🎬 My First Short Film: Learning Through Failure and Growth
When I first set out to make my own short film, I was honestly afraid.
I had worked on film sets before, but I hadn’t found my niche yet. I didn’t know where I fit in, and taking on writing, directing, and producing all at once felt overwhelming. That started to change on the first day of my TV 4 class, where I met Sam, my current film partner.
💡 From Idea to Visualization
I came into the class with a rough idea for a script. I wrote it down, but I had a hard time visualizing it. Luckily, Sam is an incredibly talented artist. When he created the storyboard, everything clicked.
Interestingly, what he drew was different from my original concept. At first, the film was supposed to be a first-person point of view of a young girl encountering a monster in her closet. Seeing the storyboard brought a new perspective and helped shape the project into something more cinematic.
We sat down and built a shot sheet together. It took hours. By the end, we had over 100 shots planned for a 6-minute short film.
🧠 Learning How to Think Like a Producer
At that point, things started to feel overwhelming. That’s when my friend Ray stepped in and completely changed my workflow.
He showed me how to properly organize my shots and even gave me a template that I still use to this day. More importantly, he showed me a path forward, the path of becoming a producer. That moment really stuck with me and shaped what I now want to pursue in film.
📍 When Reality Hits Set
We found a location that seemed perfect. Cheap, spacious, and ideal for what we needed.
But when we arrived on set, it was much smaller than expected. On top of that, I had a pretty large crew, which made the space feel even tighter.
Thankfully, two of my friends stepped up in a huge way. Justin, a professional cinematographer, and Sanad, a professional gaffer, both brought a level of experience that elevated the entire production.
Despite the challenges, the first day went really well. It was long, but we had all cylinders firing. Sam was in full monster makeup, our actress Genesis gave a great performance, and although lighting took time, it looked beautiful.
🎭 Directing for the First Time
Day two was a completely different challenge.
This was the day we worked with a child actor, and I had never directed before. I basically threw myself into the deep end.
Have you ever tried directing a 7-year-old?
It might be one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done. Kids have a ton of energy, but after a few hours, they crash. And while she wasn’t a bad actress at all, I realized something important. The issue wasn’t her it was me.
I didn’t know how to communicate effectively. I didn’t yet have the skill set to bring out the performance I wanted. That gap in knowledge definitely affected the final result.
🎞️ Letting Go of Perfection
After we wrapped, I sat on the footage for about a year.
I got busy working on other projects, but the truth is, I was avoiding it. I was frustrated that the film didn’t come out “perfect,” so I didn’t finish it.
Eventually, I had to face something important.
This is my first film. It’s supposed to have mistakes.
In fact, this should be the worst project I ever make, because that means I’m improving.
❤️ Looking Back (and Moving Forward)
Over time, I started to appreciate the film more and more. Instead of seeing only its flaws, I began to see everything it taught me.
This project is my first. It’s my baby.
And now, after everything, we’re finally preparing to release it.
🚀 Release Date
May 20th, 2026
🎯 Final Thoughts
This experience taught me more than any class ever could. It showed me the realities of production, the importance of communication, and the value of simply finishing what you start.
Most importantly, it taught me that growth comes from doing, even when you’re afraid.
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