Filmmaking is addictive.
The first time you put your vision to paper, bring it to life, and finally sit back and watch a dark room of strangers be captivated by your creation, you’re never the same. You can never go back from that feeling. And, if you’ve got just the right combination of ambition and irresponsibility, you just might decide to continue chasing that feeling, and next thing you know you’re dropping $900 on a prime lens and you have a networking meeting tomorrow at noon.
Congratulations, you’re a filmmaker.
The good news is, it’s an absurdly rewarding passion. It will allow you to, quite literally, make your dreams come true. But make no mistake: it’s not all fun and games. At times, this business will run you into the ground. It’ll take your money; it’ll waste your time; it’ll make you feel like a failure.
So, maybe I can help.
I’ve been playing the game since I was sixteen. In 2012, I started up a YouTube channel with Valley House Media’s own Mathew Craft. We made short “comedy” videos (and I use “comedy” very liberally here) that were laughably disastrous, but they were my first steps in becoming a storyteller. Soon enough I was applying for a Bachelor’s in Film Studies at Muhlenberg College; four years and several thousand dollars later, I created my crowning achievement to date for a production company in Hollywood: “PeaPod Man”, a short absurdist comedy about a superhero down on his luck, for which I’m honored and proud to say I won three awards.
I want to share what I’ve learned, and what I’m continuing to learn, from my years of experience working in film. Every Thursday for the next several weeks, I’ll be posting tips and tricks, dos and don’ts, and my unique perspective on the craft and business of film.
There’s no time like the present to start up a blog on the art of filmmaking - I mean this literally, as I’m completely quarantined in my house for the foreseeable future.
Nonetheless, I want to make the most of this opportunity. Filmmaking is a profoundly gratifying art form, but the life of its practitioners can be demanding to say the least. For the next few weeks, I’m is here to help. See you next Thursday!
- John Wrigley