I’ve carved a DIY filmmaking path and have a charismatic short film doing well in screenings. I’ve been offered to develop my short film into a feature. Do I have enough experience to take this on? And will I get this opportunity again if I decline?
I’ve received an opportunity to develop my short film into a feature.
I’m a 25F DIY grass roots filmmaker (Director/Editor) that has built my style through observational documentary shorts. I did go to film school but didn’t gain confidence until graduating. I’ve made 4 DIY shorts since. I’ve got a community of support around me and have been recognised as an emerging filmmaker in print. I’m not a full time filmmaker and have a part time job in hospitality.
I have an art informed approach to my film style. It’s innovative in a world full of AI. My recent short film has been doing well in community screenings, but I’m still awaiting results from film festivals so tbc if they’re good in BAFTA/BIFA qualifying tests.
Filmmaking has not been the only medium I express myself through. I have multiple hobbies and ambitions I wish to fulfil in my life. As someone whose grown up with YouTube, I’ve always admired content creation and see a future part of myself pursuing it further. I also wish to study and live abroad, illustrate a children’s book, reset my life. My 20s has constantly been about trying to prove I’m capable and enough.
Lately, i’m in the mid-20s slump. Realising how much I’ve been putting myself into a box and not embracing slowness. I’ve been grieving a potential pathway of film: directing commercially and being in the industry on a professional scale in this decade of my life. I’ve steered away from high-pressure film environments which is majority of the film industry. A part of me had a breakthrough that maybe DIY filmmaking is about creative freedom; that I can just make films however I’d like! That’s what makes my films so special - that they're made from love and are for myself.
I recognise I have a talent to create human stories in a cinematic tone but am aware I’ve not been in professional film environments long enough. My approach to filmmaking is quite peaceful.
When the producer reached out to me to develop my short film into their first feature - I was surprised. I had barely even thought about features. Only shorts. They’d like to get a research and development going with me, and pitch the project for development funding.
I feel like without the abundance of professional film experience of working with actors, being on set regularly, I may struggle developing a feature. It feels too soon, but this has always been a dream goal of mine.
I don’t know how to think logically about this? Will I get this opportunity again if I reset my life? I‘m dealing with the fear of making the wrong decision here.
TLDR: DIY filmmaker with many ambitions is having a mid 20s crisis and doesn’t know if they should move forward with a dream goal of developing their work into a feature. Feels like the wrong time in their life this opportunity has come, but their best opportunities have never come expected.