One of the biggest questions is how to find the right collaborators for your next project

I have a system that takes me less than 10 minutes, so let’s walk through how to make finding filmmakers easier and more enjoyable

1: Shift Your Focus

The most important thing for any potential collaborator to know is what you bring

We tend to focus a lot on the specific project. What genre it is, what the story is, what the comps are and so on 

But before all that, they have to know who you are as a filmmaker, and what you bring to a project

You can have the story laid out in the most specific way possible, but it will always look different depending on whose hands it’s in

You need clarity on what you make and how you make it, before anything else 

Read more: How to Find Your Filmmaking Niche

2: Long-Term Wins

Once you have that clarity, focus on long-term connection, rather than a single connection for just one project

When you prioritise long-term connection, you’re able to actually get to know each person – what their values are, how they work and so on

Which means that when you’re looking for collaborators for your next project, you’ll be able to go to your own directory and find two or three people that you already have a great connection with. Then all you have to do is send them an email 

Et voila – you have your own bank of ready-made collaborators

Read more: What To Do Instead of Funding Your Own Film

3: Into the Wild

So now we know how to process works, how do you actually find the right people?

I like to use Facebook groups, but you could also use Twitter or LinkedIn, or any other social media platform really

Then all it takes is three sentences

In whichever group or platform you choose, share a quick post along the lines of…

‘Hi, I’m Charlotte. I’m a producer making films about the dreamers who dare to do things differently and I’d love to connect with any writers or directors who are also making work connected to that theme. Feel free to send me an email at…’ 

It’s easy, it’s simple, and it’s going to attract the right people because they’re already interested in what you’re making 

Having a huge network is great, but not if you can’t genuinely collaborate and work together 

For me, it would be a waste to connect with writers or directors who exclusively make horror films, for example 

But one of my current clients is making films about anti-heroines grappling with their individuality. Now that is something I want to get involved with 

See the difference?

Read more: 3 Ways to Get Producers to Take You Seriously

When you know exactly what it is that you’re making, or want to make, and you start putting that out there, the right people will be coming to you