In this video I’m giving you four essential tips for aspiring filmmakers, because there’s a ton of information online that gets thrown around and most of it doesn’t come from real on-the-job experience. The first thing I tell anybody is you have to learn the ins and outs of your camera. I’ve worked with people who spend thousands on a body and only care about image quality, autofocus, and dynamic range… but they don’t know the actual features that save you when a real problem pops up on a paid gig. I use my Sony FX6 as an example—amazing camera, but it’s not ideal for certain gimbal setups if you need audio through the top handle. Knowing strengths and weaknesses is what keeps you from looking lost on set. Second, your lens choice matters just as much as your camera choice. I love a 50mm, but that doesn’t mean it’s right for every job. I tell a story about shooting an event in Miami with only a 35 and 85 and swapping lenses nonstop because I was being stubborn about primes—super unpractical. Third, filmmaking (especially narrative) is a team effort, and you need to learn how to communicate and work with people. And last, you have to understand business—marketing and money—because if you don’t market yourself like a real business and manage your finances, you’re going to stay stuck buying stuff you don’t even need instead of building something sustainable.