Welcome to this week’s Sunday Evening edition of The Backlot. These newsletters will include stories and discussions from my recent experiences working in indie filmmaking, helpful resources for emerging filmmakers, and other posts covering topics in the film industry.
NOTE—The mid-week version of the newsletter will be free for the next few weeks before moving to a paid subscription in May. The Sunday version will remain free.
Here are our topics this week…
🎞️ Debunking the False Knowledge Concept
🎬 The Power of Filmmaking Groups
🗞️ Three Movie Recommendations
The False Knowledge Problem
I’ve often noticed a trend when talking to people about work or trying to network within my different industries.
Many people, myself included, seem to feel like they have to pretend to know more than they actually do about certain subjects or career paths. In fact, there have been times when I’ve caught myself saying yes to knowing something just to prove myself or promote myself as an expert.
Recently, I’ve stopped and started asking myself, “Why am I doing this?” and “What benefit does it have to me?”
I think our tendency to portray ourselves as experts is a product of society and our own issues with imposter syndrome. We feel like we can’t be beginners because that means we are less likely to be taken seriously, get jobs, or be rewarded for our work.
We’re so often caught up trying to impress others at work, on social media, and in our social relationships. We act like we have “false knowledge” about certain subjects, industries, or careers.
This is something I like to call “The False Knowledge Concept.”
For the record, this isn’t an actual social theory or psychological concept; it’s just what I am going to call this idea- the feeling that you have to know more than you do to be successful.
As emerging artists and filmmakers - or in any industry for that matter - I’ve found that the tendency to portray “false knowledge” can be dangerous.
That’s because being a beginner is a good thing. As a beginner, you get the chance to learn, grow, and expand your skillset over time. You are given the opportunity to learn from others and their experiences.
It also gives you the opportunity to fail, which as a beginner, takes a lot of the pressure off of the process. Instead of feeling like you have to be the best, you can take the time to make these mistakes and use them to grow.
And honestly, the tendency to pretend to know more is counter-productive to our careers. It stops us from learning and allowing others to help us along the way, meaning we have fewer opportunities to meet mentors and friends or build a community in our fields.
In filmmaking, learning should be a lifelong practice because there will always be room to grow your abilities. In fact, look at artists such as Martin Scorcese or Francis Ford Coppola, who are still pushing themselves to learn different facets of the industry, even in the latter stages of their lives.
So, as I am learning this my own way, I’d argue that it’s important for all of us to be beginners every once in a while. It’s better to embrace the power of listening to others who know more than you and go forward without fear of failure.
We all have to start somewhere, and beginnings can be a beautiful thing.
The Power of Filmmaking Groups
Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve spent a lot of time in the community, talking with other filmmakers, hearing talks from industry members, and growing my network of friends and future collaborators.
During this time, I’ve felt incredibly inspired, fulfilled, and excited about the work of other people in the industry. These experiences have given me a lot of time to think about the power of community in filmmaking.
As mentioned many times in this newsletter, filmmaking and production are not solo endeavors; they require team efforts. From small documentary teams to large film sets full of hundreds of crew members, it takes a village.
More importantly, though, community is a necessary driver in filmmaking because it improves our creative art.
Unlike stereotypical tropes about artists and writers, working on something in silence and loneliness is not conducive to the creative process. I don’t know about you, but I’m most inspired to create art when I am surrounded by individuals doing incredible things that push the limits of their craft.
That’s why I am a strong advocate for filmmaking groups, meetups, and communities. These forms of gatherings are critical to our development as emerging filmmakers because they provide feedback and inspiration, expanding our creative thought and giving us access to new ideas.
Recently, I’ve been working with a few others to start one of these filmmaking groups in Central Oregon.
In our first event, only 10 people showed up to the meeting. Still, it was 10 individuals who were working on different projects and coming from different backgrounds but bonding over a shared passion for film. This meeting inspired me and gave me hope for the future of film in our local community.
There are groups like this all over the world, filled with people trying to practice their craft or make a living in this wonderful industry. I’ve found these groups have been incredibly helpful and would advise anyone working to be a filmmaker, writer, or member of the industry, to seek out these meetups.
So, find your group in whatever way you can. If there isn’t one nearby, start one. Get together with your local filmmakers at someone’s house, a bar, or the movies, and build that community. It could be one of the most important things you ever do.
And if you happen to be in Central Oregon, send me a message. Our next filmmaking meetup is in May, and we would love to have you there.
Three Movie Recommendations
Over the last few weeks, I’ve heard from some amazing individuals who have harnessed the power and potential of filmmaking. Therefore, this week, I wanted to recommend three documentaries that inspired me, shed light on critical issues, and highlighted the true purpose of documentary film.
All The Beauty and the Bloodshed (2022)
Nan Goldin isn’t a household name by any means, but her photography and activism are an important part of several subcultures in our society. For these reasons, her story is incredibly important. In this emotional documentary, Laura Poitras, the acclaimed filmmaker behind Citizenfour, paints an emotional and encompassing portrait of Nan Goldin’s life.
Truthfully, I only watched this film because I was covering the Academy Awards races, but the film absolutely floored me. It’s a deeply emotional story about Goldin’s efforts to mitigate the pain caused by the AIDs epidemic in the 1980s and the unjust harm inflicted by the opioid epidemic of the last few decades. Poitras’ film is easily one of my favorite documentaries of the past few years and something that needs to be seen by the masses.
The Grab (2022)
Gabriela Cowperthwaite is a renowned documentary filmmaker. She is known for her previous film, Blackfish, which had such a widespread impact that the antagonist of the film, SeaWorld, almost went bankrupt in the wake of its release. Well, Cowperthwaite’s follow-up film, The Grab, is just as breathtaking, thought-provoking, and intense. The film follows the little-discussed topic of resource grabbing and sheds light on the way this vitally important topic impacts today’s global landscape.
The Grab follows a group of journalists working to investigate the seizure of lands around the world by a handful of companies and governments looking to secure resources. The film dives deep into the repercussions of these actions and their effects on the local communities and nations. It’s also a deeply intense narrative about investigative journalism and the potential dangers that come with investigating these issues.
Navalny (2022)
Navalny is easily one of my favorite documentary films of all time. The film follows Alexei Navalny, the Russian activist and most vocal critic of Vladamir Putin, who was poisoned by the Kremlin. Throughout the film, Navalny and his team attempt to find his poisoner after he recovers in a German hospital. The documentary is an incredible look into the terror of Russia’s political landscape while highlighting the power of Alexei Navalny as an opposition leader.
This movie is also important now more than ever. With the recent passing of Navalny in a Russian prison, it’s imperative his story is shared with the world. His message and belief in the power of the Russian people are inspiring and provide a glimmer of hope for the future of the nation. Navalny’s message now lives on through the continued work of his wife, children, and team, who continue his efforts to build a better world for their people.
On Wednesday, we will be back with the second episode of our documentary film series discussing some of the news and perceptions I gathered from the International Documentary Association’s Getting Real Conference…
🎞️ Episode II - Going Deeper into Documentary at Getting Real
🎬 Other Latest News and Updates from the Industry