Examples Of Some Successful Filmmakers

I would take a look at all the successful filmmakers we know. The ones who have become successful are the ones who went out there, with little or no money, begged, borrowed, stole and made their first film by hook or by crook, the success of which put them in a position where they could actually pitch and get a film made.


Robert Rodriguez went to Mexico with an Arri S, few Home Depot lights, and a PMD and made El Mariachi which became a cult hit. Shyamalan with a bit of his parents' money came to India and made Praying With Anger which he sold to an American cable TV channel. Richard Kelley got out of USC, found Drew Barrymore through some heavy networking and got Donnie Darko made.


Few filmmakers I know have been able to make features based on thematically similar short films they made. Manish Jha made Matrubhoomi with French money after A Very Very Silent film won the jury prize at Cannes. Richie Mehta raised money and made Amal with Naseer saab after his short of the same name had a successful festival run with lot of exposure. Murali Nair made Oru Neenda Yathra, a short that got nominated for the golden palm at Cannes based on which he raised French money to make a Malayalam feature. He continues making Indian films with French money till today. In fact, he is the man to talk to learn how to pitch a film that perhaps doesn't fit into the moulds of traditional Indian filmmaking.

Views By Vijay