A stress that you choose: Inside being an independent filmmaker
By Veronica Cham
In early September, independent filmmaker Alexander Prater secured a spot on HorrorHound for his short film “Ghost Buddies: The Gathering” to be streamed. Prater is a devoted filmmaker in that he constantly pushes his own boundaries for the pursuit of art. Graduating from Spring Arbor University with a degree in film, he has worked as a director, actor, writer, editor and more. Prater’s films are those of the imagination and, as always, made for the enjoyment of its viewers.
A career as an independent filmmaker is not an easy one. It requires constant dedication and self-determination working on projects both for others and yourself. Prater said, “You kinda have to force yourself to do something when nothing’s really happening.” This continuous effort and practice allows filmmakers to build and hone their skills to thrive in a creative environment. Prater said, “the average independent filmmaker is in some way always busy or at least thinking about the next project or the next gig.” This statement raises the question: How can one find a gig?
The film industry is not the easiest place to make a name for yourself, which is why networking is crucial to success. Film festivals, job listings, even as background extras, and sending connection invites on social media are just some of the ways to meet other filmmakers. From showcasing work to simply showing up and conversing with others, every connection could end up becoming the connection that makes a filmmaker prominent. One piece of advice from Prater is to always be ready to promote yourself. “You never know where the next gig is going to come from” he said, and the most important tool in your toolbox is yourself.
Connections in the industry are a fluid step. One can make them before they have work to showcase or can create those connections as the work is being shown. The next step in becoming an independent filmmaker is to actually make a film. One must come up with the idea, write the script and plan, which often takes the most time with finding and coordinating locations and actors. For Prater’s recent short film, it was a three-week process. It was originally made to be a YouTube holiday special, as almost every Halloween from senior year he tried to make a “Halloween special” on his YouTube channel. “Ghost Buddies” was a preexisting series but this rendition was more drawn out.
Unlike his others, this was a solo film. Even though the film was low budget and Prater used his own equipment, it astounded him that the piece continually got into many film festivals. Not having expensive equipment forces you to make beauty out of limitations. It’s the moment that pushes you to be creative. As the date of the film’s release kept getting pushed back, he thought, “why not try to get it on a platform outside of YouTube?”
Getting a film onto a streaming platform is quite the process. Usually, there is a film aggregator who acts as the middleman between the filmmaker and the platform to find a solution suitable for everyone involved. Prater, however, fulfilled the extensive and technical process himself. From writing the subtitles to formatting the video and creating 20 poster artworks, Prater embodied the role of a film aggregator.
Although there was a lot of research required on his end to ensure the process was correct, for him, that was part of the fun. “A lot of it is just taking a chance and being willing to explore the options,” he said. Prater continued, “if you're not learning something new each time then … what’s the point?” He noted that he pushes himself to try something new with each project as a way to keep growing.
The idea to simply make a film or to try something new with each project could simply be easier said than done. However, becoming an independent filmmaker is a mentality. To believe in yourself and move beyond self-doubt. No two individuals are the same or have the same skill set. It is important to showcase yours, not a lot of people can do that. So, as Prater said, “just do it … if you have an idea for something, don't waste your time worrying about if people are gonna like this or if it's gonna be good … It's better to try and fail at something then to not fail at something and not even to try at all … If you have an idea just try to chase it out.” Having a creative outlet such as filmmaking can be useful across all disciplines as well. It shares messages with every viewer. Regardless of what resources are available, being a true filmmaker is to utilize what one has right in front of oneself.
Comments