For me there's a pattern. Shooting: This is going to be brilliant. Shuffling through footage: What was I thinking? First rough edit: Hang on a minute. Final cut: Okay, I'm still here. What's next.
DSLRguide sigh, I needed to hear this. Like right now now!!!! I was feeling like this, and that was after I had finished the story board. looking at getting the location and finding time to actually be able to shoot it. I knew as a director, I can't have this mind set when I'm on set with everyone else.
BrainInSkull so true... 1) idea came 2) shooting and nothing seems to go according to plan 3) during editing nothing seems to stitch together to make sense 4) then at the end half of the time the project can't be finished because it's not up to expectations It is not good to left projects un finished, but sometimes it's really not easy...
same for me both as a scriptwriter and a shooter; it's always like that, it's always some sort of cycle... everytime I do that sometimes it helps seeing some filmakers I love saying things like "i shouldn't have done this" while shooting a movie and then they are talking about their best movie or something like that it's though, but I take everything I do as archery: everything I do has to be closer to the target than the thing before
I think the famous and often cited quote from Ira Glass fits well: "“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through"
I can relate so much to that point of feeling sick over a project. Editing for me takes so much effort to even start, let alone being okay with finishing a project. Coming to terms with who you are as a filmmaker and what your current skills are at can be really humbling. I find I'm not proud of my edits until I take it from 90% to 95%. And that last 5% can take as long as the previous 90%. And even if you take the project to 95% on the edit scale, it's still so easy to dislike the film as a whole. Even after you poured so much work into it. It can be hard to come to grips with what you've actually shot and what you've got to work with. Acknowledging, yeup, I shot that. That's my work as a filmmaker and storyteller. Thanks for sharing your journey in the creative struggle.
Man I can hear the sadness in your voice about this project. I understand man. It is very tough to work so hard and not feel like your where you want to or should be at. Just want to offer some encouragement and say that the videos you do have helped me so much in learning how to do video and I wouldn't be anywhere close to where I am today without your help. I still have a long way to go, and get discouraged often, but people like you who have made it their goal to help others learn something such as film making are a huge encouragement and inspiration to people like me. Thanks so much for everything you do man, keep at it!
I can't tell you how much i can relate to this! I have been depressed for over 2 month now, can't do what i love, can't relate to other people in my field coz they make it sound so so easy :( No one ever talks about the hard stuff and the emotional drainage thank you very much for the kind and encouraging videos, it just feels so much easier now to know everyone goes through this :)
The one thing I like about you is you keep it real. I feel that a lot of successful channels sugar coat the truth. Thanks for being real man
8 лет назад+1
Self-compassion is probably the main skills we have to master. Sometimes I feel that "sickness" and deep self-doubt. It comes with the pressure, the unstable sleep cycles, the incredible amount of time spent re-watching over and over, trying to make the "best" version of it. It's important to keep creative people close, so you can listen, talk and put things back in perspective... Most of the time, we suffer more in our minds and expectations, thinking we are way worse than we are.
My first music video I directed I had a DP, producer/AD, and two PAs. They were all friends working for free/fun. I was able to look at the bigger picture and direct. Is there even one person in your area that can help with the productions in a meaningful/creative way? Professional filmmaking is a team sport and you are past the point of going it alone.
you've hit the nail on the head right there - much of the pressure would have been lifted if I hadn't gone solo on the pre & post production. The whole challenge of this project was to use cheap gear & small crew but like you say, there's no need to be isolated.
Simon, even though you may not be completely happy with your short, I genuinely think it's incredibly good. Your honesty is something we could do with a lot more of on RUclips and in life generally, and is really admirable.
"If your feeling bad about what you are making...if you feel like it's not good enough...That is okay. It will pass, if you can get through it. It will make you stronger when you get to the end."- Simon Cade. Good stuff, Cade.
I'm in the middle of shooting my first film ever, a short film, and I've been feeling the same way. Your videos give me motivation to push through, thanks for that!
Hey man, thanks for sharing! It's really inspirational to hear that others have the same problems. The most important thing is you were honest. That's hard to come by these days
Creative life is an unequal sine wave. One night's burst of creativity could be followed by a week of despair and wasted hours. But you always bounce back after giving yourself a little TLC and revisit your inspirations.
I'm almost 4 years into my venture as well. I think it's easier for someone like me, I've released 2 songs per month for almost 4 years so I'm forcing myself to go through that anxious process when releasing something a lot. I think it's just something you have to learn to deal with. Even after going through that 80+ times I still sometimes get really nervous and insecure but I think that's healthy.
Your short is legit Simon, it has heart which is more than I can say for alot of shorts, dont over analyze it man. you did the work and had the guts to put it out there. respect.
Creative passion isn't about always having fun, it's about being willing to suffer and work hard for things most people would find ridiculous, simply because they mean so much to you and you can't keep on living without making them real and sharing them with the world. You put your heart and soul into the work, it's your child, your creation, so it's perfectly normal when you're worried about the result. It means that you care, that you want to create the best version of your idea.
Being a creative person is really quite horrible. The roller coaster ride may at first seem fun, but really it is sickening after a short while. What is worse, if you are in a personal relationship, you are required to be a bright positive person, when really, you feel worthless and think nothing will ever work. THEN the switcheroos start to happen. When you are super psyched because a project went fantastic, and super depressed because a project sucked, and then a year later, you find out the project that you thought was great, was really horrible, and the project you thought sucks is actually quite good... you stop trusting yourself entirely! My only advice is to attempt to build a firewall around yourself so you personal roller coaster doesn't affect those around you. Being a father and a husband, you need to be consistent. We know that that doesn't happen, but for the sake of those loved ones, we must make every effort.
If a girlfriend or boyfriend thinks you should be positive all the time, then I don't want anything with these kind of couples. A girlfriend/boyfriend is supposed to support you
8 лет назад+5
Projects are sometimes like a rollercoaster. One day I feel great, but the next day everything seems to go wrong.
Mate, that short-film was one of the BEST I have seen so far! :) I thought it was some kind of effect, but nope, it wasn't. I was totally into the story, as it was SO emotional.
Thank you for your honesty...sometimes, what I think is a shit video takes off on my channel, yet some of my finer works don't appeal to the masses. It's often hard to continue to be motivated to keep pumping out content, not knowing how it will be received.
I needed to hear this at this exact moment. I'm feeling the same, when you have big expectations on the work you're doing and when you release it you find out that it isn't as good as you thought it'd be. Also when you find out that there's a lot of people out there that are better than you at what you do or they receive bigger support from their audience. I think the majority of people that do something creative go through this but I seldom hear anyone talking about it. At the end I believe that all of this results in making you stronger. When you face the reality it can hurt and lower your self-esteem at the beginning, but if you can learn from it and accept that you still have much learning to do, you will improve and be so much better at what you do. And that's what it is all about: keep learning and improving while you do what you love and enjoy the journey.
This is so interesting, Martin Scorsese did Taxi Driver which was great, and due to that success he did the musical New York, New York that was a massive failure (I read somewhere that the first Rocky film was expected to be an unsuccessful movie and they made an agreement that NY,NY and Rocky would share profit, so the Scorsese film would make up for the money lost on Rocky, and it ended up being the other way around, Rocky saved NY,NY). But anyways, that movie failed so hard that Scorsese fell into depression, developed a drug addiction, and I think he even said that he would never make another movie again. And after all of that he went on to make Raging Bull, which some say it's his best film ever. There's also Francis Ford Coppola, some say that since he did Apocalypse Now on 1979, he did nothing but forgettable films until he made Dracula on 1992. (The Godfather Part III wasn't well received) That's 13 freaking years without doing something great, and he did The Godfather, part I and II are considered some of the best films ever! I think that the director's life is a rollercoaster, so just embrace it, it's about the journey, not the destination.
cool. while watching him talking, I also thought of Martin scorsese's taxi driver to ny,ny and him felling into depression until deniro helped him get out of it
I really love your openness to your feelings and what you're thiniing. I barely even started getting into cinematography and to see that many years you've put into it amazing me, especially because you feel that it isn't that much time compared to other people. The years you put into your work is literally more than 1/5th of my entire life! I really really enjoy watching your videos and its so nice to see your growth over your years of putting in hard work!
Ok so I'm nowhere near a filmmaker, I make videos teaching English as a second language and I relate to this SO much. I feel so out of my depth! I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to editing, lighting, audio, effects etc but I want my videos to look pretty and professional so I rely on knowing the basics, bingeing on tutorials and winging it! I film something and think it's going to look amazing, and then I freak out whilst editing! It's made me feel a bit better to see that professionals self-doubt during editing too. By the way, you are an awesome speaker and I find your videos very interesting. Thank you!
Simon, you and Darius Britt are my favourite people on RUclips. You guys are role models. Thanks for keeping it real. That short film is very good by the way. The dialogue is great.
Simon, thanks for sharing this with us! It's one of those "I wish you didn't feel this way, but it's good to know I'm not alone in feeling this way" type of moments. Keep at it man, you're extremely talented and so young!
doing any kind of creative work and upload it into a platform where everyone can judge is a very brave thing to do. that's why we the creative people always found ourselves in this kind of trouble. but remember, if you do something that you love, the simple fact of being able to do it is your most precious reward. i've been making music for 4 years now and i never got a single penny from it. sometimes i feel bad because none of the things that i do are good enough, it feels like i'm never gonna make it. but in the end i feel blessed, because i found my passion and i thank god im able to do it.
Thank you for what you doing! I'm a musician, and still i find it's very inspirational to watch your videos and to catch up the thoughts your speeches provokes, thank you a lot!
You are your own worst critic. I am about to start film making and your videos have been really helpful so far. Thank you. By the way I thought the short film was really good.
You know that moment you make something and realise it's rubbish, it's the closest moment to giving up. Watching this video made me realise that everyone, big or small experiences this. I just want to say thanks for sharing these feelings that not a lot of filmmakers really discuss. Makes me feel normal again! Def plan to make more movies this year :)
I have the feeling you'll come back and watch that last part of the video everytime you're feeling like that again... it will be a reminder that everything will be ok...
This is probably my favorite video that you've put out. It shows the emotional side of you and your passion for film. You're still young and learning, but you seem light years ahead of most people your age. Struggle, learn, get stronger; that's how it all works. Keep up the good work and don't give up on your passion.
You don't know how much I relate to this video. I just finished editing my first "real" short film, my very first "big" project - 15 pages of script, 5 actors, 6 crew members, 20+ extras in one scene, three different locations, a solid week of shooting. It took me more than a f*ckin year to edit it, because as soon as I sat in front of my computer, I couldn't see nothing but crap. I stopped working on it, and the cast&crew were (rightfully) absolutely mad at me because it was due to release in March '16 and it will be ready - maybe - this February. So, as I was saying, I realized that this stone into my stomach was actually killing me creatively. I couldn't embark into any other project because I wasn't feeling confident at all about myself and my abilities. So I took courage and I committed to it. Every single cut, every curve adjustment, every fade was a painful kick into my pride's teeth. Then I finished it. It was a solid three weeks work, which I couldn't manage to finish in the time span of a whole year. I am now waiting for the music to be done by my composer and then we'll be there. I look at my film and I ask myself, "Does it suck?" Of course it does. It's utter rubbish, a fine editing cannot save a film from a lame story, a bad cinematography and an uninspired director. But at least it will be done and dead. I am now able to move forward towards new failures, new mistakes, new experiences, without feeling a complete vanaglorious unskilled wannabe (which I may be, but at least now I have the benefit of the doubt, having completed at least one project). I usually don't write this long ass stupid comments, but I really related to your video and your experience. Thank you, Simon, one more time.
I think the best lesson that I've learned being a filmmaker is that as soon as you tell yourself that there is no such thing as failure, then you will be free. Every film you make, there is a lesson to be learned, something to smile about, a challenge you overcame...there is always a lesson. Failure is no such thing. You learn from your mistake, move on and start the next project knowing that you've grown since then. Cheers Simon, keep your head up.
A really important thing to talk about, especially the self-doubt and even hatred after feeling like your vision and the reality are so far apart from one another. I think procrastination really is so seductive because it means we don't have to face reality just yet, which essentially boils down to not having to look ourselves in the mirror. It's kinda like seeing a picture of yourself that someone else took; it kinda destroys the illusion we have of how we appear to the outside world. Funny, I made a video about 'doing', and it essentially talks about the same problem from a slightly different perspective. Keep up the good work, Simon!
Great video man, it's refreshing to have someone keeping it real and relating the less "glamorous" aspects of working as a creative. I'm not a film maker, i make graphic design related content but i find this to be very relatable. Nothing is perfect, you just gotta make the best out of it and try and have as much fun as possible doing it. Cheers!
I'm glad you are not giving up. I'm grateful for your contributions. When I make something, it feels, at the end, like a amazing date that goes terribly wrong but you are still so in love with her when you think about it all. Stay in love with your craft by doing for the love of the craft. What's the alternative? You're DOING it!
Simon the Advert on this Video was 6 minutes Long at one point I forgot what I was watching. To be honest if I wasn't a fellow RUclipsr also and a little fascinated by the Advert Ie, how tf did they get away with making adds this long, it was awful crap they were Pyramid selling. I would have 100% Left without watching. So it's good to see what those long Non Skippable ads are like. Just some feedback All the best, great video.. Steve
DSLRguide Yep, but I don't think it was a Glitch, it was some guy selling Rich Dad Poor Dad type books. I'm not telling you anything when I say on the Back end we can choose None Skippable and Long Non Skippable ads, I have never chosen to use the Long none Skippable's before and I had no Idea they could be that long. I clicked on your video whilst I was already watching another and when I turned back to watch it, I thought it was someone else's Video until I tried to fast forward it and the play line was yellow and un clickable. Not a problem but for both of us it's good to know.. Have a great week. Steve
I've never seen a 6 minute advert with no skip button. The longest I've had to wait to skip is maybe 15 seconds. Even that length pisses me off, though.
He is in a bad spot with that short film- he has this audience that he gives advice to and he doesn't want to disappoint. Meanwhile, he got screwed by some actors who didn't show up and the natural failures that come with risk taking. It would be a bad feeling to have a lot of pressure like that on what was basically an experiment that went bad (which is natural, that's why it's an experiment)
I've been feeling the similar depression lately with my filmmaking career. While I've only been seriously perusing it for almost 2 years, it definitely starts to build on you when you put so much work and time into projects that go virtually no where in the bigger scheme of things. It also doesn't help matters when see your peers and other people online going further and getting video jobs when you feel you've put in far more work. It definitely starts to make you question why you're doing this. I haven't quit filmmaking, but I've definitely decided to take a small break. I've instead just been writing short stories everyday, watching a lot of movies, and just having a life instead of being obsessed with filmmaking. Some day the magic will likely find me again and inspire me to jump back in, but right now it's become too painful and I think having what you love be painful is unhealthy. I've really appreciated the introspective videos you've been making, because you're talking on the important filmmaking matters that no one else does. I really enjoyed your latest short, and I think it stands as a good example that we need to stop being obsessed with going out and grabbing 4K cameras and Ronins to get started instead of just focusing on the story. Stripping away the fancy equipment to hide behind leaves you with the task of just having to tell a great story and nothing else. Again, thank you for your videos. They've been really helpful.
You bring up many good points, people do want it too quick. I started my internet marketing journey 4 or 5 years ago and the people who sell "the internet dream" make it out to be easy and quick, but it does take years and years to be good enough to get your skills down and be able to provide genuie value. Those quotes of follow your passion look great on Instagram but are just not realistic, yes follow your passion but when you do you've put yourself in a box, and there's a million and one ways to earn a living online. Make money then use your funds to build your dream work life but also realise that there will be horrible days, weeks and even YEARS untill you figure it out. Patience is a virtue Great video thanks for the honesty, very rare!
BTW, your film looks GOOD. It has an old feeling to it, which only enforces the ambiance! I bet it would have an amateurish feeling to it, if it was filmed with a modern mid range camera.
My folly, that I kinda realized in listening to you, was where most people go "I feel like crap about this project" but eventually pull through, I just quit. And this mostly happens during the development stage. I plan things out like "this is a great idea!" which turns into "eh, it's ok, but i still like it" then goes to "wow this sucks" then I get so into the self-hatred pit that it causes me to literally stop development for, like, a week or two and then I come back to it like "eh, what's the worst that could happen if i give it a shot?" and start back where I left off until the cycle repeats. Often I wonder if i actually wanna do what i wanna do or if i just think i want to. But anyway, I loved your words. They really hit home.
RYSE it is important, a great film shot on bad equipment won't be great, but a bad film with great equipment will still be bad. Story and experience makes a film good, equipment alone won't.
Riley Jordan i know, that has been preached to me many times here. I just feel that holding yourself back by not upgrading equipment out of principle is a dumb thing to do and this is the consequence. People outgrow equipment. At some point the basics just aren't enough any more and Simon is way past that point.
right - this guy got half a million subs on his audience and almost lost his mind with the shitty value equipment lol. I roll my eyes every time people say the camera dont matter - or a guy upgrade to his Arri or RED and you get a buncha dudes saying he should use a rebel or a mirrorless (Insert cheap camera)
We are a very young production company. We were officially founded 6 months ago. We were founded by our filmmaker Bishop Brown. When he was an aspiring filmmaker a little over a year ago, he became obsessed with the art of cinema and he began looking for any outlet to teach him how to make a film of any sort. Now? He has gotten alot of attention because of the videos he has made for people, and one of his greatest reasons for being where he is now is because of you Simon. He watched your videos religiously (along with No Film School, Film Riot and Filmmaker IQ) but you were the very first one he ever watched and you helped him get his dream off the ground. Thank you for what you do. Keep doing you, and keep your head up. BLAB Productions
to be frank I like hearing stories of struggle, tears, sweat and breakdowns more than the fun ones. because its normal to doubt everything and struggle even if its something you love doing and you wanna be doing. thanks for your honesty. its appreciated:)
I really appreciate how open and honest you are about everything, Simon. I've been going through the same sort of disappointment lately with my projects and it's really encouraging to hear from a fellow creative that things aren't actually as bad as they may seem. Keep up the good work!
I like this guy. I cherish honesty. Anything worthwhile will take hard work and will involve some demoralization, even doing the things you love. It's a complicated issue, but never having to work a day in your life by doing something you love is a big lie.
That super nervous feeling has great value. It has many up sides - it proves you care deeply about what you do, it drives you to do your best and it reminds you you're alive. Manage it by all means, but don't try to avoid it completely! I remember hearing a rock musician saying that when he was young, he would drink to excess before a gig just to quell those nerves. But then he realised he missed that nervous buzz, so he stopped drinking before gigs, but the nerves never came back. He really regretted this, as he realised the value of that nervous feeling when it was too late for him.
I moved almost 2,000 miles away to get my first full time creative gig, and after 2.5 years I am back to a place I like and a (much better) job I love. Some very hard times / projects, and draining. It's hard pursing these careers! Worth it 100%, but certainly a sacrifice.
This is a very important message. I'm a traditional mens-tailor and it reminds me of my Master-tailor who said that he's sewing suits for over 50 years now. He kept reminding me of this when I was upset about the outcome of my hand-sewn suits. Talent is one thing, but to be a master at something you have to put a lot of dedication and hard work into your projects. And that takes time. And that's totally fine.
I just wanted to share that I've always admired your channel for the honesty you share in this video. I work as a creative, and know the feeling of constantly searching for content, working for something else and fighting for something new - it's exhausting. But I just watched the short and I think it's fantastic. It tells a simple story, in a short period of time that leaves a visceral sensation that every person can relate to: Isolation and self loathing. Interestingly, something you mention feeling through the process creating it. Great work, mate. Keep it up.
Your honesty is so incredibly refreshing, Simon. Keep looking up and honestly never forget to look at how far you've come. Thank you for your content. I gives a humanity to the art - the sign of vulnerability and struggle is what makes it even more beautiful in the end when we hit our mark as filmmakers. Thank you!
I tried writing a comic book in highschool. I felt the exact same way. Now in college and I still run into this with my drawings. It's something all artists feel, and sometimes, when you work on a project for so long, you can't really judge how good your art is, and if you see anything at all, you just see the imperfections. It's a terrible sense of losing trust in yourself and your talents.
I think there's 1 key to ensuring that your 'career', or 'work', never does feel like 'work', but just play - surround yourself with good friends who share the same interest. I've no doubt there's less money here per individual, but, knowing you have eachother removes the intense stress of NEEDING to get another project, to keep making money. It means the idea of sleeping in a motel due to finances goes from an idea of despair, to an idea of adventure. It opens up more space for inspiration, and failure. Both of which lead to more stories, and more memories. Work with WHO you like, not with WHAT you like. Or do both. But in that order.
Your story goes beyond filmmaking. Even though I'm just a enthousiast in video, my professional job is electronic enginering and I feel exactly the same. When you give a 100% you care. If I may speak for all of us, DSLR Guide viewers, the best part in every single vlog you made, is the tremendous amount about the fact that you care. The connections between filmmaking and daily life. Your cheap ass video shocked me cause the story is so touching that I didnt realize this was the "shot cheap" project untill I finished the film. You rock dude!
A remarkably honest viewpoint put across in public; without self-deprecation and with a very wise-after-the-event analysis of what life is like for a filmmaker, or ANY creative person for that matter. There is so much truth in what you have said and have been brave enough to share with your public. As a 67 year old British person with a whole professional working lifetime in graphic design, photography, writing (and now into my retirement, a long-standing and continuing love of filmmaking and editing, on a strictly amateur 'but striving to be as professional as I can' basis; yes even in the evening of my life!) I can only admire and understand completely all you have portrayed in this edition of your vlog. Believe me, you are in inspiration to all I am sure - not just to your own generation but for all ages and all 'creators' - who will have found solace AND comfort in 'moving on' with the next project. There is no better way to learn than ALWAYS being analytical, and super-critical about one's own productions (be they actual or personally perceived) to spur one on to learn and try harder in future: Remembering that the hardest thing about this rather hackneyed and somewhat 'glib' advice being that perfection in one's art is illusive and will always be unattainable, no matter how subjectively you look at the process and end result of your labours. Your advice, demonstrations and teaching manner for young film makers and older people like myself are inspirational and of real value. Keep up the good work.
As an animator and story artist, this feeling pervades the entire process, and it has been a years-long struggle to maintain a confident attitude while working on stuff I care about. The worst is when you don't finish a project, or otherwise fail more substantially, because that sense of failure can stick with you long after the project is done.
PREACH brother! I have a short that I've been waiting to edit for 6 months but I can't bring myself to dig into it because I don't want to break the story that's assembled in my head. Thank you for posting this. It's incredibly helpful--as are all your videos!
YES, you described all my feelings about my last project. It was a school movie and I had to carry everything on my back, but I had so many expectations, and I worked so hard. I made a great script (I'm almost never proud of things that I do, but I really liked this one) and I got/borrowed everything, ambience, clothes, food... because we had 0 money to do that. And I involved myself so much emocionally, I really jumped into it and we had a lot of problems during the records (that involves starvation, my cat running away during his participation in the movie, one of the actors jumping in a river and becoming in comma before we finish the project, neighboors putting loud music during our gravations, etc), not everything worked, and I felt tottaly guilty and a complete failure, we had to change all the script. I couldn't even watch the movie without feel bad (physically). I decided that I won't show this movie (we would present it in my school event), and I'll make another one, more simple and better. Everyone in my class will hate me hahah but I refuse to show something that I didn't like and I think I could make better. I learned a lot, and I really would enjoy do something with people like you, responsible and passionate ( I'm always doing everything alone). Now I need suggestions to my new shortfilm, does anyone have one? it have to be a tale of a native english speaker, ex Edgar Allan Poe, Hemingway,etc
Nothing is ever in our control, and expectations are not always harmful. Its clarity of what you want out of all the effort you putting into something. You can use that clarity to redefine and correct something which leads to that mastery you spoke off. Like you said, true mastery may take decades. Creativity combined with that luxury of free flowing your talents growth is how it goes. The short film you made may not have turned out exactly as you wanted, but thats rewarding. Its either victory or growth/learning. There is no failure. The sting you felt here only helped you learn something new that would help you become better at what you are excelling. All the best mate :)
Thank you so much for being so honest and sincere about the hardships behind filmmaking that people don’t talk about. Your videos are truly inspiring and relatable. Thank you for putting so much effort in them. Greetings from Taiwan:)
I saw the short and it's pretty good. It has this old British movie vibe, which was nice. I like the fact that you based the movie on one line or one thought; the feeling of a homeless man towards people. There's something peaceful about simplifying things to one thought and just plainly showing it without much fuss. I don't know if you'd like to hear this or not, but it's actually a step above your last film. Keep on it, bro.
I've been working at this for 5 years. I look at the stuff I made in the beginning, and sometimes think it looks better than what I'm doing now. The truth is though that this is a process, never really completed. Just a process. I really enjoy it, and am grateful for it. I do it and hope that it benefits others. Who really knows?
I'm with you on this topic, I've experienced that a few times...I just remind myself that my dreams don't have expiration dates and keep pushing...blessings man.
Editing can be so painful sometimes when you notice that you can't realize your ideas you had in your head... Thanks for the video!
8 лет назад
This helped me exactly on the point where i dont know if i should keep going with my youtube channel and hate myself for weird content nobody wants to see, or keep or trying looking for that content in my brain... or worse... ...chosing a life-long office carreer/job to be a watcher. Thanks a lot man. YOu made my day. My life.
You've got one of the most unique channels for teaching film-making in my opinion. GREAT JOB. Enjoy the process of making art and the final product is simply a bonus.
For me there's a pattern. Shooting: This is going to be brilliant. Shuffling through footage: What was I thinking? First rough edit: Hang on a minute. Final cut: Okay, I'm still here. What's next.
couldn't be more accurate haha
DSLRguide sigh, I needed to hear this. Like right now now!!!! I was feeling like this, and that was after I had finished the story board. looking at getting the location and finding time to actually be able to shoot it. I knew as a director, I can't have this mind set when I'm on set with everyone else.
BrainInSkull so true...
1) idea came
2) shooting and nothing seems to go according to plan
3) during editing nothing seems to stitch together to make sense
4) then at the end half of the time the project can't be finished because it's not up to expectations
It is not good to left projects un finished, but sometimes it's really not easy...
same for me both as a scriptwriter and a shooter; it's always like that, it's always some sort of cycle... everytime I do that
sometimes it helps seeing some filmakers I love saying things like "i shouldn't have done this" while shooting a movie and then they are talking about their best movie or something like that
it's though, but I take everything I do as archery: everything I do has to be closer to the target than the thing before
I probably add at first: Writing the script: This is going to be my best project EVER.
I think the famous and often cited quote from Ira Glass fits well:
"“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through"
Thats pretty inspiring bruh, thanks for quoting
Thanks for sharing it!
thank you for sharing!
Something we all go through and not something everyone on the outside sees. Great video man!
SuperSaf TV 👍👍
hi saf
oi saf mate whassup
SuperSaf TV SAAAAAFFFFF!!!!!!
how can you come here?!?! Hahahahaha
I can relate so much to that point of feeling sick over a project. Editing for me takes so much effort to even start, let alone being okay with finishing a project. Coming to terms with who you are as a filmmaker and what your current skills are at can be really humbling.
I find I'm not proud of my edits until I take it from 90% to 95%. And that last 5% can take as long as the previous 90%. And even if you take the project to 95% on the edit scale, it's still so easy to dislike the film as a whole. Even after you poured so much work into it.
It can be hard to come to grips with what you've actually shot and what you've got to work with. Acknowledging, yeup, I shot that. That's my work as a filmmaker and storyteller.
Thanks for sharing your journey in the creative struggle.
Patience is so hard
Amen to that!
well said
A film is never released, it just escapes. Hope this helps a little. ;-)
Leftcoast Media House same!
Man I can hear the sadness in your voice about this project. I understand man. It is very tough to work so hard and not feel like your where you want to or should be at. Just want to offer some encouragement and say that the videos you do have helped me so much in learning how to do video and I wouldn't be anywhere close to where I am today without your help. I still have a long way to go, and get discouraged often, but people like you who have made it their goal to help others learn something such as film making are a huge encouragement and inspiration to people like me. Thanks so much for everything you do man, keep at it!
I can't tell you how much i can relate to this!
I have been depressed for over 2 month now, can't do what i love, can't relate to other people in my field coz they make it sound so so easy :(
No one ever talks about the hard stuff and the emotional drainage
thank you very much for the kind and encouraging videos, it just feels so much easier now to know everyone goes through this :)
The one thing I like about you is you keep it real. I feel that a lot of successful channels sugar coat the truth. Thanks for being real man
Self-compassion is probably the main skills we have to master.
Sometimes I feel that "sickness" and deep self-doubt. It comes with the pressure, the unstable sleep cycles, the incredible amount of time spent re-watching over and over, trying to make the "best" version of it.
It's important to keep creative people close, so you can listen, talk and put things back in perspective... Most of the time, we suffer more in our minds and expectations, thinking we are way worse than we are.
This guy is one of the most realistic person on RUclips! Please don't change and thank youu
My first music video I directed I had a DP, producer/AD, and two PAs. They were all friends working for free/fun. I was able to look at the bigger picture and direct. Is there even one person in your area that can help with the productions in a meaningful/creative way? Professional filmmaking is a team sport and you are past the point of going it alone.
you've hit the nail on the head right there - much of the pressure would have been lifted if I hadn't gone solo on the pre & post production. The whole challenge of this project was to use cheap gear & small crew but like you say, there's no need to be isolated.
Cinematography Database heyyy love your vids 💯
Simon, even though you may not be completely happy with your short, I genuinely think it's incredibly good. Your honesty is something we could do with a lot more of on RUclips and in life generally, and is really admirable.
"If your feeling bad about what you are making...if you feel like it's not good enough...That is okay. It will pass, if you can get through it. It will make you stronger when you get to the end."- Simon Cade. Good stuff, Cade.
I'm in the middle of shooting my first film ever, a short film, and I've been feeling the same way. Your videos give me motivation to push through, thanks for that!
glad it helped - grit those teeth and get through it haha
Haha thanks, I will! (:
K-Kai-Kali
Kali the Forest Nymph
-The Forest Nymphomaniac
Lmaooo @@JillRobertsIsmyGF
@@coocoo9120 I'm so glad you got that joke
Hey man, thanks for sharing! It's really inspirational to hear that others have the same problems. The most important thing is you were honest. That's hard to come by these days
Creative life is an unequal sine wave. One night's burst of creativity could be followed by a week of despair and wasted hours. But you always bounce back after giving yourself a little TLC and revisit your inspirations.
I'm almost 4 years into my venture as well. I think it's easier for someone like me, I've released 2 songs per month for almost 4 years so I'm forcing myself to go through that anxious process when releasing something a lot. I think it's just something you have to learn to deal with. Even after going through that 80+ times I still sometimes get really nervous and insecure but I think that's healthy.
Your short is legit Simon, it has heart which is more than I can say for alot of shorts, dont over analyze it man. you did the work and had the guts to put it out there. respect.
Creative passion isn't about always having fun, it's about being willing to suffer and work hard for things most people would find ridiculous, simply because they mean so much to you and you can't keep on living without making them real and sharing them with the world.
You put your heart and soul into the work, it's your child, your creation, so it's perfectly normal when you're worried about the result. It means that you care, that you want to create the best version of your idea.
Being a creative person is really quite horrible. The roller coaster ride may at first seem fun, but really it is sickening after a short while. What is worse, if you are in a personal relationship, you are required to be a bright positive person, when really, you feel worthless and think nothing will ever work. THEN the switcheroos start to happen. When you are super psyched because a project went fantastic, and super depressed because a project sucked, and then a year later, you find out the project that you thought was great, was really horrible, and the project you thought sucks is actually quite good... you stop trusting yourself entirely! My only advice is to attempt to build a firewall around yourself so you personal roller coaster doesn't affect those around you. Being a father and a husband, you need to be consistent. We know that that doesn't happen, but for the sake of those loved ones, we must make every effort.
If a girlfriend or boyfriend thinks you should be positive all the time, then I don't want anything with these kind of couples. A girlfriend/boyfriend is supposed to support you
Projects are sometimes like a rollercoaster. One day I feel great, but the next day everything seems to go wrong.
I feel the same way, when things doesn't end up as I was expecting.
glad it's not just me
thank you so much for sharing this. I can relate so much with what you are going through, it feels a bit better to know we are not alone ♡
Mate, that short-film was one of the BEST I have seen so far! :) I thought it was some kind of effect, but nope, it wasn't. I was totally into the story, as it was SO emotional.
Thank you for your honesty...sometimes, what I think is a shit video takes off on my channel, yet some of my finer works don't appeal to the masses. It's often hard to continue to be motivated to keep pumping out content, not knowing how it will be received.
*Simon m8 you've helped me create masterpieces like "history project II". Thanks bro*
I needed to hear this at this exact moment. I'm feeling the same, when you have big expectations on the work you're doing and when you release it you find out that it isn't as good as you thought it'd be.
Also when you find out that there's a lot of people out there that are better than you at what you do or they receive bigger support from their audience. I think the majority of people that do something creative go through this but I seldom hear anyone talking about it.
At the end I believe that all of this results in making you stronger. When you face the reality it can hurt and lower your self-esteem at the beginning, but if you can learn from it and accept that you still have much learning to do, you will improve and be so much better at what you do. And that's what it is all about: keep learning and improving while you do what you love and enjoy the journey.
Oh man, you have no idea how much I needed to hear this. Thanks so much ♥
best quote i use for this feeling "TRUST THE PROCESS!!"
This is so interesting, Martin Scorsese did Taxi Driver which was great, and due to that success he did the musical New York, New York that was a massive failure (I read somewhere that the first Rocky film was expected to be an unsuccessful movie and they made an agreement that NY,NY and Rocky would share profit, so the Scorsese film would make up for the money lost on Rocky, and it ended up being the other way around, Rocky saved NY,NY). But anyways, that movie failed so hard that Scorsese fell into depression, developed a drug addiction, and I think he even said that he would never make another movie again. And after all of that he went on to make Raging Bull, which some say it's his best film ever.
There's also Francis Ford Coppola, some say that since he did Apocalypse Now on 1979, he did nothing but forgettable films until he made Dracula on 1992. (The Godfather Part III wasn't well received) That's 13 freaking years without doing something great, and he did The Godfather, part I and II are considered some of the best films ever!
I think that the director's life is a rollercoaster, so just embrace it, it's about the journey, not the destination.
Great comment. Never assume that everyone has it easy. There are always challenges, just don't give up.
cool.
while watching him talking, I also thought of Martin scorsese's taxi driver to ny,ny and him felling into depression until deniro helped him get out of it
I really love your openness to your feelings and what you're thiniing. I barely even started getting into cinematography and to see that many years you've put into it amazing me, especially because you feel that it isn't that much time compared to other people. The years you put into your work is literally more than 1/5th of my entire life! I really really enjoy watching your videos and its so nice to see your growth over your years of putting in hard work!
Ok so I'm nowhere near a filmmaker, I make videos teaching English as a second language and I relate to this SO much. I feel so out of my depth! I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to editing, lighting, audio, effects etc but I want my videos to look pretty and professional so I rely on knowing the basics, bingeing on tutorials and winging it! I film something and think it's going to look amazing, and then I freak out whilst editing! It's made me feel a bit better to see that professionals self-doubt during editing too. By the way, you are an awesome speaker and I find your videos very interesting. Thank you!
Simon, you and Darius Britt are my favourite people on RUclips. You guys are role models. Thanks for keeping it real. That short film is very good by the way. The dialogue is great.
Simon, thanks for sharing this with us! It's one of those "I wish you didn't feel this way, but it's good to know I'm not alone in feeling this way" type of moments. Keep at it man, you're extremely talented and so young!
DSLR guide is the best channel on youtube! so helpful in what i want to do in the future
doing any kind of creative work and upload it into a platform where everyone can judge is a very brave thing to do.
that's why we the creative people always found ourselves in this kind of trouble.
but remember, if you do something that you love, the simple fact of being able to do it is your most precious reward.
i've been making music for 4 years now and i never got a single penny from it. sometimes i feel bad because none of the things that i do are good enough, it feels like i'm never gonna make it.
but in the end i feel blessed, because i found my passion and i thank god im able to do it.
first you gotta make sure your dreams are real... then make sure you can actually pull it off.
Thank you for what you doing! I'm a musician, and still i find it's very inspirational to watch your videos and to catch up the thoughts your speeches provokes, thank you a lot!
You are your own worst critic. I am about to start film making and your videos have been really helpful so far. Thank you. By the way I thought the short film was really good.
I feel like more people should talk about this because I think it hits you even harder when you just expect it to go smoothly
Two uploads in a day, thank you based Simon.
You know that moment you make something and realise it's rubbish, it's the closest moment to giving up. Watching this video made me realise that everyone, big or small experiences this. I just want to say thanks for sharing these feelings that not a lot of filmmakers really discuss. Makes me feel normal again! Def plan to make more movies this year :)
Big inspiration for me and thanks you talked about it
I have the feeling you'll come back and watch that last part of the video everytime you're feeling like that again... it will be a reminder that everything will be ok...
THE VIDEO TURNED OUT GREAT SIMON
This is probably my favorite video that you've put out. It shows the emotional side of you and your passion for film. You're still young and learning, but you seem light years ahead of most people your age. Struggle, learn, get stronger; that's how it all works. Keep up the good work and don't give up on your passion.
create Same, the story and acting was excellent
create this was a moving short film. Keep going you are way to hard on yourself dude!
You don't know how much I relate to this video.
I just finished editing my first "real" short film, my very first "big" project - 15 pages of script, 5 actors, 6 crew members, 20+ extras in one scene, three different locations, a solid week of shooting.
It took me more than a f*ckin year to edit it, because as soon as I sat in front of my computer, I couldn't see nothing but crap. I stopped working on it, and the cast&crew were (rightfully) absolutely mad at me because it was due to release in March '16 and it will be ready - maybe - this February.
So, as I was saying, I realized that this stone into my stomach was actually killing me creatively. I couldn't embark into any other project because I wasn't feeling confident at all about myself and my abilities. So I took courage and I committed to it. Every single cut, every curve adjustment, every fade was a painful kick into my pride's teeth.
Then I finished it. It was a solid three weeks work, which I couldn't manage to finish in the time span of a whole year. I am now waiting for the music to be done by my composer and then we'll be there.
I look at my film and I ask myself, "Does it suck?"
Of course it does. It's utter rubbish, a fine editing cannot save a film from a lame story, a bad cinematography and an uninspired director. But at least it will be done and dead. I am now able to move forward towards new failures, new mistakes, new experiences, without feeling a complete vanaglorious unskilled wannabe (which I may be, but at least now I have the benefit of the doubt, having completed at least one project).
I usually don't write this long ass stupid comments, but I really related to your video and your experience. Thank you, Simon, one more time.
just what I needed to hear, other Cade.
Francis Cade ur cousin simon
I think the best lesson that I've learned being a filmmaker is that as soon as you tell yourself that there is no such thing as failure, then you will be free. Every film you make, there is a lesson to be learned, something to smile about, a challenge you overcame...there is always a lesson. Failure is no such thing. You learn from your mistake, move on and start the next project knowing that you've grown since then. Cheers Simon, keep your head up.
Very good Simon!
A really important thing to talk about, especially the self-doubt and even hatred after feeling like your vision and the reality are so far apart from one another. I think procrastination really is so seductive because it means we don't have to face reality just yet, which essentially boils down to not having to look ourselves in the mirror. It's kinda like seeing a picture of yourself that someone else took; it kinda destroys the illusion we have of how we appear to the outside world. Funny, I made a video about 'doing', and it essentially talks about the same problem from a slightly different perspective. Keep up the good work, Simon!
THIS IS SO RELATABLE
Failures can be the most valuable lessons in your life. Don't be afraid of it, just make sure you learn from it.
I really needed this today, thanks.
Great video man, it's refreshing to have someone keeping it real and relating the less "glamorous" aspects of working as a creative. I'm not a film maker, i make graphic design related content but i find this to be very relatable. Nothing is perfect, you just gotta make the best out of it and try and have as much fun as possible doing it. Cheers!
I love your channel so much
Everything you speak is true.. now everything needs to be fast and grow fast but what we realise is that everything takes time and effort.
Very well said. I understand where you're coming from.
I'm glad you are not giving up. I'm grateful for your contributions. When I make something, it feels, at the end, like a amazing date that goes terribly wrong but you are still so in love with her when you think about it all. Stay in love with your craft by doing for the love of the craft. What's the alternative? You're DOING it!
Simon the Advert on this Video was 6 minutes Long at one point I forgot what I was watching. To be honest if I wasn't a fellow RUclipsr also and a little fascinated by the Advert Ie, how tf did they get away with making adds this long, it was awful crap they were Pyramid selling. I would have 100% Left without watching. So it's good to see what those long Non Skippable ads are like. Just some feedback All the best, great video..
Steve
six minutes with no skips? i've never heard of that before, sounds like it might be a glitch or something. thanks for letting me know!
Steve's Kitchen mine was like 15 seconds... the longest I've ever had was a movie trailer that was 30 seconds.
DSLRguide Yep, but I don't think it was a Glitch, it was some guy selling Rich Dad Poor Dad type books. I'm not telling you anything when I say on the Back end we can choose None Skippable and Long Non Skippable ads, I have never chosen to use the Long none Skippable's before and I had no Idea they could be that long.
I clicked on your video whilst I was already watching another and when I turned back to watch it, I thought it was someone else's Video until I tried to fast forward it and the play line was yellow and un clickable. Not a problem but for both of us it's good to know..
Have a great week.
Steve
6-minute ad? Really? Outrageous.
I've never seen a 6 minute advert with no skip button. The longest I've had to wait to skip is maybe 15 seconds. Even that length pisses me off, though.
All I can say really is: Thanks for your honesty! Your level of self reflection is amazing, as hard as it is for you.
He is in a bad spot with that short film- he has this audience that he gives advice to and he doesn't want to disappoint. Meanwhile, he got screwed by some actors who didn't show up and the natural failures that come with risk taking. It would be a bad feeling to have a lot of pressure like that on what was basically an experiment that went bad (which is natural, that's why it's an experiment)
I've been feeling the similar depression lately with my filmmaking career. While I've only been seriously perusing it for almost 2 years, it definitely starts to build on you when you put so much work and time into projects that go virtually no where in the bigger scheme of things. It also doesn't help matters when see your peers and other people online going further and getting video jobs when you feel you've put in far more work. It definitely starts to make you question why you're doing this.
I haven't quit filmmaking, but I've definitely decided to take a small break. I've instead just been writing short stories everyday, watching a lot of movies, and just having a life instead of being obsessed with filmmaking. Some day the magic will likely find me again and inspire me to jump back in, but right now it's become too painful and I think having what you love be painful is unhealthy. I've really appreciated the introspective videos you've been making, because you're talking on the important filmmaking matters that no one else does.
I really enjoyed your latest short, and I think it stands as a good example that we need to stop being obsessed with going out and grabbing 4K cameras and Ronins to get started instead of just focusing on the story. Stripping away the fancy equipment to hide behind leaves you with the task of just having to tell a great story and nothing else. Again, thank you for your videos. They've been really helpful.
Is everything ok, Simon?
You bring up many good points, people do want it too quick. I started my internet marketing journey 4 or 5 years ago and the people who sell "the internet dream" make it out to be easy and quick, but it does take years and years to be good enough to get your skills down and be able to provide genuie value.
Those quotes of follow your passion look great on Instagram but are just not realistic, yes follow your passion but when you do you've put yourself in a box, and there's a million and one ways to earn a living online.
Make money then use your funds to build your dream work life but also realise that there will be horrible days, weeks and even YEARS untill you figure it out.
Patience is a virtue
Great video thanks for the honesty, very rare!
BTW, your film looks GOOD. It has an old feeling to it, which only enforces the ambiance! I bet it would have an amateurish feeling to it, if it was filmed with a modern mid range camera.
My folly, that I kinda realized in listening to you, was where most people go "I feel like crap about this project" but eventually pull through, I just quit. And this mostly happens during the development stage. I plan things out like "this is a great idea!" which turns into "eh, it's ok, but i still like it" then goes to "wow this sucks" then I get so into the self-hatred pit that it causes me to literally stop development for, like, a week or two and then I come back to it like "eh, what's the worst that could happen if i give it a shot?" and start back where I left off until the cycle repeats.
Often I wonder if i actually wanna do what i wanna do or if i just think i want to.
But anyway, I loved your words. They really hit home.
And people still keep saying equipment isn't important...
RYSE it is important, a great film shot on bad equipment won't be great, but a bad film with great equipment will still be bad. Story and experience makes a film good, equipment alone won't.
Riley Jordan i know, that has been preached to me many times here. I just feel that holding yourself back by not upgrading equipment out of principle is a dumb thing to do and this is the consequence. People outgrow equipment. At some point the basics just aren't enough any more and Simon is way past that point.
RYSE I agree. I think these videos are more for the beginners, but you're right about holding yourself back if you are better than your equipment.
right - this guy got half a million subs on his audience and almost lost his mind with the shitty value equipment lol. I roll my eyes every time people say the camera dont matter - or a guy upgrade to his Arri or RED and you get a buncha dudes saying he should use a rebel or a mirrorless (Insert cheap camera)
Thabooka i need tp know where u live fam. if you say mirrorless is cheap i need to know
We are a very young production company. We were officially founded 6 months ago. We were founded by our filmmaker Bishop Brown.
When he was an aspiring filmmaker a little over a year ago, he became obsessed with the art of cinema and he began looking for any outlet to teach him how to make a film of any sort.
Now? He has gotten alot of attention because of the videos he has made for people, and one of his greatest reasons for being where he is now is because of you Simon. He watched your videos religiously (along with No Film School, Film Riot and Filmmaker IQ) but you were the very first one he ever watched and you helped him get his dream off the ground.
Thank you for what you do. Keep doing you, and keep your head up.
BLAB Productions
Have people forgot to capitalize titles?
to be frank I like hearing stories of struggle, tears, sweat and breakdowns more than the fun ones. because its normal to doubt everything and struggle even if its something you love doing and you wanna be doing. thanks for your honesty. its appreciated:)
*If I'm early, will he reply?*
no
Aakash Chandra bro
Aakash Chandra bro
Aakash Chandra hell no.
Akash Chandra
🎶hello darkness my old Friend🎶
I really appreciate how open and honest you are about everything, Simon. I've been going through the same sort of disappointment lately with my projects and it's really encouraging to hear from a fellow creative that things aren't actually as bad as they may seem. Keep up the good work!
131 views, 31 likes
I like this guy. I cherish honesty. Anything worthwhile will take hard work and will involve some demoralization, even doing the things you love. It's a complicated issue, but never having to work a day in your life by doing something you love is a big lie.
That super nervous feeling has great value. It has many up sides - it proves you care deeply about what you do, it drives you to do your best and it reminds you you're alive. Manage it by all means, but don't try to avoid it completely!
I remember hearing a rock musician saying that when he was young, he would drink to excess before a gig just to quell those nerves. But then he realised he missed that nervous buzz, so he stopped drinking before gigs, but the nerves never came back. He really regretted this, as he realised the value of that nervous feeling when it was too late for him.
I really love it when you make videos like this. They feel so honest and humble, and I'm always left feeling inspired.
I moved almost 2,000 miles away to get my first full time creative gig, and after 2.5 years I am back to a place I like and a (much better) job I love. Some very hard times / projects, and draining. It's hard pursing these careers! Worth it 100%, but certainly a sacrifice.
This is a very important message. I'm a traditional mens-tailor and it reminds me of my Master-tailor who said that he's sewing suits for over 50 years now. He kept reminding me of this when I was upset about the outcome of my hand-sewn suits. Talent is one thing, but to be a master at something you have to put a lot of dedication and hard work into your projects. And that takes time. And that's totally fine.
I just wanted to share that I've always admired your channel for the honesty you share in this video. I work as a creative, and know the feeling of constantly searching for content, working for something else and fighting for something new - it's exhausting. But I just watched the short and I think it's fantastic. It tells a simple story, in a short period of time that leaves a visceral sensation that every person can relate to: Isolation and self loathing. Interestingly, something you mention feeling through the process creating it. Great work, mate. Keep it up.
i love how personal ur talking videos are they don't feel structured or forced at all
Your honesty is so incredibly refreshing, Simon. Keep looking up and honestly never forget to look at how far you've come. Thank you for your content. I gives a humanity to the art - the sign of vulnerability and struggle is what makes it even more beautiful in the end when we hit our mark as filmmakers. Thank you!
I tried writing a comic book in highschool. I felt the exact same way. Now in college and I still run into this with my drawings. It's something all artists feel, and sometimes, when you work on a project for so long, you can't really judge how good your art is, and if you see anything at all, you just see the imperfections. It's a terrible sense of losing trust in yourself and your talents.
I love you for your honestly 😭❤ I really needed this! So many of us go through this but never talk about it. Thank you so much!
I think there's 1 key to ensuring that your 'career', or 'work', never does feel like 'work', but just play - surround yourself with good friends who share the same interest. I've no doubt there's less money here per individual, but, knowing you have eachother removes the intense stress of NEEDING to get another project, to keep making money. It means the idea of sleeping in a motel due to finances goes from an idea of despair, to an idea of adventure. It opens up more space for inspiration, and failure. Both of which lead to more stories, and more memories.
Work with WHO you like, not with WHAT you like. Or do both. But in that order.
Your story goes beyond filmmaking. Even though I'm just a enthousiast in video, my professional job is electronic enginering and I feel exactly the same. When you give a 100% you care. If I may speak for all of us, DSLR Guide viewers, the best part in every single vlog you made, is the tremendous amount about the fact that you care. The connections between filmmaking and daily life.
Your cheap ass video shocked me cause the story is so touching that I didnt realize this was the "shot cheap" project untill I finished the film. You rock dude!
A remarkably honest viewpoint put across in public; without self-deprecation and with a very wise-after-the-event analysis of what life is like for a filmmaker, or ANY creative person for that matter. There is so much truth in what you have said and have been brave enough to share with your public. As a 67 year old British person with a whole professional working lifetime in graphic design, photography, writing (and now into my retirement, a long-standing and continuing love of filmmaking and editing, on a strictly amateur 'but striving to be as professional as I can' basis; yes even in the evening of my life!) I can only admire and understand completely all you have portrayed in this edition of your vlog. Believe me, you are in inspiration to all I am sure - not just to your own generation but for all ages and all 'creators' - who will have found solace AND comfort in 'moving on' with the next project. There is no better way to learn than ALWAYS being analytical, and super-critical about one's own productions (be they actual or personally perceived) to spur one on to learn and try harder in future: Remembering that the hardest thing about this rather hackneyed and somewhat 'glib' advice being that perfection in one's art is illusive and will always be unattainable, no matter how subjectively you look at the process and end result of your labours. Your advice, demonstrations and teaching manner for young film makers and older people like myself are inspirational and of real value. Keep up the good work.
As an animator and story artist, this feeling pervades the entire process, and it has been a years-long struggle to maintain a confident attitude while working on stuff I care about.
The worst is when you don't finish a project, or otherwise fail more substantially, because that sense of failure can stick with you long after the project is done.
Definitely relate with the not feeling good about your work. Takes time man, we're all learning. Thanks for sharing and reminding us
PREACH brother! I have a short that I've been waiting to edit for 6 months but I can't bring myself to dig into it because I don't want to break the story that's assembled in my head. Thank you for posting this. It's incredibly helpful--as are all your videos!
YES, you described all my feelings about my last project. It was a school movie and I had to carry everything on my back, but I had so many expectations, and I worked so hard. I made a great script (I'm almost never proud of things that I do, but I really liked this one) and I got/borrowed everything, ambience, clothes, food... because we had 0 money to do that. And I involved myself so much emocionally, I really jumped into it and we had a lot of problems during the records (that involves starvation, my cat running away during his participation in the movie, one of the actors jumping in a river and becoming in comma before we finish the project, neighboors putting loud music during our gravations, etc), not everything worked, and I felt tottaly guilty and a complete failure, we had to change all the script. I couldn't even watch the movie without feel bad (physically).
I decided that I won't show this movie (we would present it in my school event), and I'll make another one, more simple and better. Everyone in my class will hate me hahah but I refuse to show something that I didn't like and I think I could make better. I learned a lot, and I really would enjoy do something with people like you, responsible and passionate ( I'm always doing everything alone).
Now I need suggestions to my new shortfilm, does anyone have one? it have to be a tale of a native english speaker, ex Edgar Allan Poe, Hemingway,etc
Nothing is ever in our control, and expectations are not always harmful. Its clarity of what you want out of all the effort you putting into something. You can use that clarity to redefine and correct something which leads to that mastery you spoke off. Like you said, true mastery may take decades. Creativity combined with that luxury of free flowing your talents growth is how it goes. The short film you made may not have turned out exactly as you wanted, but thats rewarding. Its either victory or growth/learning. There is no failure. The sting you felt here only helped you learn something new that would help you become better at what you are excelling. All the best mate :)
Thank you so much for being so honest and sincere about the hardships behind filmmaking that people don’t talk about. Your videos are truly inspiring and relatable. Thank you for putting so much effort in them. Greetings from Taiwan:)
I saw the short and it's pretty good. It has this old British movie vibe, which was nice. I like the fact that you based the movie on one line or one thought; the feeling of a homeless man towards people. There's something peaceful about simplifying things to one thought and just plainly showing it without much fuss. I don't know if you'd like to hear this or not, but it's actually a step above your last film.
Keep on it, bro.
I've been working at this for 5 years. I look at the stuff I made in the beginning, and sometimes think it looks better than what I'm doing now. The truth is though that this is a process, never really completed. Just a process. I really enjoy it, and am grateful for it. I do it and hope that it benefits others. Who really knows?
I'm with you on this topic, I've experienced that a few times...I just remind myself that my dreams don't have expiration dates and keep pushing...blessings man.
Editing can be so painful sometimes when you notice that you can't realize your ideas you had in your head...
Thanks for the video!
This helped me exactly on the point where i dont know if i should keep going with my youtube channel and hate myself for weird content nobody wants to see, or keep or trying looking for that content in my brain... or worse...
...chosing a life-long office carreer/job to be a watcher.
Thanks a lot man. YOu made my day. My life.
"A marine has to love being miserable" This quote is how I try to look at and approach my art form and a lot of other aspects of life
You've got one of the most unique channels for teaching film-making in my opinion. GREAT JOB. Enjoy the process of making art and the final product is simply a bonus.
"Everything went wrong on set" that happened to me too when I was filming my very first short film. Yes, it's very emotionally draining indeed.