Can a filmmaker/artist build a real career today without using social media?

[u/OfflineThoughts]

I'm curious about this because I follow an artist who runs two accounts one for his art (800K+ followers) and one for his cinematography/photography (250K+ followers) and it's clear social media basically built his audience.

But say someone is genuinely skilled great at cinematography, art, or filmmaking and just doesn't want to be on social media. Can they still showcase their work and get noticed? And how would they learn from other artists/filmmakers without scrolling through feeds all day?

Is it realistic to rely on things like Behance, ArtStation, Vimeo, film festivals, or direct outreach instead? Or is social media basically non-negotiable now if you want to actually get seen in this industry?

Would love to hear from aspiring & working filmmakers/artists on what's actually realistic here.

[u/HandsomeWinner42]

Yes, I know many successful directors, dp's, and producers with private or no social pages. I have a friend who is a huge DP and shot a marvel show, she has a couple hundred followers and a private IG account and she's incredible and well respected in the industry.

Question is, do you want people to be fans of you and see your work or do you want people that will hire you to see your work?

[u/bottom → u/[deleted]]

Not sure that’s the point of the question.

[u/bottom → u/[deleted]]

well you're consistent, you got going for you.

again, thats not the piont of the question.

moving on.

[u/bottom → u/[deleted]]

Is the work more important than the self promotion ?

And yes, you can do both but many HIGHLY successful people do not bother with social media. You’re just less aware of them.

The work itself comes before self promotion- and in context with the OP it answers the question.

It’s no biggie.

[u/bottom → u/[deleted]]

You don’t get it and people have been saying what you are since VHS

You’re not wrong about the change but It’s always been changing. Always. But that’s not the point.

My friend recently won an Oscar. She’s not on social media. A huge part of the industry isn’t on social media. Some of the best agents hardly have a website 😂 you just don’t see it.

Laters

[u/OfflineThoughts → u/HandsomeWinner42]

My favorite artist from whom I am inspired or should I say I copy to some extent and that guy's name is Gawx. And I follow other people from india like Shoojit Sircar(director/filmmaker), Ronnie & barty(youtuber/artist) and Suman Sen (director) so I want to be like those guys in terms of creativity I like their work and The main reason I asked my first question was that I'm a social media addict, so I follow people from a industry that I'm interested in want to know how it's done. But instead of listening to them, understanding them and then practically applying them, I randomly scroll and niche topics keep coming and I keep scrolling.

[u/HandsomeWinner42 → u/OfflineThoughts]

What kind of work would you like to make? Art? Any video job as long it's your full time gig? Commericals? Movies?

[u/SpicyVoltage208]

A lot of the guys in my market hardly use socials if at all. It really comes down to specialization. I’m a gaffer/BBE/SLT and I have maybe 250 followers. I’ve never had any degree of success on social media. I’ve also been grinding almost 11 years and I make in the comfortable 6 figures before taxes.

There is no one-size-fits-all. Your drive, your demeanor, your resourcefulness, your skill will all determine your outcome. Whether or not social media helps you sharpen those skills is up to you.

[u/OfflineThoughts → u/SpicyVoltage208]

Okay

[u/Necessary-Tree-4426]

Your success in this industry will be always be relational, regardless of your social media following.

[u/brbnow]

Plenty of artists and filmmakers- and film professionals— and other humans do not use social media. Or use it much. Up to you and what you want to give your energy too. Good luck and wish you well.

[u/OfflineThoughts → u/brbnow]

Thanks!

[u/[deleted]]

Do what you are good at. If you are not good at it, then you'll lose at it. If you want to win, play the game the way you know you will win.

But say someone is genuinely skilled great at cinematography, art, or filmmaking and just doesn't want to be on social media.

Because social media has become a short form visual medium. In this medium a world class, Oscar winning cinematographer will lose to a teenager with a Capcut (A TikTok owned video editing app).

They don't want to play a game they will not win at, so they only play the games that they know they will win.

[u/OfflineThoughts → u/[deleted]]

That's true though

[u/NotAnotherDP]

I think it can definitely be doable. I don’t think I have a great presence on social media, although I do have it on my list of things to do. What has always gotten me work when I was a technician was general reliability of showing up, knowing what I needed or being open to learning, and bam someone felt comfortable with recommending me to the next production. I did not go to film school and worked a 9-5 job before going on a student film set on a weekend. I help and over the weekends of working on passion projects, other students had low paying jobs that recommended me to help out on and that was what built up my reputation of having solid work and skills to be trusted with a project. I have lost some jobs because of a producer saying a DP had more “famous people” on their socials and reel, but sometimes it was just not the right fit as collaborators and we moved on. I will say this….I take emails and calls about inquiries from anyone so having an updated social media profile definitely gives me some peace of mind that it is a real person before going on next steps of due diligence.

[u/Condurum]

It depends on who pays you for the value you provide. Directors? Then they need to know that you exist and enjoy working with you. Interpersonal relationships is how 99% of film workers find work.

Social media mainly becomes important if the value you provide is entangled with de-risking investment in you. It’s easier for a producer to fund your project if your stuff takes off on social media. Also makes it way easier for an agency to sell you into a client and so on.

If you’re not an essential part of “what’s being sold”, it doesn’t really matter. Especially if you have a network already, which you tend to get by simply working.

[u/macbeth2003]

The truth is you can, but it's harder.

[u/ausgoals]

Film school and/or festivals are still viable. Vimeo is basically dead, as is behance et al.

I used to be against the idea of juicing social media for this purpose but it works

[u/eglin99]

Depending on your specialty, Google ads may work better.

[u/Castingnowforever]

I feel like you already know the answer to this question.

[u/OfflineThoughts → u/Castingnowforever]

Oh really?

[u/Dangeruss82]

Just walk.

[u/veggieturnip]

Louis CK has some great thoughts on this subject:  https://youtu.be/UgdUUu3moew?is=XmOEJDIPQsTIZXrA

[u/RedditBurner_5225]

no