary of using any of these AI tools that are advertised online nowadays, however, I am not an experienced (primary) producer and need to put together a top sheet for an indie feature, which will be reviewed by a proper line producer at a later date.

Any info/advice would be appreciated. Cheers!

Hi, I shot a film, edited and music composed all by myself for film school application. Here I’m sharing its link. Can anyone watch it and give me feedback ? Like is it good for submission? Is the story conveyed well ? Where am I lacking? And how can I improve for my next short.This feedback is really essential for me to estimate my admission.

Hey there, I'm brand new to the world of film making and would like to try to start with the lowest barrier to entry that I can manage. I know thematically that starts with a script that is character or plot driven and would avoid excessively complicated sets or props and very little if any makeup.

What I'm here to ask about is basic equipment. I have a Google pixel 7a cell phone and I would like to use that to start out if that's a viable option. The style I'm looking at is something akin to the harmony korine films Julien donkey boy, gummo, trash humpers. Would the cell phone camera be sufficient to start with for this style ?

When it comes to the phone is there a specific mode I should be shooting in or app I should use to control the camera ?

The next thing is a tripod and lights. For a tripod would anyone have any suggestions of one I could grow into once I get a higher end camera? How important is a fluid head when starting out?

As far as lighting would there be a small kit or a few lights I could start with to get going , or would I be best off with just a small accent light and maybe a bounce board and rely mostly on ambient light?

Lastly is sound , any suggestions on a mic that would be decent for indoor dialogue in an untreated space? How does one go about syncing external sound to cellphone video ?

This is a ton of questions I realize, but any help I really appreciate. I love film and would love to start contributing to it.

I'm interested in getting the BeastGrip 1.55 MK2 Anamorphic Lens and have a Small Rig Cage. I am using an Iphone 15 Pro Max. The Mk2 has 37mm threads--so though they recommend using it with the Beast Cage, it can theoretically be used with other Iphone Cages (small rig, FreeWell). These Anamorphic lens work by being properly aligned with the camera. Using a BeastGrip lens on a Beastgrip cage of course is the way to go--but when you already have an entirely different rig ( I have Small rig) I can get Moment, Neweer, Freewell, small rig anamorphic lenses but frankly the Beast Grip has the best look in my eyes for a 1.55 Anamorphic.

So anyone use this Mk2 (beast grip 1.55) on non Beast Grip cages?

Hey, I’m not sure if this is the right place to post this (just let me know and I’ll remove it), but o was wondering if any of you guys have any experience with either of these schools. I know both and pretty decent for film so I’m torn between the two options. Which school should I go to? What are pros and cons of each? I’m aware that this question has been asked before but I can’t find any fresh discussions, especially since I’m pretty sure each program just got revamped.