We all have those projects. The ones that are now set as private on your YouTube Channel, hidden on a DVD or VHS tape, or securely locked away, buried on a hard drive with dozens, if not hundreds of other projects. Whether you’re just getting started or have been in the industry for years making blockbusters we all started in the same place and we all have those projects that we hope will never see the light of day again. But why are those projects important and how can they help you grow as a filmmaker today, let’s find out.

Myself, Camera Operator Nathan and Actress Celina review a shot in one of my first films.

It doesn’t matter where you are, a film festival, film set, online film group or at a coffee shop; the one thing filmmakers always mention when first meeting each other is how they got started and a mention of those first films. Those were the days when the sky was the limit, everything was fun and exciting and you weren’t stressed out by budgets, paperwork and deadlines. But now those projects have become films that nobody but your family will ever see again. Lately though, I've found a new appreciation for those early projects. Not only did they start me down the path I'm on in filmmaking, but they still hold incredible memories of creating and releasing them. However; I've come to find that they are good for much more.

1) Encouragement

We all have those days, a project doesn’t turnout the way we want, you have to deal with a micromanaging client, you’re struggling to pay the bills or your film bombs financially. The days when all you feel like doing is throwing in the towel and finding a simple day job. But this is where those early projects can come in handy. You might find that behind the scenes videos or pictures brings back memories of jokes and blooper moments on set. Or it might be that looking back allows you to see how far you have grown in your craft and that you are making forward progress in your career. Your early projects might encourage more than just you though. Sometimes they are the exact thing someone else needs to see. I've found it so encouraging to see clips or portions of some of the early projects that were done by filmmakers like Alex and Stephen Kendrick and the Erwin Brothers who are now creating blockbusters seen all around the world. Seeing that they started making movies just like me and of the same quality can really lift the spirits. So hold on to those early projects, because you never know who might see them or the impact they might have,

Cast and crew picture from my first major production.

2) Further Training

The second way I have found my early projects to be helpful is in sharpening my skills. This October was 5 years since I completed one of those early projects. So as a fun learning experience I went back and applied what I have learned since then to making a director's cut. The process started with treating the previous final cut of the film as the rough cut of the film, going through again finding what could be cut, how plot points could be rearranged, etc. Coming back 5 years later really allows you to be much more objective about cutting the film than you are willing during the actual editing process. Myself, I’ve also grown a lot stronger in the realm of working with color since this project so it’s been fun to work with colors correcting things I didn’t know how to and making other shots look better. Maybe for you though re-editing a project would mean focusing on the sound design or looking through your call sheets to see how you would try and improve the schedule, shot list and more. There are so many ways that these old projects can be used for your benefit years later.

The Faith Line-Color Comparison — Before shot of a frame from one of my early films.

The Faith Line Color Grade Compare — After shot with color grade/correction applied

In the end, the early films are not perfect but no film will be. Seeing the scale, scope and quality grow with each film has been super rewarding and fun to look back on. They may always be projects we don't talk about but there is still so much we can learn from them. So don't look down on those projects but look at where they have taken you and where they can still take you.

Producer Thoughts: The Importance of Those Early Films