The Importance of Networking

Know a Guy Who Knows a Guy

The filmmaking world has an old saying: "it's not what you know, but who you know". In other words, if you know the right people then talent does not matter as much. On one hand, it shows the unfortunate truth that the wrong people can often get positions that they are not qualified for. However this phrase also demonstrates the importance of networking. Making a film is a team effort and it is incredibly hard to create one if you don't have a team to begin with. If there is a skill set you don't know, it's best to know someone who does.

What Can You Offer?

Starting out, you need to find out what your strengths are. While you may be well-rounded in skills, it is best to have one particular talent. For example, you are really good with sound mixing or color correcting. It is even better if the skill you are advertising is something you actually enjoy doing, since for you it will seem less like a job. In my case, my talent is in fight choreography. I can take people with little to no skill and make them look dangerous.

Test Out the Waters

If there is a local film group around you, don't be afraid to contact them. Most people who start out don't mind doing collaborations for they offer good experience; at the very least, they would appreciate the extra crew members. One of my first instances of this involved the now defunct IndyMogul. When they showed one of my videos on their show, they expressed interest in working with me. I found out they were in the area, so I sent a message saying I wanted to work with them too. Soon enough, I made two episodes for their show.

Learn to Mingle

While it is convenient to contact people via the internet, sometimes a face-to-face provides a better opportunity. Be willing to go to film festivals or other film gatherings to promote yourself. Keep a demo reel handy, work on a 60 second pitch, and sell yourself as a person who is destined for greatness.


Whether it is extra people to work with or a distributor, you are going to have to find others in order to make a film work. Brush up on your people skills, print those business cards, and take chances. Rarely does opportunity come to you, so you must go to it.