The world of filmmaking has undergone a seismic shift. Gone are the days of needing a massive budget and a ravenous crew to bring your vision to life. Today, the democratization of filmmaking has arrived, thanks not only to the increasingly small form factors of professional gear, but to the ever-present supercomputer in your pocket: the smartphone. But hey, if you're reading this blog, you probably already know this. But how seriously have you considered a DEY (do everything yourself) project of your own?
You, my friend, are an empowered creator, unshackled by limitations of location or finances. You can be the director, the cinematographer, the sound engineer, editor, the colorist, and the star. Desire and a little nerve are all that's required for you to be a one-person production team!
Of course, with great power comes great responsibility (and potentially, a rather lonely production process). I've always gravitated towards theater, music, and film. I used to chalk it up to an artistic spirit, an insatiable urge to create. You've probably felt the same draw. But after years of diving headfirst into countless projects, I've realized what truly drew me in like a lemmings to a cliff: The camaraderie. The brainstorming sessions where we argue the minutiae of character motivations, the shared victories of getting that shot right before dark, and the tribulations of lunch being late or missing altogether... I can't get enough of it! The sense of belonging to something larger than myself has always fueled my creative fire.
Now, I'm contemplating a film project that'll be primarily a solo venture, shot on my smartphone. I've contemplated this move for months and am driven by both novelty and necessity. The freedom to grab my camera and shoot on a whim is undeniably thrilling, especially after years of wrangling crews and scheduling actors around their other gigs. Yet, there's an undeniable pang for the collaboration that has already started to knock at the back door of my heart.
Don't get me wrong, DEY filmmaking offers unparalleled creative freedom. But the challenges are real. Setting up shots (solo), meticulously capturing clean audio (solo), and weaving everything into a cohesive narrative (solo)– it's a lot of work! YouTubers like Casey Neistat (https://www.youtube.com/user/caseyneistat), Natalie Lynn (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkjrBN_GAjFJyVvjcI07KkQ), and Kariza Santos (https://www.youtube.com/@LifeOfRiza) exemplify the dedication and skill required for successful DEY filmmaking. Check out their work – they're not your traditional filmmakers, but rather pioneers of a new movement dubbed the "YouTube New Wave." Their content showcases not just captivating stories, but also a mastery of the technical aspects of one-stop-shop filmmaking.
Does the collaborative spirit inherent in traditional filmmaking diminish the artistic merit of a DEY project? One look at the work of the aforementioned creators proves that it definitely does not. But does the YouTube New Wave style of storytelling only work with personal narratives, the diary/vlog format? I really don't know. My upcoming project will utilize the YouTube New Wave production framework, but with a more traditional narrative – no breaking the fourth wall here. Perhaps you have some examples of this approach you'd be willing to share in the comments? Either way, I'm venturing into a jungle of unbroken vines.
Ultimately, the beauty of the DEY revolution lies in its ability to empower us to experiment and forge our own creative paths, a luxury unimaginable in the past century of filmmaking. But it also flies in the face of one of independent filmmaking's stalwart principals: It's fun to play with your friends!
Whether you crave the collaborative buzz of a film crew or relish the solitude of crafting your vision with your smartphone or mirrorless camera, the most important ingredient remains constant: a story worth telling. So, if you got the guts, grab your camera (whatever it may be!) and join me on an adventure into the (relatively) virgin waters of DEY.
What do you plan to create?!
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