4 New Year’s Resolutions For Filmmakers

By Kevin Graham

With the holidays behind us, it’s officially time for the new year. Which, for filmmakers, means planning, strategizing, and making priorities for the next 12 months.

We think 2024 will be the biggest and best year yet for independent filmmakers, and here are 4 New Year’s Resolutions to make that happen.

#1 – Post To A New Platform

Social media is still one of the best ways to get discovered by new clients. And even if you’re already posting regularly, you may be missing some opportunities.

The most successful filmmakers post content on every major platform, from Facebook and Instagram to YouTube and TikTok. But many are only active on one or two of these sites.

But the truth is, there are unique opportunities on them all, and making an effort to have a presence on every possible social media app could pay off in a big way. Of course, it’s time-consuming, but once you develop a routine, it becomes second nature.

So if there’s a social media platform that you haven’t tried yet, there’s no better time to start than now as a New Year’s resolution!

#2 – Try A New Style

While most filmmakers have their own specialties and strengths, it never hurts to occasionally explore different types of work.

Maybe you’re a wedding filmmaker who never does corporate shoots, or vice-versa. Or maybe you’ve never done a music video.

By stepping out of your comfort zone, you could potentially open up a door into a completely new client base, or even discover a new favorite type of project!

In today’s filmmaking landscape, being versatile and able to take on multiple types of projects is critical to keep the projects coming and the lights on. So it’s never a bad idea to challenge yourself to explore something new.

#3 – Expand Your Market

One of the biggest limitations to the growth of your video production business can be your location.

Sure, there are filmmaking hubs such as Los Angeles and New York. But if you don’t live in one of these spots, finding new local work can sometimes be a challenge.

And even if you do live in a big city, there can be tons of competition for projects, which can be just as frustrating.

Sometimes, the best thing can be exploring a new market entirely. You can do this online via targeted ads or simply sending your reel and pitch to agencies in a specific region, or even traveling to get a first-hand sense of what another market is like.

In small and even medium-sized markets, clients will usually be intrigued by a fresh option for their production, and you can be the one to benefit. So make it your New Year’s resolution to try a new market!

#4 – Work Smarter

With an ever-growing set of tools at your disposal as a filmmaker, you should always be looking for ways to streamline your workflow and be a more efficient business owner.

One great way to increase both production value and productivity is to incorporate stock footage into your projects.

For example, maybe you filmed a ton of custom B Roll for a client, but the weather wasn’t cooperating for an establishing timelapse. Or maybe you need some abstract transition elements for a fast edit.

It would take lots of time and resources to go try to capture these things yourself. But on a stock footage site like Filmpac, they can be licensed and downloaded with the click of a button.

This saves you time and money, and adds a new level of production value to your project. And the clients will definitely notice.

Whether you’re a hobbyist or a full-time professional, challenging yourself with any of these New Year’s resolutions will help make you a better filmmaker.

Kevin is the Music Director at Filmpac.