5 Biggest Mistakes of First Time Filmmakers

1. Contrary to current belief, keeping the audience awake is the biggest mistake a first time filmmaker can make. If viewers are asleep, they will never notice your other mistakes.

2. Waiting to get famous till after your movie is made is another error common among those new to the medium. Why do people pay to see and hear Jessica Simpson (this goes double for Ashlee)? Because they’re already famous. While having people actually see your work is not advisable, you still want them to buy tickets or DVDs, and they are more likely to do that if they feel they already know you. Consider inviting hundreds to your wedding, then escape just before The Big Day and make up a story about being kidnapped.

3. Almost as devastating to your new career as the first two mistakes is not knowing when you’re done putting your film together. While having a feature to your credit can be a career maker, don’t spend the rest of your life perfecting it. Remember, the audience will not be awake and so will not be as critical as you are.

4. Most new filmmakers try to get their movie seen. Big mistake. Smart new filmmakers try to get their movie heard of. Hollywood big shots who hear of your movie may well sign you to a three picture deal. Hollywood big shots who actually see your movie are more likely pass in favor of an American Idol loser who says he had sex with Paula Abdul.

5. Expecting to make your money back on your first film is the least of the five biggest mistakes new filmmakers make because you’re not going to max out ten credit cards just because you read that Robert Townsend did it and his movie made millions…are you? I mean…are you?

For more on the subject, including possible products to buy, see my Amazon.com guide, So You'd Like to Avoid the Five Biggest Mistakes of First Time Filmmakers. [Not a mistake: The director posing for photos with pointed finger. Such photos are a must according to filmmaking guru Dov Simens, and, believe me, I took notes.]