Finding the right partners to make a short film or a feature film starts with one simple but often overlooked question: why do you want to make this film in the first place?
Your end goal should guide every decision you make.
Are you creating content to build a social media following and eventually monetize it?
Are you trying to get into film festivals to build credibility and visibility?
Do you have bigger ambitions like turning the story into a TV series or selling a feature to a streaming platform or theatrical distributor?
There’s no wrong answer, but you do need to be honest with yourself. Once your goal is clear, you can create realistic action steps to get there.
Goals, Tools, and Reality Checks
After defining your goal, take a hard look at two things:
the tools you actually have and the time you can realistically commit.
There are writers who spend years pitching a screenplay to everyone they meet. If the script is strong, they’re persistent, and they’re pitching in the right places, success can happen. But the truth is, getting a film made with no background in filmmaking and no industry connections is extremely difficult.
I learned this quickly.
I have a limited TV series in development, and it became very clear early on that if I wanted it to succeed, I needed to get my foot in the industry first. That meant learning how filmmaking actually works, building relationships, and proving I could finish projects and not just talk about them.
Money also matters. Some filmmakers have access to millions of dollars. Others have a cell phone and a laptop. Neither is wrong but your goals need to match your resources.
I know people who have been chasing large-scale productions for ten years, still trying to raise the funds. I also know people—myself included—who make films using what’s available right now and move forward project by project.
Making It Work With What You Have
An actor-turned-director I know financed his own horror film with about $40,000 and industry connections. It was a single-location shoot on a rural property: a house, a barn, a yard, and nearby woods. Six actors. A minimal crew. One DP/camera operator, audio, and lighting.
The footage wasn’t perfect, but his focus and execution made up for it. He used his connections to sell the film to a pay-per-view service and even secured some foreign sales.
That approach is very similar to how we shot Parasites, my microbudget PG-13 horror/suspense film.
The actors volunteered. The main crew members were also the producers. We wore multiple hats and worked for free. Every producer brought something to the table: money, labor, gear, or all three.
We recently signed with BayView Entertainment and are hopeful about a streaming deal. That didn’t happen by accident. It happened because we finished the film and delivered.
So… How Do You Find the Right People?
This is the part people don’t talk about enough.
Talk about your project constantly.
Socialize. Join Facebook groups. Attend filmmaking programs. Reach out on social media. Look within your existing circle. Keep searching.
You need partners who are just as motivated to make the film as you are and not just excited about the idea of filmmaking.
And then you need to test them.
In my experience, a lot of people have big ideas but don’t follow through. Some don’t have the funds they claim to have. Others exaggerate their experience, their connections, or their ability to handle pressure.
I’ve worked with people who always hit deadlines but couldn’t get the work right. On set, they were overwhelmed, froze when problems came up, and caused serious delays. Paperwork had to be double-checked constantly because it was never done correctly.
I’ve also worked with people who barely talked, didn’t promise much but quietly got everything done.
I’ve worked with people who were always late with payments. And with people who paid on time, showed up, helped with paperwork, and brought real enthusiasm to the project.
Filmmakers often get desperate and work with anyone who’s willing. That’s dangerous. One person—intentionally or not—can sabotage an entire production or even kill a distribution deal. On the flip side, the right person can carry a production almost single-handedly.
How to Screen the Right Collaborators
But the best way to screen people is simple: do a test shoot.
A test shoot reveals everything:
- Do you share the same vision?
- How do they handle stress and troubleshooting?
- Are they patient or short-tempered?
- How do they treat their gear?
- Do they show up on time?
- Do they deliver what they promised?
- Are there always excuses?
Ignoring these signs can cost you time, money, and momentum and still leave you without a finished film.
Finding Talent When You Have a Budget
If you do have a budget, platforms like Backstage are great for finding professional actors and crew. For a small fee, you can post your project and clearly define the roles you need filled.
These tips are specifically for indie filmmakers. If you’re working with a production company or a larger budget, your approach should change. At that level, you need casting directors and experienced professionals to assemble the strongest team you can afford.
But no matter the scale, the principle stays the same:
Choose your collaborators carefully. They will make or break your film.
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