When our sound person failed to show up on set for Landing Home, I didn’t panic. Instead, I opened my meticulously organized email folders, found my “Strong Candidates” list, and had a replacement professional recording sound within hours. This wasn’t luck – it was preparation meeting opportunity.
Directing my first independent film taught me that what separates successful first-time directors from overwhelmed ones isn’t raw talent or artistic vision. It’s systematic preparation that creates the foundation for creativity to flourish.
Finding My Voice Through Research
My journey with Landing Home began with a passion to give voice to those often unheard – veterans and military families. Having created and toured with my play The American Soldier, I had already accumulated substantial research, particularly letters exchanged between military families and their soldiers at war.
These authentic communications became the bedrock of my script. By immersing myself in these deeply personal exchanges, I developed both the knowledge and emotional understanding necessary to tell this story with authenticity.
For any first-time director, this depth of research serves a dual purpose. Beyond informing the content of your film, it builds the confidence needed to lead a production team. When you truly know your subject matter, you can speak with authority about your vision.
Storyboarding As Mental Rehearsal
I believe storyboarding is absolutely critical for first-time directors. More than just planning shots, storyboarding builds confidence within yourself and between you and your team.
Your crew wants to know you understand what you want. When they see you’ve mapped out exactly where actors should stand and precisely what each shot should look like, they relax. They recognize you’re a competent director with a clear vision.
This visual planning served us multiple times during production. When we ran out of time for a bar scene – a critical moment in the film – I didn’t waste precious minutes panicking. My storyboards clearly showed what shots I needed, allowing me to quickly identify an alternative location. We pivoted to shooting in front of a World War II memorial, which ultimately worked better than the original bar setting.
Storyboarding doesn’t limit creativity – it enables it. By handling the technical planning in advance, your mind remains free to adapt when challenges inevitably arise.
The Chemistry Test
My approach to crew selection was simple but non-negotiable: I interviewed everyone personally, from grip to Director of Photography. My belief was firm – if we didn’t gel during the interview, we wouldn’t gel during production.
Chemistry on a film set is incredibly fragile. One personality clash can poison the creative atmosphere for everyone. I made this a hard rule: no interview, no hire. When it became clear my assistant director and I had fundamentally different creative visions, I made the difficult but necessary decision to part ways.
Trust your gut. When you sense someone doesn’t fit your production’s chemistry, act decisively. Making quick, difficult decisions prevents larger problems later.
My background as an actor gave me a unique advantage here. Having worked both on stage and in film as a performer, I could communicate with actors in language they understood. This shared vocabulary built trust and allowed for more efficient creative collaboration.
Organization Creates Freedom
I maintained a detailed email structure for all communication – incoming and outgoing messages organized in logical folders. This wasn’t just administrative busywork. When our original sound person couldn’t make it to set, this system allowed me to quickly access contacts for qualified replacements.
On set, my three-ring binder became known as “the bible.” It contained everything: contracts, permits, releases, costume notes by shooting day, and character development notes for actor discussions. When questions arose, answers were immediately accessible.
I believe that an organized director is a competent and confident director. You can never do enough pre-production. The more thoroughly you prepare, the better your final product will be.
Organization is power. It’s clarity. It provides a framework – a sandbox to play within. This structure doesn’t limit creativity; it gives you clear boundaries within which to think flexibly and solve problems creatively.
Leading With Energy Management
Every morning on set, I made a point to personally greet everyone – from grips to stars. I thanked them for being there. At day’s end, I shook hands, expressed gratitude, and acknowledged their contributions.
These simple human connections matter enormously. As director, your energy affects the entire production. No matter how stressful conditions became, I maintained a positive attitude and projected excitement rather than nervousness.
Think of yourself as the captain of a ship. Your crew watches you constantly for cues about how to feel. If you appear confident and enthusiastic, they’ll follow suit. If you show doubt or frustration, that energy quickly infects the entire production.
Mental Preparation Techniques
From the beginning of pre-production, I interviewed directors with substantially more experience than mine. I meticulously recorded their advice, essentially borrowing their experience to create my own. It functioned as a cheat code – learning from their mistakes so I wouldn’t have to make them myself.
Each night, I practiced a peculiar but effective mental technique. Before sleeping, I would thank myself for having a successful production – even though we were still filming. This created a mental expectation of success that influenced my decisions and attitude the following day.
While I didn’t rely heavily on visualization techniques when working with actors or my Director of Photography, my thorough preparation itself created a visualization of confidence. Knowing exactly what shots I wanted and understanding each character’s motivations gave me clear direction – a light to move toward.
