I like what Elliot Grove the founder of Raindance Film Festival & Raindance.tv had to say about this topic.
Elliot has produced 150 short films, 5 feature films and teaches screenwriters and film producers in the UK, Europe, Japan and America.
He is a filmmaker's filmmaker and practices what he preaches...4 habits of Successful Filmmakers:
1. Goal Setting
"If you want to make a film in one year's time, target to
increase your work rate and break down your goal into manageable steps." - Elliot Grove
increase your work rate and break down your goal into manageable steps." - Elliot Grove
Setting goal is something I talk about often on my blog and I know from firsthand experience the powerful results it can produce in your life and for your film career. I wouldn't get all Dr. Phil on you about the importance of having clear, written goals with deadlines but I really like this quote from the late J.C. Penny.
"Give me a stock clerk with a goal and I’ll give you a man who will make history. Give me a man with no goals and I’ll give you a stock clerk." - J.C. Penny
2. Investing in Learning
"Invest in learning and discovering new filmmaking techniques is the next keystone to success. Film is changing rapidly right now. The last big change was the introduction of sound. This time around it is movies on th internet and mobile telephones." - Elliot Grove
Continuous learning is so important for those who want to be in the top of the chosen profession. I usually spent at least 30 minutes each day reading books, articles and websites to build specific knowledge about the art and business of moviemaking. I'm sure you've heard the saying "knowledge is power" and usually the most successful filmmakers are experts (extremely knowledgeable) in at least one area of filmmaking.
For example, James Cameron has become an expert on the topic of using 3D film cameras to make movies. After Titanic he just didn't go off, get fat and count his money...ok...maybe he did? Haha. But seriously, he as been spending the past 5 to 6 years researching, learning and developing state-of-the-art 3D filmmaking. Avatar becoming December 2009, I'm excited.
He didn't just rest on his laurels but continued to learn, grow and educate himself.
3. Investing in Good Tools
"Treat your career as a business. Invest your earnings into good tools that can enhance your business. Film businesses are the same as non-film businesses. Ploughing part of your earnings back into your filmmaking business would grow career exponentially." - Elliot Grove
This is so important and I'd like to even take it a step further. Invest in great people. Successful filmmakers treat filmmaking like a business and the best investment you can make is the people you chosen to hire to work on your film. I know that as indie filmmakers sometimes we're working with a micro budget for our movies but spending a few extra hundred dollars here or there for the services of professional,experience people i.e. cast and crew will pay off long term dividends to the success of their films and your career.
4. Apply What You Learn
"The most successful filmmakers are not always the most knowledgeable ones. They are the ones who put action to what they learnt. They do, not talk about doing." - Elliot Grove
Earlier in this article I mentioned that knowledge was power. Well, knowledge is only half power. The other half comes from taking consistent, determined action until you've reached your goal.
Just keep in mind that you shouldn't compete or compare yourself to other filmmakers to measure your success. You define your own success through your individual goals. It can be something simple like wanting to make a 5 minute short film with some friends to making socially conscious documentaries to the desire to win an Oscar.
"Anyone who is on course towards a worthy goal is successful." - Earl Nightingale
Well, enough talk. I have to go now and work on my next movie.
