Top Filmmaking Articles of the Week - June 1, 2025
To be a filmmaker, you have to lead. You have to be psychotic in your desire to do something. People always like the easy route. You have to push very hard to get something unusual, something different.
-Danny Boyle
Top Filmmaking Articles of the Week - June 1, 2025
Here are some filmmaking articles that we found interesting the past week. We hope you enjoy!
No Film School – Jason Hellerman
If you’re an unemployed screenwriter looking to stay creative and earn income, there are plenty of alternative jobs that make use of your storytelling skills. Roles like copywriting, podcast scripting, video game writing, or even script consulting allow you to write for different formats while staying close to the film and media world. You can also explore editing, speechwriting, or creating content for brands and social platforms. These jobs not only help pay the bills but also sharpen your narrative instincts in new ways.
No Film School
In a recent episode of the No Film School Podcast, filmmaker Janek Ambros recounted a pivotal phone call with Francis Ford Coppola, who advised him, “You should just make a movie with your iPhone with your friends if you don’t have money.” This encouragement propelled Ambros to create Mondo Hollywoodland, a psychedelic satire shot entirely on an iPhone with a minimal crew. Embracing a DIY ethos, Ambros utilized real locations and cast friends and local eccentrics to capture the film’s countercultural tone. The project exemplifies how resourcefulness and passion can overcome budgetary constraints, aligning with Coppola’s belief in making art with whatever tools are available.
IndieWire – Harrison Richlin
At the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, the International Production: Future of Filmmaking Summit brought together industry professionals to discuss the evolving landscape of global film production. Key topics included the integration of artificial intelligence in filmmaking, the rise of virtual production techniques, and the importance of sustainable practices. Panelists emphasized the need for adaptability and innovation, highlighting how technological advancements are reshaping storytelling and production processes. The summit underscored a collective commitment to embracing new tools and methodologies to meet the changing demands of audiences and the industry alike.
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Film Independent – John Squire
Film Independent’s latest Fiscal Spotlight highlights three nonfiction features that delve into the complexities of institutional change. Monumental, directed by Erika Bolstad, examines the debates surrounding monuments in Portland, Oregon, following their toppling in 2020. The 8th Principle, by Sophia Uehara, explores the challenges faced by a Unitarian Universalist congregation in adopting an anti-racist pledge. Shedding: A Dancer’s Journey of Self-Reinvention, directed by Jingqiu Guan, follows Xin Ying, a principal dancer at the Martha Graham Dance Company, as she navigates her career transition and aspirations to become the company’s first Asian American artistic director. These documentaries, supported through Film Independent’s Fiscal Sponsorship program, offer nuanced perspectives on how individuals and communities confront and reshape longstanding institutions.
Film Threat – Bradley Gibson
Salt Water (2025), directed by Steven Morales Pineda, is a haunting and introspective film set in a Colombian coastal town during the COVID-19 pandemic. It follows Jacobo, a 33-year-old former nurse and abuse survivor, who confronts his past when the priest who molested him returns to town amid new allegations. Instead of seeking justice, Jacobo invites the priest into his home, revealing a complex emotional entanglement that challenges viewers’ expectations. The film delves into the intricacies of trauma, love, and denial, portraying Jacobo’s internal struggle with a quiet intensity. Critics have praised the film for its powerful performances and its nuanced exploration of difficult subject matter, describing it as “an achingly beautiful story about the complicated workings of human love.”
If you’ve found anything interesting this week let us know and we can spread the word next time!