10 Rules That Made Me a Successful Filmmaker

[@NeilEvery]

This channel has quickly become one of my favourite filmmaking channels. Great advice, well presented and authentic. I really appreciate that you're not trying to shill for brands or make it about having a cool lifestyle. It's refreshing to see content that is actually about filmmaking. Hope you make it to 100k subs soon, you deserve it

[@EvanMortonFilm]

It's nice to see a filmmaker on here not just pushing gear and giving real-life honest advice. I worked for a successful Nat Geo docuseries, and most of the gear was provided, sometimes DPs would bring the same camera or drones for a rental kit, but in the end, the company still offered all of it, so it wasn't vital to own your gear. On top of that, I followed up for 6-months to land that gig, so persistence was key. Most importantly I learned the workflow of a successful doc, but after that series, it was key to expand my network because you can't rely on one circle of connections. People often think I'll land that one gig and the doors will swing open, but that's not the case. It helps with the resume, but just as you said the people you blindly email still don't know who you are so making impressions in person is always best. As always wise words Luc!

[@joshtyron5231]

As someone who has been in the industry for 15 years I have to say, this video has so much solid advise! Love your channel. There was quite a few items on this list that I knew but needed to hear again. Thanks Luc! Keep up the great work!

[@LucForsyth]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Imburied]

I think everything you said here are the fundamentals EVERYONE should hear. Honest, a little rough but true opinions and suggestions. Really encouraging. Thanks.

[@LucForsyth]

Thank you for watching!

[@akasasinator]

great point about always pushing off the reel until you get better content.

[@theowlfromduolingo7982]

Seriously one of my favorite channels and especially filmmaking channels at the time. Perfect mix of education, industry experience, realism and gear reviews,

[@LucForsyth]

Really appreciate it, thanks!

[@sebzilla]

Love your "be open to working for free" comment. It's counter-intuitive, but it is true.. I freelanced for years (in a different field) and my rule was "work for full price or for free, never for cheap" which I think is a variation on what you're saying here but has the same sentiment.. It's all about what you get out of it and/or what you can give back.

[@ryan_serenity]

Thanks a lot Luc! This is what we need to hear 🙏🏽

[@andrewcoonsmedia]

Woof. Very timely video. There are several things on this list I know I need to do, but have been procrastinating. Good kick in the pants to get them done!

[@roccoceselin]

Thank you for sharing your useful and precious experience. I really like you style, calm, straight to the point without being so over dramatic and loud. Very rare these days.

[@bshalr]

Thanks Luc, I'm om the verge of selling all my gear and starting over in some other ways. This gives hope someway.

[@theowlfromduolingo7982]

I would like to add a point: Also spend time during an editing session. Preferably on a project to you were part of. You will learn so much and improve your way of shooting. This will also lead to the ability to think / shoot for the edit.

[@MoonlanderMedia]

Great advice. I have my rainy day fund but over the years I've also multi-skilled myself as an editor (using prem pro, da vinci, avid etc) for TV and corporate content. So often I jump between being a shooter who cuts, to a cutter who shoots. Keeps me far too busy sometimes.

[@rickbiessman6084]

Thank you so much Luc. I’ll keep coming back to "10 Rules for Cinematographer Life" in the future. :)

[@tperkins073]

What a great list! Thanks for this, Luc!

[@LucForsyth]

My pleasure!

[@theotherHOLLYWOOD]

Good stuff. Thanx. Even though I've been "at it" a long while, the affirmation was useful.

[@mochouinard]

Good advice ! I didn't want to work in this industry (and I'm not), but I wanted to have fun in it. So I joined a film maker group called Kino in Montréal (But there are all over the worlds), and work on over 30 project along the year, with people who all do it for passion. First I learn a LOT, but I made so much connection at different level, that I got asked to work for money even if I didn't want to, because people got to see me at what I can do and my actual worth, so having put a little bit of interest, my career in they field could have went up on my first year of just playing around ! A lot of young people there as well, and if you make good friends and connection, and make it fun and useful to be around, they will want to work with you again... And some of them MIGHT get an opportunity you don't get, and that person might try to get you in the project ! But think about it, if it you who got the opportunity and try to get a friend on a project, and do you want to bring people on project that will make you look bad ? Also these people who are young and maybe not known, but you see they are better than you, try to help these people, because they are most likely to be picked before you, and they might want to bring you along as well, but at the same time, use them so you can learn yourself, and these people might be useful to find more people to help on your project ! Connection is just the motherload of good idea, BUT you need to be good at the rest, like knowing when to say no if it doesn't feel right.

[@CompositionProductions]

Awesome advice, Some of the biggest ones for me is Networking, dont buy new and Own your gear outright. Too many people where im from sign up to every online freelance platorm and just wait for the work to fall in their lap. They dont realise that networking is key and will generate far more work than anything else. Also far too many people go into debt for their gear to "Look Professional", i have found more often its how you act and interact gets you repeat customers then the gear you have. Keep up the great advice Luc, your helping people change and improve their carreers and mindset. Hopefully we can catchup on a set one day. 👍

[@justoneperson]

Always honest and the truth. I really appreciate it. I love the creative process of making videos, my fear would be if I tried to do it “ full time “ it may kill the “purity” of it.

[@RobertWGreaves]

I have been an audio engineer and only recently started working with video. But one of the rules that I always followed was I never borrowed money to buy gear for the studio. There were two times when I borrowed after getting a contract, but I would never buy stuff just hoping that it would make me more desirable.

[@rickbiessman6084]

Especially in today’s day and age, that seems like a good idea. Me as a hobbyist - I’ve had people mix my music without knowing or caring whether they had any expensive outboard gear or mixed all in the box, or whether they had a fancy looking room or just a decent home studio that worked well enough for creating a professional sounding mix.

[@countrylifediary]

Thank you very much for this video and sharing your very useful experience. 😊🎈👍

[@The_Daliban]

Thank you sooo much for your advice. I thought a lot about a few of these and getting reinsurance from someone who’s been around the block is amazing. How do you insure your gear? Is there insurance out there that covers dropping a camera or lens on accident?

[@rojicomplex9515]

6:07 “me, waiting to be called” 😂

[@JS-cu8bz]

😂

[@tamtam19454]

That was everyone watching this video :-)

[@Tommy_Beal]

I appreciate this, Luc!

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks!

[@johnclay7644]

informative video thanks Luc.

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks for watching!

[@eriksopracasa3449]

Great video! Question, how come Red is better for commercials as Sony? Thank you!

[@northpointstudiony]

In this industry, fighting for your principles will make you feel good and sleep better, but you'd be sleeping on an empty stomach

[@archerpete]

Hi Luc, after 35 years being freelance documentary filmmaker I was curious to hear what you had to say in terms of advice for starters and other ones in the industry. And I must say: excellent and right to the real world of filmmaking. Especially advice #1 and # 10. I just finished a 90 min documentary which I did, because I had the material and considered it worth putting it all together - for free or better said, on my time. It will run now in local movie theaters... Just one more thought: what worries me as a filmmaker more and more is the constant tsunami of video everywhere. That will have an impact what is considered high quality or trendy, cool, whatever. How can we prevail with solid professional standards of the craft of filmmaking ?

[@TukundaneYonna]

“You are never too experienced to work for free if there is something to learn or a new connection to be made.” Luc Forsyth.

[@Ohonsifilms]

Great video as always!

[@SirSeabass]

Do you have any advice on reels and resumes. I have a resume, but I know that as an actor, your resume looks very different from a regular work resume. Would a resume for a DP/ Cam look like an actors resume or a more traditional one? Any recommendations on reels we can look at to model ours after?

[@Wasmm_]

Number 3 is super real. I remember buying my camera on credit reeling on my first big gig, long story short. The cliente never finished paying the project and i had to pay for the camera with some money i made later on. But it was stressful

[@menoadil8404]

hey luv love your vids as usual

[@johanwagner_sweden]

The ”working for free” can be combined with “your own project “ as with no pay you will have a lot more to say and the result can more commercially viable / attractive.

[@HaJassar]

Thanks. Some of these rules work for designers and artists as well

[@chipcurry]

Good comments as usual!

[@cgrado]

#7 I learned in the Army as, "There's no such thing as 'no', just 'yes, but'..." "Yes, I can get that done, but the budget will be this to rent additional gear, and pay a second shooter, etc., etc."

[@rafibenatar2519]

Great tips 😊🙌🙏🏻

[@petemellows]

How many people skipped straight to number 4? Another invaluable video based on personal experience. Cheers.

[@aapeliautio1860]

I can’t understand why some professionals advise newcomers to charge 1500-2500 euros per day. The quality of work plays a significant role, and if you can’t create sufficient value, it’s impossible to get work-or at least, satisfied clients.

[@samuelsantos4438]

Are you going to get Potatojets new tripod? please make a review:)

[@Sgyozo]

I don't completely agree with #3, it's good to use the bank's money, is someone has a stable business plan. And usually already in the business, have work and know what he's doing and what worth buying. Not chasing dreams, put mortgage on the house, buy an Alexa, sit with her in the basement and wait for work to magically come. :D However, with #10 i completely agree, for the same reasons. Networking, learning, and helping others, young musicians or filmmakers. Even if it doesn't lead to paid gigs later, it's good to take part. And where i live, well known actors have this mentality too, they help film school students with acting in their films for free. So, networking, again.

[@Sweetfxtry]

what is a CV?

[@el_sueco_espanol4535]

Sound advice.

[@baekmedier]

If I could give startups ONE tip.. never buy gear.. just rent it when you need it and what you need. Then you just have gear when you need it, and you wont lose money every day a new camera come out.. :) I own R5c, r3 and two C70´s.. they always drop in price..

[@onesykaranja2903]

6:27 me rn damn!

[@NonalignedVideos]

nice list.

[@thedp]

Rule #1 1000% stay away from jobs that don't feel right or there is something off even when you really need the work.

[@reyesproductionDK]

Luc, i am here in Denmark! Can we work together? Please. 🤣 Nah!! Thank you for the video. Packed with tons of quality advices!

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks a lot!

[@kristypence]

😊

[@buknar456]

So for starters, there's no such thing as a job called "filmmaker" within the industry. DP, Director, Producer...those are jobs on a call sheet. Filmmaker is not. Everything on YT is basically just advice for the videographer...it's client-based videography for the most part...now this path can slowly build towards a career as a cinematographer....but if anything a filmmaker is a director...if I had to choose one industry job title to attach to the general term, filmmaker, it would be a director....but hardly anyone on YT talks about the path towards being a director....so honestly, all these YT videos that share the same title as this one are for the most parted geared towards a path toward cinematography.

[@akeem11h]

How dare you utter the words Dr. JBP 😅😅😅. Great pointers and content.

[@theseventh2609]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@WhySteve]

Man my gut could have saved me a lot of butthurt 😂

[@NewAge180]

Always buy gear on credit. The trick is to have that cash available and set aside to pay your monthly bill or even pay it off early. Blowing 10K in one shot is silly when you can stretch it out and build credit at the same time.

[@PowersBenzoCoaching]

Why put down Peterson when you’re doing the exact same thing.

[@ChaseStine]

Because he sounds like Kermit the frog.

[@gabevanlelyveld]

I think he was trying to be nice and not say that he’s probably not politically aligned with Peterson. Just my two cents.

[@jroar123]

There are 2 topics that you should not discuss and set aside if coming from a client "Religion and Politics." Money is money and sometimes it's best to set aside your personal views. Get the shot that the client wants and move on.

[@Joshua_S]

Or just don't sell your soul to demons you can't support with your heart?

[@subhajitdutta4106]

Hey LUC, couple of days ago I'm color grading a srgb non log 8 bit footage from canon 700d... Funny I know...😂When doing CST One video from yt suggests input color space srgb and output arri and than he is suggesting to use the built in arri to 709 LUT.. He is using the halations and other nodes before the cst....Is the whole workflow right for 8 bit non logs.?

[@mythwest]

About the working for free one, sure I'll always support people getting paid what they're worth and all, but for me starting out my film journey, an opportunity opened up to PA for free on a project with serious connections. It paid off as it led to a paying job, another film that's got big Hollywood talent that I'm about to start working on. I figured on the first film, I was in a place that I could afford to work for free, and it paid off