20 Painful Beliefs That’s Killing Your Filmmaking Dreams (And Why They're Wrong)

Every aspiring filmmaker has that voice in their head. You know the one. It whispers things like "I'm not talented enough" or "My ideas aren't original." These self-defeating thoughts are the silent killers of creativity, stopping countless potential masterpieces before they even begin.

But here's the reality check you need: Some of the most successful directors never went to film school. Many didn't have expensive gear. They simply created stories they’d like.

The film school grad gatekeeper ‘elite’ hates when I mention this, but it’s true.

Let's destroy these limiting beliefs one by one. There’s a good chance you might relate to these.

1.) "I need expensive gear to make it look good."

Examples: Movies shot on iPhone.

Examples: Movies using natural light.

DaVinci Resolve helps jazz up the footage.

Also, in filmmaking, quality audio is ironically the secret sauce. Bad visuals can be forgiven.

Use whatever you have to record. Audio and a strong story are non-negotiable.

2.) "I need to wait until I'm inspired."

This is acceptable if filmmaking is your hobby. Then no worries.

But if you're planning a career in this field, you'll need to develop the skillset to create on demand—even when you're not inspired.

The process is simple. Just keep creating projects you want to eventually get paid to do.

So if you want to be a screenwriter, start writing scripts.

3.) “I’m too young or old to make it as a filmmaker.”

If you're older, you most likely have a lifetime's worth of stories to tell. I know Clint Eastwood is an established director — but he still directs.

If you're young, you have all the time in the world to develop your craft and experience life.

Look at older and younger successful filmmakers — they're proof you can do it too.

You can tell a story at any age.

4.) “My story isn’t important to tell.”

I can go two routes to respond to this:

1.) Your unique perspective contributes to the development of our culture.

2.) Nothing really matters. So fuck it. Tell your story.

If you have a burning desire to tell your story, tell it.

5.) “Networking feels fake. It’s so uncomfortable.”

Networking feels fake if you aren't genuinely interested in meeting people. That may require self-reflection that goes beyond an article about limiting beliefs for filmmakers.

If you're just an introverted hermit like myself, start small and gradually build your networking skills. Remember, networking is a skill—you develop it through practice and repetition.

It comes naturally for some, but the good news is there are techniques for all personality types.

6.) “I’m not a real filmmaker until I go to film school”

The barrier to entry for filmmaking is incredibly low. James Cameron was a truck driver when he decided to call himself a director. Yes, that low. Filmmaking has numerous positions across all types of media. There are MANY successful filmmakers who never attended film school and "made it big." That's proof film school is optional — not essential.

If you feel inclined to spend $200k to justify the label, by all means.

(I can hear the angry grips, and other below-the-line filmmakers protesting outside my window now.)

7.) “If I can’t make it perfect, I won’t make it at all.”

Perfectionism kills dreams. It sounds counterintuitive, right? But the moment we hit the cancel button at the first sign of turbulence, we set ourselves up for failure. It also adds a negative stress and pressure that dims the joy of creating.

It's best to strive for progress.

If your project comes out great — nice!

If it comes out terrible — now you can learn from your mistakes and you've gained critical experience.

9.) “I can’t make a film without a big budget.”

In 2025, you can make a film for $0. Your phone has better quality than indie filmmakers had in the 90s. Editing software is widely available for free.

It's true, you can't create a blockbuster-level movie without major funds. (Maybe unless you use AI?) But that shouldn't stop you from creating.

You have a few options here:

Pitch your idea and secure funding. Having street cred helps, but it's not impossible without it.

If you have a big-budget idea with a rice-and-beans budget, consider writing it as a novel. The only resource you need is yourself.

10.) “No one will fund my project unless I’m already successful.”

It’s difficult, but not impossible.

Sell the mission of the movie. The purpose behind it.

You could apply for grants. Ask smaller investors. Ask other talent to invest in the project in exchange for credits and creative input.

11.) “Making money as a filmmaker is nearly impossible.”

Being a filmmaker is a lot like being a musician—it's heavily gig-based, filled with hobbyists, and difficult to make your sole income. You might want to consider finding a support job that aligns with your filmmaking career.

For example, I'm a screenwriter. But the majority of my money comes from copywriting (by writing TV, radio, and billboard ads).

The more you put your own projects out there—the ones you want to be paid for—the more paid opportunities will become available.

12.) “It’s all about who you know—and I don’t know anyone.”

It's true that networking is crucial in filmmaking. But what about all the people who didn't know anyone and still made it? They were in this same position.

If you don't know anyone, meet people. Attend networking functions, film festivals, and connect on social media.

My best advice is to create projects you want and can produce. Share them. Keep repeating this process. Eventually, people will want to collaborate with you.

13.) “No one will take me seriously as a beginner.”

Luckily, you're not alone. As a beginner, it's more productive to experiment with projects knowing they'll likely fall short rather than trying to create a masterpiece on your first try.

Embrace imperfection. Even legendary directors make bad films—it's perfectly fine if you make mediocre short films for the sake of learning.

14.) “Film festivals are rigged and impossible to get into.”

While it's easy to believe film festivals are "rigged" in favor of industry insiders, this is largely a myth.

Film festivals need fresh voices and compelling content to remain relevant. Yes, getting accepted is competitive—Sundance accepts less than 1% of submissions—but festivals have diverse programming needs that create opportunities for newcomers.

Many festivals specifically seek out first-time filmmakers through special categories and programs.

The key is strategic submission: research which festivals align with your film's genre, length, and style; create a compelling press kit; and consider starting with smaller, niche festivals to build momentum.

Rather than being rigged systems, festivals are simply competitive environments that reward both quality and smart targeting.

Numerous filmmakers have launched careers from festival submissions with no prior industry connections.

15.) “I need to find an agent.”

An agent isn't going to do the heavy lifting of selling you and your work. You are. You have to put in the reps of working on your craft (and getting your name out there). Once you make a splash, they'll come find you.

Remember, agents work on commission. This means they make money from you—not the other way around.

16.) “I don’t have time to be a filmmaker.”

The question becomes "How badly do you want to be a filmmaker?"

If you like the idea of being a filmmaker but don't want to deal with the endless hurdles thrown your way—maybe you're using this phrase as an excuse to delay progress.

If you have an insatiable desire to tell stories and you're frustrated you can't, start small. Start with writing.

If you live a life full of time-consuming obligations, write when you can. Create when you can.

You might want to consider re-evaluating your lifestyle choices when you're ready to level up.

17.) “I don’t feel like I’m cut out for this.”

This is a confidence issue. From my personal experience, filmmaking attracts a bunch of shy introverts (including myself).

I get it. We're awkward. We want things to go our way smoothly — with as little adversity as possible.

The truth is there are a bunch of uncomfortable moments you must deal with: talking to strangers, describing your vision, ENDLESS emails and conversations, discussing money, navigating conflicting creative directions, and so on.

The trick to this is simple. You have to believe you can do it.

It's cliché, but for good reason. Because it works.

Your behavior changes once you believe in yourself.

And when you do it enough, it becomes second nature.

18.) “No one wants to watch my stuff”

The truth is you never know unless you put yourself out there. So put your stuff out there.

Best case scenario — you become wildly successful.

Worst case scenario — you gain experience.

If your film can entertain 10 people, it could entertain 10,000,000 people.

19.) “Posting my work online is cringe. People will judge me if I put my work out there.”

It's really not. No one cares if you post your work or not. You think people would cringe because you cringe at yourself.

The truth is there are people who post their genitals online and no one bats an eye because of it.

Personally speaking, I respect people who post their work — it means they have guts.

People judging you is inevitable.

20.) “I’m not talented enough. My ideas aren’t original. Everything hasn’t been done.”

All art is derivative of previous iterations. Movies and films are no exception.

No idea is 100% original, and that's completely ok. It means you shouldn't put so much pressure on yourself. Focus on being authentic and yourself.

If you feel like you're not talented enough, this is a confidence issue. Create more.

The truth? The industry doesn't care about your excuses. They care about what you've made. Your first film won't be perfect - it shouldn't be. But it will be a start.

So here's your challenge: Pick one of these limiting beliefs that's holding you back. Now go prove it wrong. Because the only real failure in filmmaking isn't making a bad film — it's never making one at all.

Until next time,

—Kevin