We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Joel Goldberg. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Joel below.
Joel, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?
To begin making a film, one must know why you want to tell the story you’ve come up with. this is basically the why you are making it. there doesn’t always have to be an answer to this, but it helps motive you to telling this story and brings a stronger connection to it.
Learning how to tell a story is also important. the easy way is to follow the classic “hero’s journey”. Then you start casting and location scouting. getting the right crew together and equipment goes a long way. Cast people you know are good at the task you need, whether is a gaffer, sound technician, or an actor who’s really good at crying.
Probably the most difficult step is scheduling. finding the right day everyone you need to be present is challenging, as most people have their own lives and schedules. And most people do this for little to no pay.
Editing I find the easiest and mostly is what i do. i shoot, block, and direct; but most cases i end up editing it. its a very tedious task but does give you full control for how the film will look and sound.
final task is determining how to release your film. Do you want to sell it? submit to festivals for networking opportunities/ awards? or just simply upload to youtube. no answer is wrong. it depends how you want to market your product and your name.
I see some complaints about how long it takes to make films but i think its a good thing. give filmmakers time to craft their idea and patience is always rewarded. dont beat yourself over not finishing a script in one week. take your time.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I entered this industry in a couple of different ways. i started by shooting music videos for big name artists in Tampa. this got me a brand deal with a record company where i shot and edited all their videos. i also reached out online for an internship for a local film producer who i still work with today. this got me to be an extra in a feature film starring Danny Trejo and Eric Roberts. I also started volunteering at film festivals in Tampa. the networking opportunities are amazing and have made some really good friends from it. i also submit to festivals. one of my films got into 2 festivals and another will be in TBUFF this year. this sounds obvious but surprisingly isn’t for a lot of people in the film industry but just be a nice person. be humble, kind, and competent for whatever you’re hired for/making. it goes a long way. people will remember that about you and will come back to want you for work again. i provide editing, directing, shooting and props in my services. I have a lot of equipment and props that have been useful for filmmakers who dont have them. i’m most proud of simply completing these projects. i handle constructive criticism very well and always open to improving what i’ve made. i actually plan on remaking a short i made 2 years ago. it got into festivals and was well received, but i feel i can make it better. something important to know is that you always want to be learning how to improve. dont compare yourself to famous counterparts in your field. i dont and wont compare myself to Tarantino or Nolan. simply because you must be yourself and strive. not try to be another person who succeeded. personally, i dont do it for fame. sure it’d be nice to be well known for a movie you’ve made but it isn’t the end of the world if i dont. i just want to make movies and hopefully people enjoy them. i just strive to become the best at as i can possibly be at it.
in terms of problem solving, one must be flexible. actor doesn’t show up? find someone else present to take over. I’ve had to rework an entire story on the day of shooting because of this. we had to change nearly the whole story since the actor never showed. always know conflicts of interest and avoid working with toxic people. i know a guy who crashed an actors car during a shoot and didnt take liability or pay them back. ive seen a guy bring real guns to film sets to which i immediately told them to stow them away and never be taken out. Don’t be like those people and don’t work with them. it hurts your credibility and professionalism. when it comes to filmmaking learn as many aspects of it as possible. dont limit oneself to one field like editing or acting.
For clients, i just like them to see that i am skilled and competent. to show that i know what im doing and enjoy making it.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
being present and active on social media is important. its a way to network and advertise yourself. it also can show the growth of your business and films. i built mine from like-minded filmmakers and producers. this has helped me gain popularity amongst Tampa filmmakers and have had many people come to me wanting me to work with them.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
Volunteering at film festivals. you meet so many amazing people and producers at these festivals and sometimes celebrities. even as a volunteer, you can talk to all these attendees and make a good connection. i wish i had done it earlier in my career.
the endless supply of free stock footage and sounds on the internet. many sites will provide these for a charge but just search farther and you will find these for free.
advertising. many sites even instagram charge a very small fee to promote a post to more people for just one day or longer.
know when to walk away. dont be taken advantage of or inconvenience yourself because there’s potential in a film/project only to learn its false promises. The classic “exposure/clout pay” is always a red flag. this is where a filmmaker tells you the project will get a lot of exposure and people will see your name excuse for not paying you. only work with honest people. if its too good to be true dont take it; know your worth.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: filmmakingiswhatido
- Facebook: Joel Goldberg
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-goldberg-3a2946263/
