The Most Important Element of Making a Movie

The Most Important Element of Making a Movie, blog post by Darius Stevens Wilhere

Fun in Paris.

When you are young and first starting to make films, whether shorts, music videos, full length, docs, etc. Many of us are often worried about the technical aspects of filmmaking. What camera am I going to use? Which lens would be best? You know, gear fixation. But not just that, all the other little nuts and bolts such as what costumes, what locations and so forth.

I think the day a film maker matures is when he comes to recognize the most important element in making a movie: people. More important than the gear or technical details you anguish over, is the people.

I was once asked what was the one thing that a film maker should focus on if they wanted to make movies. My answer? Build up a network of friends who are just as passionate as you are about making movies. You put enough people together who really want to make movies and you know what's going to happen? Movies are going to start getting made.

Find the friends who want to act, write scripts for them. Find those who want to compose, light, make-up, costume and soon enough you'll have a cast and crew. Then invite them all to help solve the problems in making the movie: locations, equipment, food, etc... and sure enough, the combined problem-solving power of your network will overcome the logistical problems your films have. It will amaze you. I promise. And if you are short some problem solving power, either revise your story or get out there and make some more friends who want to make movies. 

The Most Important Element of Making a Movie, blog post by Darius Stevens Wilhere