Short Films: The Calm Before The Storm | Independent Film Blog

Directing Shorts: The Calm Before The Storm

April 20th, 2010 | Posted by jasonmckinnon in 17 West | Filmmaking | The Climb

Anyone who has or is planning on directing a short film may experience the pressure I’m feeling now.

My thoughts over these last few days have been focused on whether or not we will deliver an entertaining movie in the end.

As the shooting date approaches on any movie I work on, I get anxious. My new short film, The Climb, is no different. I’m starting to feel a little nervous. Now, some people may think a nervous and anxious director isn’t good for the production.

I wouldn’t change a thing.

The truth is, I’ve been through this before.

I was a wreck before we shot Playing Through a few years ago. Going into it, I didn’t know if I would be able to pull it off. So I worked tirelessly to make sure I’d be taken seriously on set. It was the first professional crew I had ever worked with. It was one of the best week’s of my life.

All of the pressure and anxiety I put myself through disappeared the second we completed the first take. From that point on, I was just making a movie and having a blast doing it.

Click here to read the whole story on the making of Playing Through.

I was comfortable on set because deep down I knew that I had used all the time I had to prepare. I didn’t waste a second.

Don’t waste a second!

The pressure I put on myself ends up motivating me to work harder and think things through. Instead of wondering why I’m nervous, I’ve been spending my time rehearsing the script like any actor would except I’m visualizing the movie. I’ll never know if my ideas for shots and style will work until the actual day but I take comfort in knowing I’ve put a lot of thought into the movie.

Making the movie on paper first makes me feel a whole lot better when I get on set. Even though I usually throw all my notes out the window and go on instinct. It still gives me a starting point.

People tend to put pressure on themselves to succeed and it can eat away at you. I have a different theory.

Being a director means having a vision and being able to articulate it to your cast and crew and creating an entertaining movie.
Being a successful director happens after the work is done. That’s when you watch a cohesive and entertaining story that people can relate to and enjoy.

It all hinges on being proud of the work your put into it. All the built up pressure actually ends up improving the movie because I am concerned about the final product. I do want the movie to be successful and I’m willing to put the work in to become a successful filmmaker. That’s why I put the pressure on myself in the first place.

Any aspiring director puts pressure on themselves. It’s normal.

I recommend using it to your advantage. Take the weeks leading up to your shoot and really think about what you want the movie to be. You can make up any shots you want! If that doesn’t get your blood pumping I don’t know what will.

I’m loving the fact that we are actually making a movie soon. Being creative in a collaborative environment is inspiring.

I can’t wait to start but until that time, I’ll be rewriting, rehearsing and story boarding my brains out.

Time to get to work.

Good talk… I feel better now.