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Create Your Own Content

Waiting to be picked is a strategy with no timeline. Making your own work is the one part of this career you control completely - and it is now the most common way actors build a reel, a network and a reason for people to say yes.

Start with the masterclass Go to the library

Journey 9 is the whole method. The rest of this page is the practical detail underneath it.

Start with the masterclass

Nearly two hours on making your own work, from idea to finished piece.

JOURNEY 9 | How To Create Your Own Content1

Journey 9 · 1h 43m

How To Create Your Own Content

How to create your own content as an actor. What to make, how to make it well on no money, and how to make it actually serve your career instead of just existing.

Class downloads

Four downloads with this masterclass

Open the masterclass and you will find them under the video: a Class Summary Booklet so you can read it instead of rewatching, a How To Guide laid out in the order you do the work, a Goal Checklist to tick off as you go, and a 50 question Test with the answers at the back.

Journey 9 downloads

Free guide

Film festivals for women filmmakers

Made a short or a feature? 74 festivals with a section, award, prize or lab for women directors, women filmmakers or female leads, ranked by quality, with how to enter and the next deadline.

See the festival list

Questions actors ask

Two-minute answers, straight from the casting directors, agents and managers in our library.

Actor question

How to Make a Short Film as an Actor

Story, budget, crew, permits and festivals.

Actor question

Actor Demo Reel: What to Include and How Long It Should Be

How long, what goes on it, and reels vs clips.

Actor question

How to Become a Voice Actor

Demos, a cheap home studio, agents and audiobooks.

The video library

Smaller than the other hubs on purpose - the class covers most of it. These are the specifics.

Creating your own content · 19 videos

Deciding what to make, why most actor-made content does not work, and what to do differently.

▶PITCH SUCCESS - Pitch Decks with Sara Elizabeth Timmins1h 23m▶Crowdfunding For Creatives: Fund Your Passion Project & Hire Yourself59 min▶How To Find A Screenwriter Or Scripts To Produce3:28▶Create Your Own Demo Reel Scene1:42▶Create Your Own Content - Intro1:10▶How Can I Make Quality Content Inexpensively?1:09▶How Can Up-Skilling Into Other Areas Help An Acting Career?1:03▶How Do I Make My Content Rise To The Top In A Crowded Market Place?0:45
Show the other 11 videos
▶How Do I Monetize My Content?1:28▶I Have Been Making Content For Years & It Doesn't Catch Heat, Help!1:10▶Is YouTube Still A Good Platform For Content Creators?0:51▶Should I Create Comedy Or Dramatic Content?0:15▶Should I Put Content I Created On My Resume? If So, How Should I Represent It?0:44▶What Advice Would You Give A Novice Content Creator?1:24▶What Are Some Benefits Of Acting In & Producing Your Own Project?0:57▶What Genre Of Content Is There An Audience For?0:34▶What Kind Of Content Is The Best To Invest My Time In?0:42▶Would You Recommend That Actors Produce Projects For Themselves To Act In?0:50▶Would You Recommend That Actors Produce Projects For Themselves To Act In? With Melissa Center0:35

Short film production · 31 videos

Actually producing it. Scripts, crew, schedule and the traps of a first short.

▶How Films Are Made: Production4:19▶How Do I Budget A Short Film Project?2:53▶What Kind Of Equipment Would You Recommend To Shoot A Short Film?1:47▶How Much Should I Budget For A Short Film?1:44▶Should I Direct & Act In My Short Film?1:42▶Any Tips On Finding A Composer Cheaply For My Short Film?0:35▶Any Tips To Reduce The Budget When Revising My Script For Shooting?0:51▶Can I Feature My Favorite Brands In My Short Film?0:39
Show the other 23 videos
▶Can I Use My Favorite Song In My Short Film?0:34▶Do I Need Permits To Shoot My Short Film?0:57▶Do I Need To Attach Celebrities To Sell My Feature Film?0:46▶Does Violence Restrict My Film Distribution Options?0:36▶How Can I Fund My Short Film?1:07▶How Can I Hire A Known Actor To Appear With Me In My Short Film?0:57▶How Can I Hire A Known Actor To Appear With Me In My Short Film? With Melissa Center0:57▶How Can I Meet Or Find Crew In Order To Make My Short Film?0:51▶How Do I Get My Short Film Noticed By Film Festivals?0:44▶How Do I Get Permits To Shoot My Short Film?0:19▶How Do I Use Green Screen For My Short Film?0:49▶How Much Should I Budget For Competitive Entry Into Short Film Festivals?0:54▶How Should I Select Which Short Film Competitions To Enter?1:11▶I Am SAG-AFTRA, Do I Need To Make My Shorts According To SAG-AFTRA Contracts?0:41▶Should I Write A Short Film According To What Is In Vogue Right Now?1:17▶Should I Write My Own Script For A Professionally Taped Demo Reel?0:53▶What Are Three Tips To Making A Successful Short Film?0:31▶What Is Colour Grading & Do I Need It For A Short Film?0:45▶What Is Mezanine Financing In Feature Films?0:32▶What Is The Bare Minimum Crew I Need To Make A Short Film?1:26▶What Program Should I Edit My Short Film On?0:13▶What Should I Be Careful Of When Making A Short Film?1:08▶Where Can I Find An Editor For My Short Film?0:21

Getting it financed and seen · 58 videos

Money, festivals, distribution and showcases. Making it is half the job.

▶Intro to Showcases4:16▶What Deductions Should I Expect From My Sales Agent?2:52▶Should I Attend Film Markets As A Film Producer Trying To Find A Sales Agent?2:49▶What Is A Collection Account In Feature Film Distribution?1:37▶Should I Enter Film Festivals Or Find A Sales Agent First?1:36▶What Deductions Should I Expect From My Distributor?1:35▶How Are Points On A Film Divided Up Between Producer, Investor & Creatives?1:34▶Are Low Budget Genre Films Easier To Sell?1:16
Show the other 50 videos
▶Are Showcases Illegal?0:26▶At An Agency Showcase, Should I List My Current Agent On My Resume?0:26▶Can I Do Improv At A Showcase?0:13▶Can I Do Standup At My Showcase?0:15▶Can I Get Commercial Representation From Showcases?0:20▶Can You Be Too Experienced For A Showcase?0:19▶Can You Be Too Green For A Showcase?0:18▶Does The Run Time Affect The Value Of A Feature Film?0:47▶How Are SAG-AFTRA Residuals Calculated?1:05▶How Do Actors Get Compensated On A Feature Film?0:43▶How Do You Know When To Pay Each Investor Back On My Feature Film?0:57▶How Does A Film Sales Agent Interact With A Film Distributor?0:33▶How Does A Producer Reach Out To A Sales Agent With Their Feature Film?1:27▶How Does A Sales Agent Sell A Film?1:19▶How Many Investors Can You Have On A Film?1:04▶How Much Is A Showcase?0:14▶I'm Only Interested In One Agent At Showcase. What Should I Do To Target Them?0:24▶Should I Corner Agents After My Showcase To Ask For Representation?0:23▶Should I Do A Monologue At My Showcase?0:22▶Should I Dress Sexy At My Showcase?0:16▶Should I Pay To Do Casting Or Agent/Manager Showcases?1:11▶Should I Stay & Mingle After My Showcase?0:26▶Should I Try To Sell My Own Film Directly To Distributors In Each Territory?1:16▶Should I Use My Natural Accent At Showcase?0:14▶The Showcase Was A Disaster. What Now?0:44▶The Showcase Went Great! What Now?0:39▶What Are Points On A Feature Film?0:33▶What Are Some Elements That Make A Movie Less Commercial?1:03▶What Are Some Elements That Make A Movie More Commercial?1:16▶What Are The First Steps I Should Take To Finance A Feature Film?1:10▶What Are The Ways In Which Actors Are Compensated On A Feature Film?0:51▶What Does Last In First Out Mean In Film Finance?0:39▶What Genres Are Most & Least Sellable To Foreign Territories?1:21▶What Headshot Type Should I Use For My Showcase - It's Such A Mix Of Companies?0:25▶What Is A Film Distributor?1:02▶What Is A Film Sales Agent?0:39▶What Is A Ripomatic in Feature Film Financing?0:44▶What Is An Escrow Account For Feature Film Finance?0:31▶What Is An Exhibitor In Film Distribution?0:09▶What Is Gap & Mezanine Financing In Feature Films?0:30▶What Is P&A Finance In Film Distribution?1:06▶What Is The Difference Between Backend Points & Residuals?1:12▶What Is The Difference Between NET & Gross In Film Finance?0:58▶What Is The Sales Cycle Of A Feature Film Once It Is Ready To Sell?1:08▶What Is VPF In Film Distribution?0:50▶What Percentage Of The Feature Film Budget Would Get Someone An EP Credit?0:30▶What Should I Offer To An Investor Who Puts Money Into My Film?1:12▶Where Do You Find Finance To Produce A Film?1:08▶Where Should I Start To Learn About Feature Film Financing?0:36▶Who Gets An Executive Producer Credit In Feature Film?0:27

Hosting and presenting · 44 videos

A separate and genuinely underrated income stream, and a good use of a camera you already own.

▶What Are Some Tips On Using A Teleprompter?2:06▶How Can I Get The Crowd Involved At A Live Event That I'm Hosting?1:52▶What Are Some Big 'No No's' When Hosting An Infomercial?1:50▶What Do I Need To Keep In Mind When I'm Branding Myself As A Host?1:49▶Where Can I Find Hosting Jobs?1:46▶What Is The Secret To Being A Successful Home Shopping Host?1:39▶What Terminology Can I Use To Encourage People To Buy, Without Turning Them Off?1:34▶Is It Possible To Do Infomercials Without Making It Sound 'Salesy'?1:32
Show the other 36 videos
▶Are Facebook Live And Instagram Stories Good To Practice Hosting?1:01▶Are There Any Places That I Don't Need A Permit To Film?0:28▶Can I Shoot A Hosting Showreel On My Iphone?0:26▶Do I Need A Consent Form To Ask People Questions On The Street?0:35▶Do I Need A Permit To Interview Random People On The Street?0:28▶Do I Need A Separate Demo Reel / Showreel For Hosting?0:42▶Do I Need An Agent Or Manager To Become A Host?0:33▶Do I Need To Hold A Microphone To Do Interviews?0:26▶Do I Need To Provide Questions In Advance?0:57▶How Do I Get Access To Do Interviews On Red Carpets?0:58▶How Should I Greet A Guest When They Walk Out?0:46▶I Want To Host A Travel Show, Should I Just Go On Holidays And Film What I Do?0:45▶In A Live Recording What Do I Do If The Teleprompter Stops Working?0:59▶Is It Better To Ask An Actor About Their Movie Or Something More Random?0:58▶Is It Better To Do A Lot Of Research About A Guest, Or Just See What Happens?1:04▶Is It Good To Use Humor When Hosting?0:49▶Is Your Voice Important If You Want To Be A Host?1:10▶Should I Incorporate Singing Into My Hosting?0:34▶Should I Let People Hold The Microphone When I'm Interviewing?0:21▶What Are Some Big 'No Nos' When Hosting Home Shopping?1:05▶What Are The Best Kinds Of Shows To Host?0:40▶What Are The Common Qualities That Great Hosts All Have?1:24▶What Can I Do If The Microphone Keeps Popping During My Interviews?0:41▶What Can I Do To Keep The Energy Up With A Subdued Guest?0:31▶What Do I Do If No-One Is Listening At A Live Event I'm Hosting?1:19▶What Do I Need To Include When I Am Introducing A Person?0:37▶What Do I Need To Include When I Am Introducing A Segment?0:44▶What Is The Best Way To Get Into Hosting?1:28▶What Is The Difference Between An Infomercial And Home Shopping?1:27▶What Is The Key To Answering Good Follow-Up Questions?1:04▶What Is The Secret To Being A Successful Infomercial Host?1:24▶What Questions Should I Ask People I Am Interviewing?0:54▶What Should I Do If A Guest Has Asked For Question Restrictions?0:50▶What Should I Say When The Producers Want Me To "Buy Some Time"?1:04▶What Should I Wear As A Host?1:02▶What Tips Do You Have For Ending A Segment?0:47

One more thing. The point of making your own work is almost never the thing you make. It is the four filmmakers you meet doing it, the footage you end up owning, and the fact that you stopped waiting. Judge the project on those.