It’s Never Too Late to Start Making Films

There’s definitely an attraction toward the stories of young renegades who shot their first feature film at an early age, gaining fame and respect “in a blink”. Although the reality is never as simple as that, those stories definitely give away the feeling that passed a certain age, if you haven’t make your first feature, it might mean that you’ve missed the wagon of having a meaningful career as a filmmaker altogether.

Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, David Fincher, Paul Thomas Anderson, Xavier Dolan, Kevin Smith, Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, Christopher Nolan, Shane Carruth, Ryan Coogler have all contributed to inspire filmmakers, but their often sought out stories (on this site included) have also overshadowed other filmmakers with equally unconventional and inspiring journeys to their first film.

With that in mind, I decided to look at the other side of the coin and look at filmmakers who have made their first film well into their 30s and later. One of the thing I was pleased to discover was the diversity of profiles that came out, making for an interesting selection.

Of course, several filmmakers below were often circling around filmmaking, working in fields related to entertainment at large before making their first feature film.

Hopefully this infographic will remind you that the world is composed of diverse filmmakers, with different trajectories and careers and, most importantly, that it’s never too late to make your first feature film. And if there are filmmakers you are not familiar with, I recommend digging into their stories and filmography.

As I like to say, your difference is no longer an obstacle, it’s an asset. Cultivate it, and enjoy:

Designed with Christine Sejean.