Part One: Claire J. Harris, writing in Noteworthy The Journal Blog, shares some Hard Truths About Making An Indie Film.

It boils down to all the time it takes:

“It may have been rather naïve to produce a feature film when I’d never even set foot on a film set before. How long could it possibly take, I asked myself, then decided the answer was definitely “No more than six months”. Reader, that was almost four years ago. We had six months of pre-production leading up to the shoot — but completing the film took another 18 months. Add three months to prepare our theatrical release, nine months of travelling with the film to Q&A screenings around Australia, and festivals interstate and overseas, then another few months to organise and promote the digital release. Throw in the two or so years I spent writing the screenplay and… I’m starting to find it difficult remembering a time when Zelos didn’t occupy most of my life.”

And all the the self-motivation required to finish:

“When you shoot and edit the film, you have people around you all doing their jobs (you hope) and driving the film forward with you. Then your cast and crew move on to their next projects and suddenly it’s just you, the producer, pushing the boulder up the hill on your lonesome. There’s no one to encourage you or to hold you accountable if you just… stop.”

Part Two: Chris O’Falt, writing in IndieWire, asks 30 SXSW Directors how they make a living.

Here are some of the answers:

• I am a licensed realtor
• Producing independent films
• My family’s toy business Creative Director
• I work as a writer and actress
• I am a musician
• I’m a faculty member at Columbia University’s School of the Arts MFA Film Program
• I run a legendary karaoke RV, called the RVIP Lounge
• Digital video editor and event producer
• Playwright, teacher, and journalist
• I DP independent films for a living
• I’ve worked for a decade as a docent and live animal keeper at the American Museum of Natural History. I’ve spent three years in Germany as a falconer’s apprentice. And I’ve worked several years in a military post office. I also make animated, educational content for web channels like TED. And I have a secret life as a visual artist.

My take: I present these two stories together because they’re related. As Claire reminds us, indie films take years. And as Chris reports, most filmmakers need day jobs to keep money on the table; some are lucky to gig in the industry while others look for unrelated work. Making money with movies is indeed hard work.