How To Find Your Filmmaking Voice In 3 Simple Steps

As a documentary filmmaker, how do you find your voice as an artist? How do you go from copying others to being the filmmaker who others want to emulate? In this video I am going to share a simple 3 step process to help you unlock your personal creativity and move you closer to the filmmaker only you can be!

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WHO AM I?
If we haven’t met yet before - Hey 👋 I'm Austin Meyer and I am a documentary filmmaker based in Berkeley, California. I'm a National Geographic Explorer and my work has been featured by HBO, Hulu, Apple TV, The New York Times, National Geographic, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and PBS among others. Through my videos here on this channel, and my podcast called The Austin Meyer Podcast, I share skills, mindsets, and lessons to help you become a better documentary filmmaker and build the life full of creativity that you aspire towards.

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⌚️Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
0:26 - What Is Creativity?
1:24 - The Challenge Of Unlocking Your Creativity
3:35 - Step 1 - Be Obvious
8:32 - Step 2 - Make A Mess
12:06 - Step 3 - Keep Creating
13:35 - Final Thoughts

#documentaryfilmmaking #documentary #filmmaking

[Shalin.S.Shah.]

I stopped at 9:50 and had tears rolling down my cheeks! This is at 12:53 am MST! For the longest time in my life, I have been wanting to make it to professional photography and filmmaking community and space. I have acquired all great gears, made list out of it, watched thousands hours of YouTube content and tutorials, but haven't been able to make a single decent video that I could be proud of. My wife has told me that I need to leave my perfectionism and throw it out of the 100 storey building and just go out shoot but I have just never believed in myself for others to believe in me. I just want to know everything and learn everything before I go out and shoot so I do not disappoint my clients or make a mess but along that way, but I guess I forgot that I used to suck at brushing my teeth, in studies, and about everything when I was a kid!

You have really hit this home in this video and I just have mad respect for you. We need more people like you in this era of YouTube where every other YouTuber want to move to next best thing before you even get the hang of what you have as of this moment!

[paperpliers]

I’m not a film maker but I relate to this so much. I struggle so much with perfectionism that I even want to reedit my first video! But you’re right, creativity takes action. And it’s truly a numbers game. And at the end of the day, we just want to be able to share ourselves! Thank you for sharing!!!❤

[jormagates]

This one might be your TED Talk 😄 Big congrats on slaying that dragon 43 weeks in a row! While not a filmmaker, content like this completely transcends that specific subject / profession by providing brilliant advice for living a life filled with pursuit and achievement of goals. Appreciate the coaching AMF!

[charliegardnermedia]

So glad I stumbled into your channel Austin... I've spent the past week or two binging most of your last 43 (and counting) videos and this one definitely struck a chord. I feel like I've lost and been forced to rediscover my inspiration to tell stories and make documentaries about impactful people countless times over the past few years and I keep asking myself why. I think so many of us are scared to be creative. Scared to take that jump into the unknown. It's like we’re waiting for permission to express our true selves, and sometimes, we never get there because of fear or doubt. Your vulnerability at the end was so refreshing, especially in a platform often focused on perfection. Can't wait to hear more from you!"

[dancethroughglass]

Another great one, Austin! Love your content! Love the Proust quote and the fact you shared your dragons with us. Most creators wouldn’t have done that 🙏

[clifford_wakeman]

This is an incredibly valuable video.
Thank you mate.

[brucedevereux]

Great video! Love your view of creativity. To me, creativity is also about creating value.

[nicolasflores]

❤ first! Love the videos man! I’ve been sharing all your videos with my friends. This topic on creativity will help a lot!