Get to work. Get good. We need you.

Film making is a team sport. I love that. But, the need for a team can leave filmmakers feeling lost when they don't have a team; wondering what to do between films; marooned like a Disney princess waiting for her prince to arrive.

Off topic anecdote - I remember one very witty (and snarky) photographer quip as she waited for her photos to return from the lab "Someday my prints will come!" (Watch this and sing along.

If this makes no sense, I should tell you that photographers used to use something called film that had to be processed and printed.

Back to the point.

The truth is - You can - and need to - practice some aspect of your craft. Now.

One purpose of this filmmakers' community is to help new filmmakers grow their skills by getting them engaged on a project and getting feedback. Besides growing your skills, these projects will become your early portfolio or reel.

1. You can work solo or with a team. If you decide to do a team project, obviously your first step is finding teammates. Solo work has its benefits, such as ease of scheduling. But, eventually you will want to pursue team projects to build your network, take on more complicated projects and to learn how to find and manage a crew.

2. Identify your project and get to work. We have notes on how to choose a project. This would also be a good juncture to involve a mentor/coach. "I want to practice filmmaking. Would you give me feedback on my project?""

3. Notes from experienced professionals will help you learn faster ("Notes" = feedback. Here's what's working. Here's what's not). Notes will help you learn how to take input (encouragement AND criticism). Presenting your work for feedback also adds accountability to your creative endeavors, since you have someone expecting to see your progress. And, who knows...that experienced professional may ask you to be on their crew sometime.

A few notes on notes...

- Don't send unsolicited creative content.

Ask permission first and let the professional decide if they are a good match for you and if they have time.

- You'll learn over time how to balance input with your own creative sensibilities. You want to avoid over dependence on others' opinions. Risk taking and confidence are key to creativity. You have a voice. At the same time, only God is all-knowing and all seeing. We all miss thingz ; ) Authors need editors. And we all need enough humility and inner fortitude to take input. If you're going to work in this industry you need to learn how to take notes - and when to trust your own intuition.

Your first work will likely not be a great as you'd hoped. It takes a while for our skills to catch up to our imagination. But, we need to move from being consumers and critics of others' work - to creators of our own. Don't be like Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who "would have been a great proficient if she ever actually tried..."

Or Uncle Rico, looking back to what could have been.

The people on this site have been there. And we want to help you grow in any way we are able.

If you'd like to work on a project and get feedback, let us know.

We are looking for cross cultural talent. So get to work. And get good. We need you.