# Filmmakers Should Stop Making These 5 Common Mistakes

Published 2019-10-04 · Updated 2026-03-19 · Professional AV on MarketScale
Canonical: https://www.marketscale.com/industries/pro-av/filmmakers-should-stop-making-these-5-common-mistakes

> Why learn from your mistakes when you can learn from someone else’s? As a freelance filmmaker, I’ve made plenty of mistakes. Really, really, really dumb mistakes that are bad. I’ve underestimated shoot times by days. I’ve done way more free work than I’d care to admit. I’ve even agreed to shoot projects without, you know, actually having…

##### Why learn from your mistakes when you can learn from someone else’s?

As a freelance filmmaker, I’ve made plenty of mistakes. Really, really, really dumb mistakes that are bad.

I’ve underestimated shoot times by days. I’ve done *way more* free work than I’d care to admit. I’ve even agreed to shoot projects without, you know, actually having access to cameras or mics or literally any gear whatsoever.

But live and learn and all that… Your silly foibles (hopefully) inform your future decisions until you get better. But damn, there are some mistakes that may be coming into your professional orbit like goddamn asteroids, the impacts of which might be truly damaging to your career and, like, heart.

Read more at [No Film School](https://nofilmschool.com/dont-make-these-filmmaking-mistakes)

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