Film has always been my passion. My interest in film began when I was four or five; our family would rent old Godzilla films from Blockbuster. I was fascinated by them, although the dialogue was over my head. But the special effects of those cheesy old movies drew me in. It was then that I began to realize how films could tell a story, one that diverged from reality. Today, I realize that, like drawing, writing, singing, or playing an instrument, film is a form of expression. It’s a way to unleash your creativity. I’ve been creating films for the last ten years.

Of course, I made my first short film when I was five, and it was exactly what you’d expect for that age. But, with a lot of practice, I slowly got better and better. Now, at fifteen, I can put together a decent short film without too much trouble. The most important thing to remember when you’re making a film is that practice doesn’t make perfect, but it certainly helps.

Making films of your own can be a tricky process. There are always things that don’t go according to plan. But with each trial that you overcome, you become stronger. There are still going to be problems in the future. Working with film is an upwards climb where you learn from your mistakes; sometimes many times over. There is no such thing as the perfect film. Even in mainstream Hollywood productions, there are always things that need improvement. One day, I aspire to be a professional director. But for now, I’m going to keep working on my own projects. Even though I will look back one day on them and see all the ways they failed and needed improvement, the experience I gained during making them is valuable. And it will be experience that I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.

William Wellman is a member of the Youth Travel Blogging Mentorship Program

Photo courtesy and copyright William Wellman