At 13, I thought I had already wasted my life. It sounds dramatic, but I felt like I was falling behind. I had no accomplishments, no accolades—nothing to prove I was moving forward. The world seemed to be racing ahead while I was stuck on the sidelines.That feeling didn’t last long—not because of some grand opportunity, but because I realized I couldn’t wait for someone to find me. I had a camcorder, an old iPhone, and a head full of ideas. That was enough. Jacob BoatsmanMy earliest filmmaking memories involve a cheap camcorder and the semi-willing participation of my siblings and friends. Together, we created what could generously be called “movies.” The technical quality didn’t matter; what mattered was the joy of creating something from nothing—the thrill of telling stories only I could tell. That passion became the compass guiding me from backyard productions to becoming an independent filmmaker.Growing up in Davidson, a small suburb outside Charlotte, I had no exposure to the film industry—no local festivals, networking events, or resources for aspiring filmmakers. My only reference was the movies at my local theater. By 9th grade, I had my sights set on creating my own feature film.My first attempt, a 90-minute coming-of-age crime drama called Barcley, was a scrappy, zero-dollar production. We shot it on my iPhone, edited it in iMovie, and leaned on enthusiasm to get through late nights and logistical hurdles. We had no professional crew, fancy equipment, or technical know-how, just teens with a story to...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - 3 days ago