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As much as you'd like to be able to make a film on your own without the meddling of others, it will significantly limit what kind of film you can make. Without the help of actors you would have to be in it or forgo the presence of humans, which usually will limit the presence of an audience.

To make most films you will have to collaborate with a group of other creative people. These people don't want to just take orders. That's not why they would help you. They want something out of it beyond helping you reach your goals. Even if you were to pay your helpers, you won't get their best efforts unless you keep in mind a few collaboration guidelines.

Leave Room For Them To Innovate, Too

You can't pick up day laborers to make up your filmmaking crew. These film artists are not just anybody. If nothing else, they have to be motivated to work in and around movies. Hopefully they are highly skilled in the art and craft of film making. These are creative positions that require taste and style; not highly-practiced button pushing. These are creative people that like the creative part as much as the position itself. They want to express a part of themselves in their work, not just be your robot crew member.

Factor in ways for them to be creative, too. Maybe leave some questions unanswered and figure out the solution together, or let them decide a few things on their own.

Don't Cling To Ideas Just Because They’re Yours

You came up with it and it is not working. The actor does not feel right saying the line you wrote, but it has to be there for something else to make sense later. You are getting testy because other people have ideas that are better but you feel you need to stand your ground to maintain your authority. You fight for your bad idea and you increase your authority but starting losing credibility instead.

Just because you came up with it does not mean it is the best idea. You probably stole it from somewhere anyhow. You do not have to steal ideas anymore, people will give you some.

Be A Judge And Creator Of Ideas

You are a bundle of ideas, we get it. But they have ideas, too. It is understood that you are the decision-maker and ultimate authority, but that will not make them feel any better about you never considering any of their ideas much less using them. Your job should not only be generator of ideas but also the creator of the criteria by which others' ideas are judged. There will be times you gamble on a crew member's ideas and later be glad you did. They also may come up with something horrible you used anyways. We do not make films in a vacuum, this is a part of the process. It is a delicate balancing act.

Your style will be dictated as much by the crew's ideas as their execution. What good is the greatest idea in the world if you ca not get people to help you turn it into a movie.

Have A Vision But Keep It Flexible

You are the only one that has seen the movie before it is been shot. Everybody is working in the dark but you can see bright lights and colors. This movie you see in your head is what you are shooting, right? Unfortunately that movie was made without all the external factors that are necessary to bring it to fruition. It is good that you have a version of the movie in your head, but remember that it is just a VERSION. It is not the only version. It is a general idea, an outline. You will never be able to shoot that movie in your head so do not ever lead yourself to believe it.

The more the reality of film directing is brought to the surface, the less certain personalities want to be movie directors. There really isn't the authority and control many believe directors have. You are a leader, but not a cult leader. They will not follow you blindly to fulfill your every hope and dream. They are helping you for selfish reasons. The more you can help them get something out of the film, the more they will help you get what you want out of it.