Hello everyone! I’m Emmanuel, a filmmaker base in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Starting out as a filmmaker you think you want to do films about "A". (Enter gym vids, sport vids etc) You start there. You build the portfolio, craft the pitch, set up the website. You're convinced this is "it." Then you do the work. And somewhere between the third shoot and the tenth project, you realize you actually love B. Not A. B was always hiding in the details—in the way light hits a product, in the rhythm of a different kind of story, in working with clients who excite you in ways you didn't expect. So you pivot. And then stumble into C. My A was skateboarding videos My B was fashion films. My C was artistic documentary filmmaking. And it is still evolving. This is the filmmaker's journey nobody tells you about. ⚠️ The Trap of thinking you need to have it "all figured out" and spend hours over-planning. Here's what most people do: they figure out what they think they want to do as a filmmaker, then they invest heavily upfront. New website. Logo. Brand guidelines. Marketing funnel. Social media strategy. The whole apparatus. And this is what i did myself. Six months in, they realize it's not actually "it." Now they're either stuck doubling down on something that doesn't excite them, or they're starting over with all that wasted effort. ✅ The Better Way: DO THE WORK FIRST before you build the business around it. Start free. Start for passion projects. Start for friends. Start for anyone willing to let you experiment. Why? Because doing reveals truth that planning never will. When you're actually on set, actually editing, actually talking to clients—that's when you discover what genuinely lights you up versus what you thought would light you up. Maybe you start making gym videos and realize you're actually obsessed with luxury e-commerce cinematography. Maybe you thought you wanted narrative but you're actually a documentary person. Maybe you think you want to direct but you're really in love with color grading. The work teaches you. Planning only guesses.

Do you use your phone? A DSLR camera? Which camera do you use?

Filmmaking Hangout 2 Februar Today’s session was a wide-ranging but very aligned conversation about finding and trusting your filmmaking voice—not just conceptually, but practically. Key themes: - The importance of articulating a clear vision/mission for your work as a creative compass - How naming your style can feel emotional, grounding, and clarifying—and why that’s a good sign - Genre as a tool: using horror, fantasy, comedy, sci-fi, and whimsy to talk about heavy subjects without flattening them into “issue films” - Why comparison (Nolan, Beyoncé, etc.) is a trap—and how specificity is what actually creates originality - How lighting, exposure, and color already tell story before plot ever does - Editing realities: choosing tools that help you finish projects (CapCut vs. DaVinci), not tools that slow you down - Practical workflows for phone filmmaking, file transfer, compression, and cutting long footage - Why “find your voice” work is foundational—it affects both personal films and client work - Why finishing one project matters more than using the “right” software - Structuring the classroom around two main goals:(1) making your first film and (2) getting your first clients

🎬 Want to Learn How to Make Documentary Films… and Earn Money from Them? Join me and discover how to create compelling documentary films that not only tell stories but also attract paid brand collaborations. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up your filmmaking skills, this is your chance to turn your passion into a profitable craft. 💡 Need feedback on your work? Take the next step in your filmmaking journey with a one-on-one review of your portfolio — completely free. 📅 Book a FREE Portfolio Audit Today