You Can Make and Distribute a Movie Yourself

A documentary filmmaker chronicles a gang of mercenaries in Mission X.

David Baker is one bad-ass filmmaker.

Everyone talks about making feature films. Some claim they’ll distribute the movie themselves. Most never get past the wishful thinking stage.

Enter David Baker

In an era filled with big talkers, David’s busy making movies…his way. He’s is in the final stages of launching his film Mission X.

The movie is a gritty, ultra-realistic depiction of mercenaries on a violent mission in the middle of a major metropolitan city.

David is Doing it All

The perfect example of a Hands-On Producer, David is writing, producing, directing, and acting in the film. Talk about hands-on!

Even more interesting, he’s also distributing the film himself. Surprising, considering that David’s first film, Pasty Faces, was distributed by a “real” outlet. So why is David blazing his own trails on Mission X?

David’s Sharing His Secrets

writer/producer/director/actor David Baker on set of Mission X.

David gave us an interview about his career, his movie, and his experimental strategies that have branded him a pioneer in the world of indie filmmakers.

What we love about Mr. Baker is the fact the he’s not afraid to open up and tell his stories in the spirit of helping other indie filmmakers succeed.

In this multi-part interview, David spills the beans on everything, including:

• How he managed to shoot gun-fights in the middle of Glasgow on a tiny budget
• How he’s using social media to promote his movie, and how you can, too.
• How and why he’s distributing the movie himself. It’s not impossible.
• Lessons he’s learned making movies. Great tips you can steal.

David Baker Interview Part 1:

You’ve had quite a career path. You began as an actor?

I went to London in my twenties to get away from a small town in Scotland. I really tried to be an actor for the same reasons as most people when you start out. Meet girls, all the bullshit. But I got isolated in London, read a lot, studied, acted in a lot of student films, and got passionate about the craft of acting. Became a loner geek! I got bored on sets because I had a lot of energy.

In many filmmakers’ eyes, you’ve achieved nirvana: receiving funding and distribution for your movie “Pasty Faces.” Do you see it that way?

No! It was a bad experience. I feel I am just starting now! My first film was all a learning experience about what NOT to do. I don’t regret it though, it’s helping me in many ways today.

What went wrong? What specific experiences on Pasty Faces changed your outlook about indie filmmaking?

Although I HATE my first film, I learned more than any film school could teach. In EVERY area. Production, distribution, marketing.

It was a small film but it had a lot of co-producers, executive producers, and distribution company on board (they partially funded it.) So it was almost a bit like making a film by commitee. Like a Hollywood film on a Micro Brit budget! £350,000 [$560,000.]

We all know a film is a collaborative process, and I am cool with that. I am also on the side of the financiers. Filmmakers love to see them as the enemy, I don’t.

Its only right you want to make a profit if you fund someone’s creative life. But when the [non-creatives] start bringing their paint brushes to your canvas…when THEY want to be creative collaborators…problems!

So there was interferance when I made the film and when I posted it. Memo’s from a large group in lots of areas.

It’s a kind of catch 22 deal. If you are starting out, and you have a strong vision, you need to get that across in a project. But because you are starting out, it’s really hard to get [full creative] control of your project.

I realised why top directors like Robert Rodriguez, Chris Nolan, Sam Rami, Peter Jackson, and coutless others funded their own first projects. Some on much smaller budgets than I had. If you have a strong vision, you need to control the creative process. And the only way you are going to get that full control at the start of your career is by self-funding.

Stay Tuned for Part 2…

…in which David goes in to the making of Mission X, including how he filmed full gun-fights and action scenes on the streets of Glasgow. Be sure to follow us on twitter or to subscribe to our feed so you don’t miss the rest of David’s candid, exciting, and informative interview. Trust us, it’s packed with indie filmmaking gold.

How'd David do this with no money? Stay tuned to find out!