In a perfect world, filmmaking will be about joy and passion. It will be about the power of storytelling and its magic to bring people closer together. The crew and cast will laugh, learn, and love the project they’re a part of. The films would be about creating something unique and special. However, we’re not in a perfect world.
In our current world, filmmaking is about meeting deadlines, fulfilling investor expectations, and prioritizing profits. Money is a major reason filmmaking is so stressful. Because when you’re filming, the saying “time is money” becomes literal.
I’m a current student in the UNLV film department. I’m striving to be a costume designer, screenwriter, and animator, but I will fulfill just about any job if it means I can be on set. Currently, I’m unemployed and without a car. I’m in my last year of school and there are many stressors in my life.
I feel the stress of figuring out how to get on set when the buses are out of order and Uber is a minimum of $60 round trip. There’s the stress of being on a film set. You often run behind and everyone is pushed to be faster. Sometimes it works. Oftentimes, it makes me feel like I’m walking on eggshells. On top of all of this, I experience stress regarding what the future holds.
With an ever changing economy and the general unpredictable nature of filmmaking, will I get a job? Will I get a paid job? Will it be enough to pay for rent, bills, healthcare, and food? There’s the future stress of what will I do after I finish school? Will an internship be waiting for me? Will I be one of many film students that end up working in an unrelated field? Did I waste two years of my life studying my passion rather than studying something stable? I love being on film sets, but how long can I keep working for free when bills are piling up? I think of these questions often.
Filmmaking comes with a lot of stressors that are not only mental. For me, they manifested physically as well. I lost weight once I started being on set. A mix of not eating enough, running around, and being stressed caused me to lose weight quicker than I expected. It manifested in greasy hair. The mixture of sweating nonstop and skipping washing my hair caused my once flawless hair to turn oily and shiny. It manifested in pimple breakouts and my stomach hurting. It manifested in sore muscles and achy joints.
There was also a loss of connection to some extent. Filming can take anywhere from 4-15 hours depending on the production. Producers and 1st Assistant Directors want to take the least amount of time possible. However, if filming is taking longer than expected, we just have to keep on trucking until it’s done. This means that there’s often little time for socializing outside of working the sets. Even when you’re not actively on a film set, you are often spending time preparing for the next film set. My calendar is booked for the next several months because of all my projects. I miss my friends and family.
From my experience, film sets never go according to plan. People cancel at the last minute, show up late, rearrange things without feedback, and push for something more. Scenes are added while others are cut. This unpredictably makes it hard to focus. It makes it hard to do your best when you’re just trying to get through the change of plans. When things are not perfectly planned out, critical items are left behind, people’s days or plans are ruined, and the work environment becomes even harder to manage. Following this, the chaotic nature of filming means you often forget to eat or drink water or even sit down. It’s a common thing to ask others if they’ve eaten. Filmmakers are looking out for other filmmakers by offering water, snacks, medicine, and short breaks to sit or stretch.
Being a young filmmaker (I am 19, turning 20 as of writing this), it’s also hard to get work outside of my university. Other film students trust me because I’ve proven to them that I am reliable and a team player. However, internships overlook me, and it’s frustrating. I am capable of doing the work to make a filming day as successful as possible. If there’s something I don’t know how to do, I will figure out how to do it. Growing up, people told me that internships were made for growing in your field and a chance to get hands-on experience. As of late, these internships are requiring experience that many people my age just simply haven’t had the chance to experience. I don’t have years of experience with cameras and software because I am just about to finish my college career. I want the chance to grow and sharpen my skills, but it’s so hard to convince hiring managers and studios that I have what it takes.
Filmmaking is not for the weak. The hectic call times, the unrealistic time schedules, the mixed communication, the balanced diet of pizza, chips, and candy, and so much more. Filmmaking takes a toll on you. Mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It’s exhausting, and sometimes it feels like it’s all for nothing. It’s hard, but I know this is what I’m meant to be doing. This is what I need to do with my life.
To all my filmmakers out there, be proud of all the work you’re doing. Art created by humans for humans about human experiences is what this world needs right now. We have the power to move, inspire, frighten, unite, and so much more. Our art is important and we are important. It makes me so incredibly happy that Las Vegas and Nevada as a whole is getting a bigger film community everyday. I can’t wait to work with all of you in the future. Never stop fighting for the film you want to make.
