Filmmaking is embarassing.

Getting out there, just do it, trying is better than discussing... these are inherent truths. In the arena of "potential filmmaking" there is a lot of apprehension. I cannot stress enough how important it is to just get out there and start capturing footage, testing your methods, getting your feet wet, honing skills. One of the first things I have noticed when out doing "guerilla" shooting, is how quick things move. You really do not have time to sit around setting gear up, breaking down, and getting the perfect shot. Add to that all camera checks and settings before you hit record, and it can quickly become mind boggling... chances are very high that you will forget to turn on something or set something that is required to get the properly exposed shot. To remedy this confusion, you really have to get out there as much as possible, and develop muscle memory for the camera settings and methods that suit your style of shooting. This is hugely important! You have to devlop a routine, much like a professional golfer. The pros have a very detailed regimen they use for EVERY shot, and they follow the same pattern to the letter, for EVERY shot. This breeds consistency, and fewer mistakes are the result.

4.8hrs from Matt Moses on Vimeo.

There are a lot of distractions. For one thing, this kind of unscripted, run and gun filmmaking, is kind of embarrassing. People passing by, if they acknowledge you at all, give you a puzzled " What are you doing?" look. The "Potential filmmaker" by nature, is not a professional (ie. not getting paid to be on location), which means your gear probably looks a little strange, like a cobbled together jumble of parts that, at a glance, look like a professional rig, but with a second or two to process the situation, quickly reveal the oddity into which you are gazing. "Is that an HV20?" - "What are you doing?"

But here is the trick - keep going, be relentless. Behave as though you have done this thousands of times, like you know EXACTLY what you are doing. Believe in your rig, after all, this is the NEW way of filmmaking. The footage is bound for a 800pixel wide online audience.. so your rig is actually overkill and definitely "good enough". The goal is for you to get good enough to create well composed shots amongst the confusion of run and gun shooting. B-Roll can be an art. There are some shots that can unexpectedly MAKE a short film or concept, so take every shot seriously, and try anything and everything. Don't let a little embarassment get in the way. :)