The BIGGEST problem for new filmmakers! 

Stop rushing. Take it a step at a time. You'll get there. Have a good day and thanks for watching!

D D you ain't lying about this gear lust thing. I shot a video a while back with the gh1 someone commented why you using that old camera I'm rocking a Sony A7, ask him to show me some of his work I heard crickets. I bought an affordable wireless mic to learn audio. Another dude commented buy a Sennheiser quit using that cheap gear. I asked him let me hear how his Pro gear sounds, dude has nothing to show. Darius one thing I learned running RU-vid is I need to master the equipment I have so that when I upgrade I can make the new gear sing. I really hope newbies hear what you're saying in this video and it doesn't go in one ear and out the other. Peace

Bro the way you put these videos together is mad entertaining, props man. Informative as well of course.

This is a good video. I teach media courses in a high school and I run into kids wanting to buy drones, gimbals, and more even before they have made their first project for my class. I also get this one a lot: "Why don't we have any RED Cameras?" WHAT?! You're asking me why we don't have a 50,000 dollar camera body in a HIGH SCHOOL???!!!! Thanks man! love your videos!

People see the likes of Casey Neistat, Peter McKinon etc and think they just picked up a camera and went big. Not realising that they have been playing with video for a long time.... Plus, people think if they watch enough RU-vid tutorials, they will all of a sudden be a pro.

This is exactly why our tagline is "achieving it one shot at a time".

My man Darious. Always full of honest and great advice!

When I first started I did one short film a week. After a year and 52 short films later I shot my first higher budget commercial and I felt ready for that. That’s my recommendation for beginners.

Damn STRAIGHT man! I couldn't be happier with how we shot my first ever big budget short film. This was done thru making silly RU-vid videos, and making crappy mistakes on these small shoots. BUT I also did get experience from watching cinematographers first-hand on set as an AC, so there is an element of observing I reckon.

Even as someone who has shot a number of videos before, I find it refreshing to be reminded that starting small is better and much more fun. Thanks for the video!

This is very true! In every short film I've made, I haven't spent a dime on production costs. The only money I've spent was on gear and software, which I've been accumulating for the past 5 years.

This is very true for Music, making comics, Animation, etc. It's universal. Kaizen

Exactly what I needed to hear! Thank you so much! I enjoyed your content from the minute I started watching. Looking forward to learning more about filmmaking from you!

You’re so right ! I love your style of video. Your Cuts and transitions are so smooth and combined with great advice and personality.... Thanks for sharing!

Great videos! I learn a lot.

Sound advice, as always! I spent a LOT of money making a short film on Super16mm a few years ago; it was a great experience & am proud of the film, but could have done it differently/cheaper. Still, all fed into my overall experience. You gotta learn & go.

D4Darious, you are soooo RIGHT! In Filmmaking school, my first movie was 8min long and I had soooo much fun doing it too. It was called 'THE CURSE'! I won several student awards for it and I also enter it into a film festival and won 3rd place. Thank you for this Vlog, people need to hear this!

Great video man.. appreciate it as a new youtuber i made the same mistakes for long till i took the first step and took the baby step u are talking about 👍

I discovered your channel 2 days ago and subscribed after the first video. I want to thank you for all the great advice, tips and tricks about film making. I was like the guy you've described and I realized that I need to take it step by step. Keep up with the great work! Greetings from Romania!

Yeah, the easy step towards "look I'm going after my dreams" is the checkout button on Amazon. It's makes us feel like we are getting serious. But the headaches, joys, trials, and triumphs of planning and pre-production, though harder, is really what dream chasing is about.

I went through the same problem and mistakes, and I feel I needed to do that to learn it, humble myself and try smaller. Valuable advice darious

I think this applies to so many things, not just filmmaking. As an author/aspiring game designer, I know that shooting too high right off the bat can lead to troubles in almost any creative project; trying to write a full novel instead of spitting out short stories or fleshing out novellas too much can absolutely ruin momentum and creative flow, and imagining a huge AAA sort of game before just experimenting with the basics to make a silly little game can induce tedium, rather than inspiration and interest. Even compiling the _ideas_ for such projects can burn one out, despite how quickly our imagination can run with it at first. That's the beauty of it, though. Write down the basics of the big stuff, then let it sit on a shelf to ruminate while working on the little things. Once the skillset is there with experience and a deeper understanding of what works, both for creating projects and as personal preference, then the projects can reach heights - and even become something greater than originally imagined. Thank you Darious for this video. Was a refreshing piece to watch after not being on your channel for so long. Much love, man!

I totally agree! I started with baby steps but for some reason I wanted to do way too much. So every time I feel it's overwhelming, I know I need to slow down. Thanks for making this video!

So true! I really dig the light glare in your glasses, it’s a really cool look!!

thanks so much... I'm planning a big project for December. it helped

Very valid points! I'm thankful I didn't have much money to go crazy on gear (still don't have anything fancy) but grinding with what I have has taught me a lot. I've done work with other people's equipment for their projects and realize that I wouldn't be able to perform as well if I didn't start small and keep doing small personal projects.

Thanks bro! we appreciate this as up and coming film makers.

Thanks for the vid and the advice my dude! Your channel and your style of editing and teaching has been very helpful.

You give the best advice bro, thanks. I have films and music videos lined up, and haven't started shooting any thing. This advice made me see my mistake and get focus. Oh, and thanks for suggesting the book "Master Shots", it teaching me a lot also. Thanks again. 🎬🎥📷📹

Great video D - and I totally agree. Trying to do too much to soon has stopped my momentum in its tracks more than once. Very valuable message.

Thank you for your video and a heads up on what not to do. Again thank you for sharing your knowledge. Your advice has also helped me with my film's.

So great to see this video! I'm just starting out and finished a course learning a few filmmaking skills. Not quite sure how to start getting my foot in that door, but THIS VIDEO has been mega helpful! Thank you for your advice :D

Just found this channel, it's awesome. Going into short doco's...storytelling etc I'm so glad I watched this video, probably saved me thousands.

Just discovered your channel. Love it.

Great content D4! It's good to be back. Now I have to watch you other videos I missed. So much candys :D

Most eye opening, important video I have seen from you yet. Amazing

I can relate a lot to this video. As a beginner at film, all I want to do is make films. I'd watch all kinds of short films online to get ideas. I'd start writing some stuff down, and then scrap them because I knew it was too expensive to start. Typically when I start the writing process for a film, the first thing I think of is, "is what I am thinking of possible with what I have, and will I need to spend a large amount of money on it." The most I ever spent on a film, was around $100, and let me tell you, it bombed within the first hour. I immediately learned from my mistakes. The good thing is though, I still have the scripts and storyboards. So when I finally feel I have enough experience to re-shoot it, I can.

So true ! I don't keep my excitement and dreams get the better of me. A lot of friend's and even my parents think it's easy, within a year or so you have thousands of followers and subscribers. But the ugly truth...... it isn't easy and it isn't cheap, you will lose a lot of money and a lot of time ! See it as a hobby, every hobby cost money. Don't push yourself, push video's and your skills produce something and enjoy yourself while you doing that !!!! You'll learn and have fun, + you have something to look back to and see your progress it's sweet and it makes all the effort and money worth it.

I really love the handheld thing ! switching between characters when you're acting out two roles works flawlessly and really adds mountains of engagement, as well as giving you a unique style that's not cringeworthy. Honestly super, super good idea and superb execution my man! I know it's only little but it really, really holds massive value!

These transitions are just amazing and so well weaved into the video.

This is a great lesson. I did sort of the same mistake, though I did some smaller stuff before spending money on my first "real" short. Still it was too complicated shooting for such a project. Now I intend to try and make something smaller.

Thank you. Just thank you. I needed to hear what you said. Thank you.

This is great advice! I was just getting sick of trying to shoot with my phone. Ready to quit because I can’t afford a camera yet. But I’m def going to continue to shoot what I can with what I have. Keep at it and thanks!

Dude D4, i think you hit home today. I myself as an experienced DP (6+ years) got involved with a project with a 0 experience director with an investor. when i say 0 experience i mean he didnt even understand basic rules not alone complicated set dynamics and costs. He had the whole thing written but kept adding (pre-shooting) more very expensive add-ons (because they were cool). When ever i tried to intervene it turned into this thing where he felt insulted by my questioning of his choices. Long story short the relationship dissolved long before we even got to shoot because he needed a yes man and wanted everyone to tell him he could do it his way on his budget. (his investor pulled out because of the volatility of the fact that anyone experienced comes along seems to disappear.) New filmmakers: you do not need CGI every other scene. the scenes between those scenes do not need $$$ in makeup and prosthetics. Start simple even a feature like this one i was discussing. Try to understand first the how and why so that way you are not arguing with the more experienced people on set or they will walk.

Nice video man. I like your style and you have a great flow. Glad I found your channel!

So true.. I couldn't afford a camera or any gear to do films and I was very stressed about it cause I'm a f@#$ perfectionist... but one day I just took my phone (Samsung J1) and with Open Camera I started and it was so fun and helped me a lot to gain confidence and I learned a lot!

I'm somewhat guilty of this. Fortunately, I've shot standup Comics doing their sets, edited it and got paid a few bucks for it. But, I've delayed my small projects due to (insert excuse here). But, I am now prepping to shoot a short comedy sketch within the next two weeks (depending on the weather). Plus, in this journey, I realized I'm a lot better at writing than being a videographer.

Thanks a lot for your insight, Darious! Very very helpful!!!

so happy I ran into this video! I was on the track to making those mistakes too lol I wanted a boosted board, a dji drone, and a bunch of other stuff!! BUT, I will be working with what I have and make the best of it.

Great points. We sometimes get so caught up in the latest gear that we forget about the craft.

Great tip, and is a reason I'm glad I started to be a filmmaker as a kid a little bit before websites like RU-vid blew up. Didn't feel a huge pressure to be great, just shot really bad short films in the backyard with friends until I started to learn what works. If I had tried to tackle a feature instead I would've been crushed by the results.

This is really true. Thanks Darious, you helped me slow my roll. Cheers!

Great tips and smart, people keep thinking they need to spend big budgets to be successful, put in the work with what you have, take your time be productive. Like you said focus on the details and have fun, just do it!

Really inspiring and motivating at the same time! Thank you Darious!

Thank you, Darious ! This is what friend of mine told me today, work with what you have and buy gear when you'll see you really need it. Thanks again for this great down to earth advice.

My guy! Thank you sir for spreading the word this is very true!!!

Love your videos man, exceptional comments. You always speak of the truth about filmaking and its good to hear all these from someone who knows what he is talking about!! Keep up the good work and influence positive more people!!

Thank you so much for your words!

I just spent like 4 hours making my Amazon wishlist from recommendations from this channel and then watched this... You got me. Glad you made this before I went crazy.

Dude i love your style! The camera movements really support your talk! Very interesting style:)

THANK YOU! I needed to be reminded of that.

Great video. I've started studying editing, mostly in Resolve - which is free - and I'm having a blast. I was up until 4am last night completing a one minute short film for a challenge. As stressful as it was at times, it was also enlightening and fun as I came closer to completing the short. Seeing it coalesce into a completed project. Oh, by the way, I shot it on my iPhone 6. Love your channel.

Yo, D Britt! I'm glad you made this video. I was literally about to blow my next paycheck on a bunch of gear to get my youtube channel goin' again as well as stuff for possible short films but I think I'm just gonna find ways I can use the resources I already have and just use those until I gain more experience. I really appreciate you being real and very direct in this video. I've been watching your vids since 2015 and you continue to inspire me, man. Keep doing what you're doing. God bless, brotha! ^_^

This is honestly my fav. video on this channel .... thanks man..

Its not the destination, its the journey!! lets enjoy this time we have RIGHT NOW! great advice mate!

This may be one of your best videos yet since it teaches us we don't need much to start out making films. Thanks for the realization.

Thanks for this! Exactly what I needed to hear!

Put a big project on the backburner, didn't want to ruin a potential good idea due to inexperience, knowledge and budget. Darius you the real MVP

Great video sir- I found myself in a really similar situation several years ago (ironically my name is Lou too). I will say, though the shoot was ultimately a failure for the reasons you cited, I absolutely learned so much about the process. I learned about the kind of director I needed to be, learned valuable lessons in not biting off more than I could chew. When it happened, it was truly crushing, but nowadays I'm actually kinda glad it happened. Thanks for always putting out brilliant content!!

Your video's help out SO MUCH you don't understand! THANK YOUUUU FOR FILMING!

I promised myself no more RU-vid until I work / shoot for at least an hour. So this morning I got busy with some old phone wire and a hiking pole and made myself a makeshift transition spinner that places my camera like a piece of fish bait and allows a flat camera bag strap to spin it down to a hand catch. Total cost = time only. All tools and materials were already on hand. I could have accomplished the same effect with string and a random stick of wood. Shot two takes of off the cuff dialogue and wrapped after five minutes of footage. Total time......2.25. hours. Estimated time to accomplish the same feat again......30 minutes. That leaves lots of time to work on other improvements. I'm so glad I clicked this video next. It speaks to my moment.

Thank you so much! You might have just stopped me from making a huge mistake. I’m new to filmmaking and I was about to spend hundreds of dollars on gear but because of this video, I realized I may learn so much more from filming with just my iPhone.

I love your videos. Your guidance is awesome. Thank you!

nice thought! I too am going baby steps!

Practicing film and just doing small short videos definitely makes a big difference, I started with a point and shoot and one thing I learned was it's not about the camera but the content and the editing first; some of the videos that have the best content that I have in my archives are some of the ones taken from my point and shoot Nikon camera 😎

Glad I found this because I'm start thinking on upgrading my gear.

Subscribed. Awesome vid. Yeah being overwhelmed with gears is one thing, finishing a project is another thing. Have fun while in the process of filmmaking. Thanks D!

Excellent perspective. The 2 most important things in you toolbox, knowhow and experience, cost nothing but your time...and result in the third...confidence.

I'm a hybrid. Got 3 short films under my belt from school, am spending money on my current project but it's not all going to camera & lights; it's makeup, flyers, food 4 crew, props, etc. Getting it to go far aswell. But I probably could throw a few more smaller projs out, but I REALLLY want to get this one done. But its also kinda like 50 mini projs too if you think abt it.

Yep, you're spot on. Each video I try to add 1 new technique or feature at the most. I don't buy new stuff until I'm sure I really need it. I have a lav mic that's 25 years old (model still being sold new), one of my lenses I've had since junior high. Keep it simple, build on.

Thanks man, I needed to hear this!

Love it man. thanks for all you do.

Great advice..loving your channel and all the insightful information. ☝

Thank you! 100% what i needed to hear!

Thanks Darious! Really useful video. I have to say, I heard this idea many times before I started shooting. What I didn't understand was WHICH mistakes I needed to make. Everything seemed so overwhelming, just like you mention. A video about which things you should practice before you go buy all of the gear would be really useful. Also, one about limitations you're likely to encounter (filming on your mobile, for example) could save people a lot of time! I shot my first vid on the front-facing cam of my iphone and the image was kinda washed out, the audio unusable when shooting myself from a distance and the video VERY shaky. Slowly working my way through your vids, so sorry if you've already answered those questions. Thanks again!

NEED.ED.THIS.TO.DAY! *luckily I’ve invested in mobile filmmaking gear*(moment lenses, ring light, monopod, audio gear, lights, editing apps etc-all for under the cost of a new canon camera) BUT this just allowed me to be confident to just go out and shoot!!

AMAZING ADVICE!!! Start small and build. I think most people want to create, but when push comes to shove...it's not as easy as it looks.

Amen! Haven’t shot Take One (If I ignore the one faux commercial that was shot by an experienced Videographer and I edited myself) and I have a TWO HOUR play to re-produce for posterity. But! I am starting out as small as can be (and still not do throw away work) the opening narration of “me” teasing what is coming up and (most) of the intermediate narration scenes before I engage the first two of a dozen actors (most of whom already performed the work) and I am hoping the straighten out the learning curve by ramping up from one to two to three, the second and third when I’m only behind the camera.

Dude! Something I really needed to hear right now. Thank you

It really is hard to feel like you have to “settle” for something crappy instead of one of your amazing Disney-level ideas. But, it doesn’t necessarily have to be crappy, and like you’ve said, you get it done, it’s more simple, and you have fun most of all. Start small, and you will get big if you work at it. The worst thing to do is not do anything, and if you spend all your time worrying and waiting for the “right time” (like I keep doing), you’ll never get anywhere. And that goes for everything you do ever.

Also, if you're broke as hell like I am or just need to practice shooting, check with your local community public television station to see if they have equipment they can lend you. It's usually free, some places have a membership, and usually the only catch is that you have to give them your finished product for them to air. If your city or town doesn't have one check the next town's over (especially if the next town over is larger).

I am constantly trying to remind myself of this. Thanks for the reinforcement.

That thumbnail looks like it’s from space. I like to get videos done as fast as I can, I create vlogs and try to make a topic/story for that vlog - I try to always focus on the content rather than the gear. But the gear really helps the content, sometimes. Thanks man! You always part some great advice dude

Truth Bespoken D. Nice one!!

Great advice! thanks for posting!

Thank you for this. I needed it

Thanx man....will always appreciate your work .....

I took a video production course 5 years ago and got certified the 4 years ago. I'm just now buying my Zoom H4N and Canon T6i. The Zoom I bought after using an old phone to record audio while shooting videos with my main phone at the time. I got the Zoom after my job bought one for our podcast. I started learning the Zoom and really love it. I got one for multiple reasons: get good audio on my video shoots and work on my audiobook. The T6i I didn't get until I shot a few family videos with my cell phones. Two weeks ago, my family and I went to visit some fam in Cali. I got to shoot with my brother-in-law's Canon 70D, which I enjoyed, but I'm going for the T6i, which is lighter, cost less and has more mega pixels. I say all this to say, "Thank you, Darious. I feel affirmed for not rushing into the big gear and trying to do too much too soon." I'm going to keep it baby steps. BTW, I love this channel. I learn so much with each video.

Yea Needed To Hear That, Thanks!!...We often Get caught up in the Idea if we have The Gear or Gadget that Creators we look up to have we can Create A Video Close too, or just like that person... Know Im Guilty of that...Learning to just work small with what i got and slowly build up to the things i want.(Actually Making me more Creative)

I'm liking this. Thanks for the advice-wish I'd listened to it two years ago. Time to get rolling.