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Hi there! I’m Caroline Guo, a writer and director, and I’m excited to share some insights from my filmmaking journey. It might sound a bit cliché, but the most significant factor in my growth as a filmmaker has been the people I’ve met along the way. Honestly, kudos to anyone who has figured this out! I certainly haven’t mastered it, and I don’t aspire to make a film entirely on my own from start to finish.
It Takes a Team
Filmmaking is a collaborative art form. It truly takes a team, a village, if you will to bring a vision to life. Finding those who share your passion for storytelling and the magic of cinema is essential. Everyone enters this field with different motivations, and connecting with others who are driven by the same passion has been a cornerstone of my journey.
Preparing for the Shoot
When it comes to preparing for a shoot, I don’t have strict rituals, but I do have a few habits that help me get in the right mindset. If I can, I like to squeeze in a quick workout to get my blood pumping and energy flowing. A hearty breakfast is also a must, lots of protein to keep me fueled until lunch.
But above all, the key to my mental preparation is: prep, prep, prep.
Creating a detailed shot list and storyboarding (if that’s your style) is crucial. When things inevitably go awry and they will having that preparation allows me to make confident decisions and keeps my vision clear.
Learning from Mistakes
I’ve made my fair share of decisions that, in hindsight, could be seen as mistakes. However, I prefer to view them as choices I made at the time, based on what I knew then. I remember attending a Q&A with Werner Herzog after a screening of Cave of Forgotten Dreams. Someone asked if he would redo anything in his film, and he replied, “No, because I have to learn to live with my mistakes.” That perspective resonated with me deeply, and it’s a mindset I try to adopt in my own work.
One lesson I’ve definitely learned the hard way is the importance of handling paperwork early. As creatives, it’s easy to get swept up in the artistic process focusing on the story, the visuals, the emotion, while neglecting the logistics. But especially in indie filmmaking, you need to get everything signed and sealed ahead of time: SAG agreements, deal memos, contracts. And if you’re unsure about something, don’t sign it.
I’ve also learned that sometimes you have to walk away from projects or collaborations that just aren’t working. That’s not failure, it’s clarity. It takes courage to step back, but doing so often opens the door to something better.
Looking Ahead
In two years, I hope to have directed my first feature film. I’ve made several shorts with this long-term goal in mind, and the feature I’m developing now is truly a passion project. I’m lucky to be surrounded by an incredible team, and again, it’s the people that make this journey worth it.
As for ten years from now... I try not to look too far ahead. But I hope I’m still creating. Still telling stories. Still writing and directing. Ideally, filmmaking won’t be something I do on the side, but the main focus of my life and work. Like so many of us, I’ve juggled my creative goals with the reality of needing to survive and if I can shift the balance, that would be a dream.
I used to teach, and I’d love to keep teaching in some form, whether in classrooms or through mentorship. I want to keep learning, keep collaborating, and keep growing alongside other filmmakers.
It’s been a long and winding road, full of highs and lows. But I’m still here, still going and that’s what matters. Here’s to whatever comes next.
