Filmmaking Advice from One Producer to Another.

Trite but True ?

Scott Macaulay shared a few pointers he had received from fellow producers over the years — wisdom that he initially dismissed as eye-roll inducing industry platitudes that had little relevance in the real world of filmmaking. But over the course of his career, he found that their words held much more weight than he previously thought. If the advice given to Macaulay is reduced to its base elements, I think that what remains are universal and beneficial lessons for all creatives, namely filmmakers — important guidance that if considered, may offer a new perspective of the industry, and help steady your footing as a filmmaker.

Originally published almost 10 years ago,Maculay's describes these words of wisdom as “vague, counterintuitive, or just plain silly,” even ”Erma Bombeck-ish.” From the perspective of a producer, the advice seems too simple, too trite to carry the weight of a complex and merciless industry, but Macaulay explains how powerful it became later on in his career.

"When seeking financing for a film, don’t get people to say “yes.” Get them to say “no” and move on."

Macaulay describes how working with a flakey person hurt his project, because he was able to convince himself that “their ‘yes’ was truly a ‘yes’,” instead of accepting that perhaps the individual just wasn’t that interested in the project. Which, at its base, says: Work with people who match or exceed your passion.