A common question you’ll ask yourself as a filmmaker is: Where do other filmmakers find inspiration? The answer comes in many forms: podcasts, magazine articles, curated shorts, music festivals. Their mom. All can be fodder for inspiration.
Today, I’ve worked out a few common sources of inspiration that I hope you can draw from. Just be willing to actively seek it out – because without inspiration, you’ll find your creative well can dry up pretty quickly. And it can’t always be replenished by binging Netflix.
Get personal
It’s a common aphorism that you should write what you know. It’s also very common for filmmakers to build their first project around a personal experience, or around someone in their own lives. There’s a reason these things are common – they’re effective! And the reason is simple – the writer is passionate about the material in some way. And thus, the audience will usually find a way to connect with the story.
So if you’re looking for a place to get started, mine your own experiences – your own family, friends, lovers, enemies. Your childhood, your travel experiences, your awful jobs, your great jobs. You don’t have to put yourself at the center of your own story per se, but you can always use your own experiences to create a compelling story and to define your characters and their motivations.
Be aware of what’s going on in the world at large
You may be moved to write a story that reflects an urgent social issue, that makes a statement about something you personally believe in. Or you may want to bring awareness to an underrepresented story or culture. If you’re taking a stance on something, it begins with your own level of knowledge, so make a habit of engaging with and reading about the issues affecting today’s world. If you’re passionate about it, your audience should be too.
Learn from your community
Get out there! Encouragement and ideas are often found in the little communities you’re involved in – whether that’s a local bowling group, your adult education class, your workplace, or even the wider film industry.
I think it’s important to be a part of a local network of filmmakers. They have the same goals, the same struggles, they often want the same things as you. You can feed off each other’s passions and energies, you can pick up tips on budgeting and producing, you can learn about festival experiences. I don’t think there’s any way I would have finished a film, or even had the courage to start, if I hadn’t had the support of other filmmakers. Your community is essential, both for creative ideas and for support.
RELAX!
When you finally cross the finish line with your project, enjoy the thrill of it. Take stock. Take a walk. Take a trip. But please, I urge you, don’t feel compelled to jump into the next project immediately. You may feel some withdrawal from that intense creative energy, and you may feel tempted to jump in, brainstorm, come up with a brand new project game plan, A to Z! Don’t.Take a breath and enjoy what you’ve just created. Maximize its potential, serve it, get it out there and soak up the reactions and emotions of your audience. It’s a shift in mindset for sure, and it can be jarring. But you need it, and so does the film you just busted your ass to create.
When you are finally ready for a new one, you’ll need to be fully recharged. You’ll need to be eager, fresh, open to all those creative ideas. You should NOT be burned out. So rest long enough to regroup and get back on the right creative track.
Go somewhere new
Sometimes, finding the next great idea just takes broadening your horizons. And I mean that literally. Take a hike, or a late-night drive, or just explore something new. You’ll gain new ideas that could lead you right into your next location shoot or provide you with inspiration for your story. Take a lot of photos and take in every detail you possibly can. I have often found that by scrubbing through photos after I’ve taken a hike or even just a walk, something will jump out at me as new or intriguing. Remember, the goal is all about elevating your senses and surrounding yourself with new experiences.
Finding inspiration can be difficult, but there are always avenues to find new ideas to spark your next big storyline. It’s a mindset you have to cultivate, and once you’re in the habit, your life will feel enriched by all the creative possibilities.
Go make something great!