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TAMPA BAY FILM - MAKE FILMS -
 

TAMPA BAY FILM

MAKE FILMS

Any use of this web site requires that you read and agree to our terms of use and read our legal disclaimer. Do so before reading further. Thank you.

While Tampa Bay Film is an independent film resource web site for all professionals in indie film, we realize that the key to making the Tampa Bay area is to get more talented people to become independent filmmakers and to make indie films.
If you probably on this web site because you are interested in independent film and in making your own films. That’s great! Keep in mind, however, that unlike other careers such as photography, that making independent films is more difficult; it’s not easy. Independent filmmaking is more complex, is logistically more challenging, as it requires planning and organization. That said, thousands of people make independent films regularly, and if that is what you want to do and it is what you are passionate about, there is absolutely no reason why you can’t do it.
Passion about filmmaking is the key, however, because making a job out of independent filmmaking is also not easy. Filmmaking is a long term investment, and it will take a while for you to make money at it. It doesn’t have to be expensive or convoluted to make films, however, and you can make lots of films without going into debt or breaking the Bank. The more films that you do, the better you will become, providing that you continue learning and trying new things.
You can start out by making independent films cheap, while keeping the quality. Starting with a solid, well-written script, or screenplay, which tells a good story with well-developed characters, a screenplay written with cost-effective independent filmmaking in mind, you can start small using limited resources such as a smart phone, older, used DSLR camera, a decent computer, or a tablet computer, as well as some microphones, digital audio recorders, and lighting. You can then get together a small crew and some actors, all collaborating to make inexpensive, quality films, and work your way up to making more ambitious independent films with investors and funding and paying crew and talent when appropriate. Although everyone wants a career where they get paid, there is nothing wrong with professional collaborations, providing that everyone goes in knowing the terms, and everything is in writing. In fact, most filmmakers fail because they try to buy their way into filmmaking and are convinced that they have to pay everyone; they end up not able to afford to make films going into deep into debt gambling that a film (or two, if they are lucky) will establish them as independent filmmakers. That’s a long shot with about the same odds at winning the lottery, and not the way to get started in independent filmmaking.

To become an independent filmmaker and to actually get good enough at it to make a career out of it, you are going to have to work very hard at it and are going to have to make a lot of films. Even more-so than making independent films, you are going to be writing stories. You are going to get very good at writing stories, because that is a skill that translates directly to independent filmmaking.
Forget investors when you are getting started. Invest in yourself by investing in the gear and the support infrastructure that you need and become self-sufficient, able to make independent by yourself with absolutely no help if you have to. Don’t become dependent upon anyone, and give yourself leverage to negotiate. Establish yourself as a filmmaker before you try to network with and work with other filmmakers, too. Filmmakers can be an insecure, petty lot. That insecurity means that some of them will lie, cheat, and steal. A group of filmmakers whom work together have their own ecosystem, and it is difficult to get accepted by that group unless you do it smart.
So, you start alone. Work your way up. Don’t allow anyone to convince you that you have to pay them, unless you want to go broke trying to pay everyone and can only make one or two films.
Starting out, it’s all about balance and is all about what is more or less appropriate for what you are trying to do.

I want these independent film resource web sites balanced between crew, talent, and funding, with the appropriate blend of collaboration and paying opportunities.
Balanced benefits. I don't want to support an environment where anyone is doing anything at the expense of anyone. It needs to be fair.

01. Getting Started As A Filmmaker
02. Gear: Cameras, Drones, Audio, Lighting, Editing, Computers, and More.
03. Fasttrack or Learn? Contract or be Self-Sufficient?
04. Writing Stories
05. Writing Screenplays
06. Preproduction. Planning, Legal, Permits, Insurance, Risk Mitigation, and Resources.
07. Cost-Effective Filmmaking
08. Professional Filmmaking
09. Starting A Film Production Business
10 . Innovation
11 . Investors
12 . Crowd Funding
13 . Own Your Films
14 . Casting
15 . Contracting Crew
16 . Rehearsals
17 . Making The Independent Film
18 . Independent Distribution
19 . Submitting To Film Festivals
20 . Marketing Your Films
21 . Web Sites
22 . Social Media
23 . Selling Your Films
24 . Cultivating a Following

UPDATED 03/08/23/0403/0406/

LEGAL DISCLAIMER - TERMS OF USE

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Tampa Bay Film

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You must read and comply with our Terms of Use before using this web site or reading anything else on it. Use of this web site also requires that you read our legal disclaimer. Use of this web site is tracked and use is considered to be consent. The content on this web site is for informational use only and is not advice or presented as fact. It is a publication of professional opinion. Anything printed from this web site and used should be evaluated by a licensed legal professional before use, as we assume no liability for any use, and you assume all risks, responsibility, and potential liability. We are waived of any claims of damages or liability for the use of this site. Use at your own risk. This said, we use this site to support our own careers, and it is our opinion that if the site is good enough for us, it will be good enough for others. No guarantees or warrantees are expressed or implied. Writers on this web site reserve the right to publish under a pseudonym; do not take names as fact. Opinions expressed on this web site are those of the author and may not necessarily be shared by the owners of this web site, anyone affiliated with this web site, or our advertisers.

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TERMS OF USE - LEGAL DISCLAIMER

© Copyright 2006-2023 Tampa Bay Film. All rights reserved. Presented as-is, with no guarantees expressed or implied. Informational use only. Tampa Bay Film is not legally liable for the content on this web site, and use of any content waives us from liability. Anyone using the content on this site or attempting anything described on this site assumes all legal and civil liability. Please be familiar with with your local laws before using this site. Information on Tampa Bay Film is not to be taken as legal advice or advice which may be covered under any licensed or regulated profession. Opinions expressed on this web site are those of the individual contributor and may not be shared by other contributors who may be involved with this web site or our online community. Tampa Bay Film is a free, no-obligation professional independent film and talent resource web site operated from Tampa, Florida, by a team of professional independentfilmmakers and talent. For more, please read our Disclaimer.

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