TAMPA BAY FILM
NETWORKING
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.
10/07/25/2127/
- WARNING: DO NOT NETWORK WITH OTHERS UNTIL YOU ARE AN
ESTABLISHED FILMMAKER. IT IS TOO RISKY, AND MAY LEAD TO PROBLEMS.
It only takes one filmmaker to spread rumors and lies
about you to other filmmakers who they know, filmmakers who don't know
you, to create a lot of undeserved problems for you; you don't want a
mob of filmmakers ganging up on you and the rumors getting out of control.
This has happened, and will happen again.
You HAVE to have filmmakers in any group who know you, already, and can
vouch for you; if you know other filmmakers already and it is known that
you do, this WILL DETER the unethical filmmakers from spreading lies about
you and from trying to sabotage you. It's easy to make yourself a target,
and to allow everyone an easy way to identify you, if you show up for
an event not knowing anyone, and an unethical filmmaker who already knows
the others points you out and bad-mouths you. If they can see you, everyone
knows who they are talking about.
This is how networking can be weaponized and used against you.
Do not allow other “filmmakers” to become gatekeepers, and
to limit you.
Do not trust anyone until they have earned your trust. The local independent
film scene in Tampa Bay is full of insecure, unethical amateurs calling
themselves filmmakers and misrepresent themselves as professional. Many
of them are in it for the wrong reasons, such as trying to get damaged
women with no self esteem to take their clothes off, or even something
as simple as ego. They have no desire to improve their skills as filmmakers,
will make videos in the name of exploitation "films" or tacky,
one dimensional, trashy, superficial horror films, will not even attempt
to write good scripts or make good films, and will lie, cheat, and steal,
as well as spread discord among others. This is toxic, and is bad for
the local independent film scene.
If you wish to get started as an independent filmmaker, and survive, you
need to start simple, learn every aspect, or job, of making films, invest
in the minimal gear that you need to make films (smart phones are enough),
and start out by making videos at no cost to experiment, practice, learn,
and get better at making films. The gear that you need to make videos
that are good-enough are also what you need to make independent films,
films which are good enough, to become established. You do NOT have to
go into debt or take out a second mortgage to get the gear that you need
and to begin making films; it doesn't have to be expensive.
Because of technology, you have options, and the barrier to entry is what
you want it to be.
Write stories.
Write lots of stories.
Write scripts (screenplays) for short independent films with practical,
efficient, cost-effective filmmaking in mind (use what you have available
to work with), and work your way to writing for feature films (don't be
too ambitious starting out. You will become overwhelmed and will become
discouraged. Start simple and work your way up; start small, work your
way up. DO NOT attempt to make a feature film for your first film, or
your first few films; you have to know what you are doing before you attempt
to make a feature film. Start by making, no-cost short films in a wide
variety of genres to establish yourself as a diverse filmmaker. You can
start out by making a horror film, but realize that you can make much
more than horror films with the resources which you have; avoid the trap
of making low quality horror films, don't concentrate on them, and focus
more on the story, the character development, and the script. Don’t
accept less than what you can actually do, and try to make a good film
and tell a good story. Filmmaking is about story and it is a visual medium
for telling stories. Also work on capturing high quality, white-balanced
(Saves on unnecessary color correction if you don’t have to correct
mistakes which didn’t have to be made) video, audio, and on editing.
Don’t try to compete with Hollywood movies. It raises your costs,
it is a case of diminishing returns, and you will make films that look
like cheap wannabe Hollywood movies. Focus on making independent films,
allow independent films to be their own thing, and play to the strengths
of independent film.
Independent films can be the same thing as a Hollywood movie, but more
often than not they are not, although the result can compete with Hollywood
movies if you play to the strengths of independent film and make films
which Hollywood won’t, or can’t, make. The single thing that
you can most compete with a Hollywood movie is with the script. The script,
or screenplay, is their weakeness.
The independent filmmaker who has good screenplays has the advantage.
Also, don’t make independent films the way that a Hollywood movie
is made. You have options. There is more than one way to make films, and
there are many different types and formats of films which you can make.
Feel free to experiment and make the films that you want to make.
You don't need permits and you don't need a crew to make short films;
you can pick up a camera and simply start making films. Also, vertical
integration is critical. Do NOT allow yourself to be dependent upon others,
upon other filmmakers, and on crews to make films. You also need to know
what you are doing in order to, one day, communicate what you need with
your crew and to effectively delegate. Don't rush into filmmaking too
fast, and don't cut corners.
Get everything that you need to make your films. You don’t need
the latest, best gear to make good films. Get a good-enough camera (a
smart phone is enough if that it all that you have. You can also edit
on them with a good app. An older, refurbished, inexpensive iPhone such
as the iPhone 8 Plus with the Filmnic Pro app for shooting video and Lumafusion
for editing will do. iPhones are better for this than Android. The Phone
which you already have is probably more than good enough for what you
need to get started. I used to laugh at the idea of using phone to make
films with, until I found out that good movies have been made with them,
and I did research), a good digital audio recorder such as a TASCAM, a
Zoom H6, or a Wireless Lavalier such as the DJI Mic 2 for audio, appropriate
cables to import files into other devices, and a decent video tripod,
C-Stands, and Rode Shotgun Microphones with a windscreen or a Blimp are
also good investments. Lights? You will need flat panel RGB lighting,
batteries, stands, and light modifiers such as softboxes and bounce cards
for most interior work. Lighting is actually optional if you learn how
to use natural light or if you make films with exterior scenes.
It’s possible to make a film with just a phone, an ND filter, and
an external digital audio recorder with a microphone. I’ve done
it with just the phone and an ND filter, using the microphone on the phone,
and it worked well.
Need instructions on how to use this gear? There are lots and lots of
Books, many of which are available on Kindle, for you to study and learn
from (we will be listing some of our favorites on Tampa Bay Film).
Avoid film schools (there are no local film schools or courses which we
would recommend. I don’t take any of them seriously. You don’t
need them), filmmakers who will offer to train you (yeah, right. Why risk
paying someone who may rip off your ideas while teaching you bad habits?),
and workshops (collaborative filmmaking workshops may be considered once
you become established and once you already know some of the filmmakers
involved. You need to already know what you are doing, and avoid running
your mouth and sharing ideas with everyone; loose lips sink ships. Don’t
use workshops to learn independent filmmaking if you can help it) to get
started in filmmaking. Not only will you risk learning the bad habits
and advice of others (most who actually make films are too busy making
films to teach; those who don't do, teach), but it's often a waste of
money and time.
The best independent filmmakers learn how to make films on their own,
get a feel for what they are doing, learn about what they are doing, reach
out to other filmmakers on an individual basis to get to know them (save
that for when you have made several films, they are out there, and you
are established. If you don’t have any films to show, other filmmakers
won’t take you seriously, and it will hurt your credibility. Don't
get ahead of yourself, and avoid other filmmakers when you first get started,
as you don't need them to make films. That said, you don’t work
for other filmmakers, and you don’t answer to them. Just make your
films, and don’t worry about what anyone thinks). Read a lot of
books. Learn how to make films by making them.
Oh, and don’t be a fanboy. Avoid expending resources to make fan
films. You need to own the rights to whatever you make, and fan films
infringe upon the copyrights of others. Tip? If you really, really like
a movie to some other property, and are inspired by what you love, take
the premise and write your own story based on that idea. Actually, you
never have to be short on ideas of films that you can make if you look
around and think about premises.
Go make your films, have fun, and worry about networking later.
01.
Establishing Yourself
02. Collaborating
03. Events
04. Film Festivals
05. Workshops
06. Film Schools
07. Reducing Risks
08. What To Support
UPDATED 03/08/23/0410/ - 10/07/25/2129/ - 10/23/25/2133/ - 10/27/25/09/28/
LEGAL DISCLAIMER - TERMS OF USE
© Copyright Tampa Bay Film. All rights reserved.
Please go the bottom of this page for more information and options. Thank you.
Tampa Bay Film
Exposing local independent film
INFORMATION - MAKE FILMS - NETWORKING - PRODUCTIONS - PROFESSIONALS - RISKS - JOBS - RESOURCES
FILMS - REVIEWS - BLOG - SECTIONS - NEWS - UPDATES - GEAR - COMPANIES - FILMMAKERS - CREW - TALENT - ARTICLES - TUTORIALS - LEGAL
Tampa Bay Film is a web site, an independent filmmaking resource web site, for the Tampa Bay area of Florida. We are not a business or an organization, nor is it our intention to be confused with one. We are not affiliated with any organization, business, or party using a similar name, and it is not our intention to confuse ourselves with any brand, nor is this site intended to be used to dilute or undermine any brand. This web site brand consists of key words, and we have been using this keyword brand since 2007. In 2007, no one else was using this brand, or anything similar, so we invested in it and started to use it.
Since our brand has the risk of being contested, we have invested into a wide variety of other independent resource web sites with different branding. This site is now a third-tier independent filmmaking resource site and is, basically, expendable, if it comes to that. Despite this, we have useful information and resources on this platform and will continue to support it with useful content.
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.
READ. COMPREHEND. AGREE TO OUR TERMS, OR LEAVE THIS SITE.
TERMS OF USE - LEGAL DISCLAIMER
© Copyright 2006-2025 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.
Web site originally launched on 01/11/2007. Remastered and updated web site commissioned 03623.1100 hrs.
Update log: 03/05/23/1530 - 03/06/23/0234/ - 03/07/23/0246/ - 03/08/23/0230/0423/0450/ - 10/06/25/0440/0453/0459/1128/ - 10/07/25/2145/ - 10/23/25/2109/ - 10/27/25/0922/1118/
© Copyright 2006-2025 Tampa Bay Film. All rights reserved