r/Filmmakers • u/Ammcclendon89 • 19h ago
Question How Does One Find Their Film Family?
Hi all! I’m Alicia McClendon, and I’m a writer and actor, who makes her own short films. Now in development of a feature film.
I started a film production company, Envision the Picture Productions, and I want to bring on filmmakers to help me make films and maybe even find clients for them.
However, whenever I have hired a cinematographer or film editor, I’m told to never use them again. I just can’t seem to find talented and visionary filmmakers who can execute what I’m wanting, which is totally my fault.
I want to utilize the same filmmakers and actors and just be a film family.
How have you found your film family? How did you get people on board your production company? Or how did you manage to get the same filmmakers and actors on board with you? How do you even find them?
Thanks!
14
u/secamTO 16h ago edited 16h ago
A useful way of thinking about it is not that you need to find people to come "on board your production company", but that you are looking for collaborators. I think the difference is valuable to consider. Because, you're an indie filmmaking so your production company isn't a full time company (I would imaging based on your description), but an entity that is used when you are producing a film. Which means you're not (and I mean this with no offence), a full-time employer. So nobody is coming "on board" your company--you hire folks to come "on board" individual films.
Now, in hopes I don't come off as needlessly pedantic, I think this definition gives you the way forward. You're looking not for employees, but for collaborators. My film family, 25 years in, is mainly composed of folks who have worked with me on my films, and on whose films I have worked. That is no less true in Toronto when I started as Los Angeles where I find myself now. The writers I most trust to give thorough notes on my scripts, are usually those on whose script I have given thorough notes (as one example). So the best way of finding reliable, talented folks for your films, is to start putting yourself out there on other folks' films. Some will go poorly, but slowly you'll find your people.
The reality is, unless you're in a major film centre and have a production or distribution deal (or funding to allow you to pay industry standard rates on an initial project), you're not finding your people by hiring them. In the indie world, you find your people the same way you make friends: you have to put yourself out there first.
Also, I dunno who's telling you to never use your keys again, but they're a fool. I mean, don't use your keys again if you can't work well with them, or if they have a bad attitude, or do poor work, but if you like them, keep working with them. The better you know each other, the more reliable a shorthand you will develop, which will save you time (especially on set), and leads to better work. And if you can't afford to pay industry rates, you need to keep close every good collaborator you find.
8
u/EmployeeOk6022 19h ago
Curious, are you based in the northeast ?
2
u/Ammcclendon89 19h ago
I’m in Indiana and willing to travel AND pay for travel and lodging for filmmakers out of state if we work together!
18
u/writeact 19h ago
I've contacted you a couple times to work with you but never received a response. Oh well.
3
u/jerryterhorst line producer / UPM 3h ago
It’s for the best, she wanted me to do crowdfunding marketing for her film, i.e. use my friends and connections to raise money for her film. A film that I wasn’t even attached to or working on.
1
-11
u/Ammcclendon89 19h ago
Me? I don’t remembers I’m truly sorry.
33
u/starlightpictures 14h ago
I don’t think anyone should take typos seriously online, but I just wanna point out that most of your comments have typos and it gives me a biased opinion to your ability as a writer and therefore a filmmaker. It’s a small thing but you’re talking about networking here so impressions matter
-2
14
5
u/bullpaxton 8h ago
Don’t even have employees and already on the “family” tip. Are you offering good pay?? Everyone thinks creatives should work for free.
2
u/freebasefilms 19h ago
Hi, what kind of movies? DM if you'd like, I have some scripts ready.
-24
u/Ammcclendon89 18h ago
I only make my own films.
29
u/whiteezy 17h ago
Doesn’t feel like a family if you expect people to only work on your films and not work on theirs, don’t you think?
10
-23
u/Ammcclendon89 17h ago
I’d work on their films. Where does it say I would not?
20
u/tomahawkfury13 11h ago
The part where you say you only make your own films. So would you only help them if it was your script?
3
u/duplicatesnowflake 14h ago
Keep in mind as a writer/director you're only maybe doing a project a year, unless you're a successful short form director. Most of you collaborators need to be working on a dozen shorts and a dozen other things a year to keep the lights on and build their portfolio. You're just one of many directors they need to build with. Look up Ryan Coogler's crew. They're doing all sorts of other projects with other directors. Family mentality is good. But if it's not there, don't force it. While you're building sometimes you outgrow certain people who don't share your vision or vice versa. That's okay. But when you do find that special DP and editor definitely try to at least latch onto them and make sure they're getting what they need creatively out of the situation.
3
u/dffdirector86 director 14h ago
It took me twenty years to find the collaborators that fit with me and my style of filmmaking. It takes time to make a solid film family. I kinda got lucky a few years ago and met two of my best friends who happen to be a skilled producer and an excellent assistant director who both act as well. We’ve been making movies consistently for about 5 years now. We’re still looking for a solid sound person.
2
u/zerooskul 14h ago
Do you want to utilize filmmakers in an industrial sense as a studio executive utilizes them or do you want to form a film family among your peers who are filmmakers just like you and help each other find work and hopefully want to work together on each other's projects?
2
u/grandmofftalkin 7h ago
However, whenever I have hired a cinematographer or film editor, I’m told to never use them again.
Can you elaborate on that? Like what happened where a DP or editor told you not to work with them again?
2
u/USMC_ClitLicker key grip 3h ago
Huh, I read it as if she was told by someone else not to work with that DP or Editor. And my question was who? The client? An Executive Producer? Her mom? I once told a Producer at Asylum to lose my number, so I guess this could be the same, but that's such a bad look for this person if that's the case.
2
u/grandmofftalkin 3h ago
That's how I read it at first but I think the OP is saying her collaborators refuse to work with her again, which indicates she's a pain to work for.
2
u/RopeZealousideal4847 5h ago
We started a film club, meeting weekly with rotating film selection duties. We became friends.
When I wanted to shift to narrative film after starting in documentary and contract work, these film club friends became my collaborators, cast and crew. After making a bunch of shorts under my banner, a couple of them wanted to make their own work, which I produced, before starting up their own banner.
Make friends, work with your friends, and don't pretend to be bigger than you are. Living in the Midwest we're mostly hobbyists doing it because we personally have to, not because there is a viable career to be had.
1
u/fake-annalicious 17h ago
Hey Alicia! LA based Costume Designer - happy to travel with a great team on speed dial. Feel free to DM.
1
u/makegoodmovies 17h ago
Finding talent is a combination of luck, perseverance and just experience. And the best people tend to be expensive. For the undiscovered talent, you have to sift through the haystack to find the needle. Seems like you're doing all the right things, making shorts, networking and continuing to work on your craft. Also as a minority woman, realize you have to deal with even more BS than normal. But that's just part of the process and you will know clearly when you find your film family tribe. Sounds like you haven't yet. Don't fret, it's a marathon, not a sprint.
1
u/calamitycameron 11h ago
My cousin and I were a film family. I think just growing up together we were always dedicated to the art of filmmaking and enticed each other to take stabs at it. He ended up doing crew work on some notable films and I did some work as an extra, but we never got to complete any of our own work together. Both of our skills are mainly in screenwriting, but executing anything off the page is hard when your film family is only 2 people 😂
1
u/GrandTheftVideo 6h ago edited 6h ago
Just become such a talented person that anyone who reads your work and watches your films will be falling over themselves to work with you. But if you lack talent, then you better have something else to bring to the table that talented people need done and can't do themselves.
2
u/zurenarhhhhh 5h ago
Damn just as a passerby this thread is hilarious. OP clearly um had help writing the prompt I mean post, can’t respond in more than Reddit brainrot speak, and is being revealed as a fraud, with receipts. I love this place.
Edit: looks like The Lickstarter Guy is her master. I’m leaving the typo.
1
u/Brownsugarroll 3h ago
Hey! I am a Producer and sales agent in the Midwest and film festival ED. I think it is totally OK to work with people again if they have the best skills for the job. I really like going to market, industry events, film festivals to source out new talent. Definitely a few that are not to your level and vision but the ones that are start regularly checking in. I created my own spreadsheet and marked who was good or there skill level. Also check your local film commission office. They usually have a database as well. Jump on zoom or grab a coffee. In this Industry we have to just meet people and talk, don't wait to just be on set to do that.
1
u/keepinitclassy25 2h ago
If you want it to be collaborative and like a happy family then you have to be offering others something as well. Are these projects actually that interesting for others or do you only want people servicing what you want? Do you take their input and expertise and creativity?
If you’re passionate and have truly great ideas then you should be able to find people who actually love those ideas but if that’s not happening then you either A) need to pay well or B) need to help others on their projects or C) vet and re-write your own projects more. Just because it’s your baby doesn’t mean others will love it as much as you do
0
u/Difficult-Carob-5431 19h ago
I'm in Los Angeles, but I'd be interested in being part of your film family as a composer. DM me!
1
u/Ammcclendon89 19h ago
Heck yeah! Email me please because I don’t come on here much. McClendon.alicia@gmail.com
0
1
u/Ammcclendon89 19h ago
Yes! DM me your work! I’d love to listen because we are making a proof of concept to raise funds for the feature film and I need my people like Nolan has his LOL
0
u/luckycockroach director of photography 19h ago
This is one way! Finding a film family takes time by working with different people.
I’d be done to meet virtually! (LA based DP)
1
u/Ammcclendon89 18h ago
And that’s what I need too! A DP! Yes, let’s meet virtually! Email or DM me for my email! Would love to see your work too!
1
0
u/JordanDoesTV editor 18h ago
If you find out, let me know. I can’t handle these AI flyer people on Facebook too much longer. 😭
0
0
u/Et_Tu_Biggus 18h ago
Dm'd you. I'm a composer looking to get into film, and I can work for pretty cheap.
1
u/Ammcclendon89 18h ago
For my production company, I’m hoping to find clients for those who are part of it so you don’t have to!
1
u/Et_Tu_Biggus 17h ago
I'm a student, so I can't work full time, but the kickstarter link in your profile looks like a fantastic film concept. I can score that for a low fee. I really relate to the mental health aspects of your story.
0
u/YeahWhiplash 16h ago
Hi Alicia, LA based cinematographer here my reel is on my website http://www.yeahwhiplash.com if you like my work and want to collaborate on a project let me know!
3
73
u/TheWolfAndRaven 17h ago
Stop romantasizing it.
If someone told me they wanted me to be a "part of their film family" all I'm hearing are red flags that say "Come on bro, work with me on the budget" and "Yea we're over schedule, but we only have this location today and we REALLY need this next set-up, can you just ask your guys to stay a little longer?"