Being a Jack of All Trades in Filmmaking

[@dustyoldbones4037]

Some really good advice. Don’t fall into the trap I’ve fallen into of hiring a ten person wardrobe department for everything. They won’t leave leave me alone.

[@ryguymorningham]

I'm loving these intimate conversations on no budget filmmaking you've been uploading. I'm one of those people that fell in love with movies and wanted to make them since I was a child. Then I actually started to pursue it and convinced myself I wasn't capable. I made KZbin videos in middle school using Windows Movie Maker, a cheap camcorder, and a tripod. In high school I had an internship making a documentary at a local broadcasting studio and got halfway through filming when everyone around me dropped the project. There was so much footage to parse through and I had limited transportation to the studio, I ultimately decided it was too much work to take on alone. Everyone else's lack of passion in the project discouraged me. I didn't know how to do it alone so I thought I couldn't. In community college I took a filmmaking course that was very "by the books" when it came to the process. My professor insisted on storyboarding EVERYTHING, and on approving our storyboards before filming. I hated storyboarding. It took hours to do, looked sloppy, and limited my ideas of what was possible. Not to mention I'd bring my ideas and finished story boards to him and he'd often make me start from scratch because it wasn't how he would have done it. We studied so many techniques for lighting, blocking, framing, sound, and more. I started to see movies as a math equation to solve instead of personal pieces of art. That pushed me out of love with filmmaking. As a kid I always saw myself as a filmmaker. It was part of my identity. These experiences made me think filmmaking was just not for me. Maybe I was in love with the idea of making movies, but wasn't cut out for the real thing. I'm 25 now and I've never stopped thinking about making movies. Your short films, and feature films, make me realize I was wrong. Filmmaking is for everyone and there is no "right" way to do it. In the last year or so I've decided to cast my regrets aside and start writing and making things again. I don't have to have a big budget, full cast, hundreds of storyboards, or the best equipment to be a filmmaker. I just have to make something. I thought I had to make something great as a young adult, break into the industry, do the film festival circuits, win awards, and work with high profile people to be satisfied and identify as a filmmaker. But really I just had to make things for the love of it. Sorry for rambling, and you may not read this, but for anyone else who decides to read this far and is in the same boat, IT IS FOR YOU. And it's never too late to start making things again.

[@lonesurvivor8828]

I read it all. Thank you for this.

[@cameronvandrie2248]

Please remember to not fall into the idea of a one-man band too much, especially if you are just starting out. The last short film I made was really badly impacted by my fear of asking other people for help behind the camera. Not only does that clearly reflect in the technical aspects of the film like its sound and cinematography, but it made some days of the shoot far more stressful then they would have been if I had people helping me to figure out the challenges that I was facing. Obviously it’s good to have an understanding of every aspect of your set and some people thrive by doing everything themselves, but if you are just starting out don’t be afraid to ask people you know to help you out behind the camera. I don’t know, this was just my biggest take away from my last short.

[@Goat-on-a-Stick]

It's really intimidating to have to do so many roles to make a video, but It's great to have so much control over the final product

[@MartijnFrazer]

Your audio is always top-notch, Joel. That's really what sets your work apart for me, compared to a lot of one-man-band / indie $0 stuff. I love the ethos of ignoring industry conventions and just making what you want to make, alone or with your friends, really powerful stuff. There seems to be a lot of focus from film people on visual stuff, whether it's lighting, camera lenses, colour grading, and imho it's all irrelevant as long as the audio isn't good. I'm not saying I'm against good-looking films or anything, but in terms of being able to follow what's happening in a film as a viewer, it's way more important to have somewhat decent audio. And I'm not saying people should invest thousands of dollars into microphones or anything either. And I'm definitely not talking about films being in Dolby Atmos or whatever. But I feel sometimes audio is an afterthought, while really it should be the primary concern for any filmmaker. With some care during the recording process and a basic understanding of some fundamentals like volume and tone, indie filmmakers can really elevate their work in a huge way.

[@sauerproductions]

i watch until joel burps and then i continue watching

[@LeavingSomeDay]

Falling in love with every aspect of filmmaking is such a fantastic feeling!! The ability to create something from your brain and making it tangible for others to see feels even more rewarding when you get to wear that many more hats in the process of creation. Keep keepin it real, Joel

[@maxgrattonPie]

I can do it all, but i cant act if my life depended on it.

[@tommymarco]

then you just act yourself ! it will be fine :)

[@HollyHargreaves]

Love these types of chats🙌

[@Johndunneeee]

Thanks for the advice Joel! As a film student these videos are immensely encouraging, I can't thank you enough for that. I'm 100% going to make a feature between now and Christmas.

[@tommymarco]

go for it pal !!

[@cchampa17]

I hope you know how much we love these videos, Joel.

[@C.G.Jr.]

Truly a very important point to make. Lots of people have no clue just how much they are capable of. Another great one Joel!

[@dirt_music_]

Thanks Joel, you’re one of the real ones

[@benjamin_lu]

this is genuinely very inspiring, thanks for the words, i like em

[@JabbaCR]

Love you Joel, thanks for the advice!

[@Laki2]

Loving the green arc.

[@demitrigarvey]

Great series

[@damiennah]

Been watching this and last week's video in the middle of shooting a short by myself. I love the sentiments you harbour about filmmaking and doing things yourself; it's been a long term goal of mine to become a one man army of a film crew and I'm getting there role by role. I don't know if you've seen Jamie Stuart's "A Motion Selfie", but I feel like you might like it and his other stuff/style. That guy was one of the most significant inspirations on me to embrace the whole DIY mindset and I feel like you're embodying a continuation of those ideas. Thanks Joel.

[@negil]

I definitely get how you feel about editing, it's honestly my favourite part of making videos

[@theburnjam4913]

Truly inspiring!

[@fridaypietech]

Hey jack i would love to trade

[@barefootuptomysoul]

Yeah, that is what is fun about filmmaking. You don't get bored because there is always something to learn even for an old man like me. I don't even need to go to school and pay thousands of dollars to them to suck the fun out of it. I just look it up on KZbin or Vimeo. There is always a kind soul out there sharing the information for free. These are great times we are living in. We can change the bad to good and entertain the population. LOL I was enjoying your videos and you just put on a wig without shaving. You kept the mustach as a woman. We just accepted it with suspension of disbelief.

[@gsus3918]

Joel makes another sin by sitting in front of the light ring. I love you Joel.

[@jenniferbauman]

Audio has be the toughest for me, but I'll get it together someday (when I'm awfully old, and the world is cold). I couldn't imagine being alone for so long during the pandemic. I did a sunset shot and got great audio! The film, not so much, dang autofocus. Thank you for the video, Joel. ❤️

[@ryanrockers]

I learn something new from every personal project I work on. I couldn't really imagine working on someone else's project as anything other than a voice-actor/actor. But if you need it Joel, I can also work the camera for you and help with the editing. I'll order us a pizza and be over in an hour.

[@TheBonelessShow]

As someone who just wants to write scripts, this is what I need to hear

[@BigArmBoss]

But why do you have to become a Jack? I think you make a great Joel!

[@houndkidz]

Very much feel like a jack of all trades kinda guy myself. While it's been tough to turn my unique animation skill set into a career due to the specialized nature of the industry, I am proud of the cartoons I've made thus far that are uniquely mine.

[@tommymarco]

i love your animations dude !

[@houndkidz]

@@tommymarco Thanks so much!

[@WHITEPERSUAS1ON]

Thanks for this Joel. Literally being in school, people say FOCUS ON ONE THING, get really good at it. I absolutely disagree. The future of creating is doing it yourself. Of course, working with people is amazing. Don't limit yourself and everything you can do. It's also more fun that way

[@tommymarco]

yep , got told that as well in school. it limits your potential . keep your mindset . ppl love to pin others in a box

[@JanSojkaWorks]

😊❤️🎬

[@maxwellsorensen5305]

It's funny because there is kind of the opposite conversation going on with independent musicians. In the modern day musicians often all become jack-of-all trades and do everything themselves. Most musicians I know write, perform, record, and produce their own music and learn the basics of live sound, internet distribution, and marketing themselves. You're telling filmmakers to learn to do everything themselves, whereas most musicians have to learn how to collaborate with others and let go of total control. I guess with filmmaking there is an expected framework for collaboration that people want to stick to. A huge part of my journey as a musician has been learning how to collaborate in a productive way, how to trust others with my vision. It kind of went in the opposite direction that you describe.

[@MulletMonk]

Joel house has a fantastic

[@kevinhfoster]

The waiting around for permission is far too real

[@ihopcsx]

Your body is in frame. Step 1 of filmmaking. Cheers

[@ChristianVaerum]

The dating series is really really good. When I want to introduce a friend to your stuff, i usually pick the dating series. That or Ralphie get down from there.

[@sinatrasoendjaja2821]

Joel, you look very attractive, especially in a video before this one.

[@oniroboros]

Mr. Haver, you´re awesome Question: What about Programs, if you wanna make it all by yourself in terms of edditing? Thank you, very much.

[@dr.strangelove4450]

FYI..."Jack of all trades, Master of none" is a derogatory term meaning you lack skill in anything. Great vids btw.

[@solomonrurup5359]

It didn’t used to be derogatory, it used to be compliment until the 20th century when America became very industrialized

[@goatpepperherbaltea7895]

Joel’s a white guy with grey hair that’s 25 lmao shoutout joel

[@eevleigh6046]

Hi Joel, wife says "Hi", too! 🤍 Thanks for the weekly inspiration