So, you want to start a production house in India? Cute. Hope you like sleepless nights, broken tripods, and clients who think “we’ll pay next week” means “never.”
Here’s the thing: starting your own production company sounds glamorous, but it’s mostly you, a
camera, and a terrifying amount of Google searches about GST. Still, if you’re mad enough to chase stories for a living, read on.
1. Stop Talking. Start Filming.
Everyone’s got “ideas.” Very few actually pick up the camera and make something. The only way to prove you can tell a story is to tell one. So shoot. Mess up. Fix it. Post it. Repeat until people start saying, “Hey, that’s actually good.”
2. Find Your Tribe.
You can’t do this alone. You’ll need a DOP who doesn’t flake, an editor who doesn’t vanish mid- project, and a sound guy who understands words like “deadline.” Build a small team that gets your madness and doesn’t run when things go wrong because they will go wrong.
3. Make Friends With Paperwork.
Register your business. Get your licenses, bank accounts, and tax numbers sorted. It’s the least fun part, but it’s the part that lets you send invoices instead of “gentle reminders.” Nothing kills a creative high faster than realizing you can’t legally get paid.
4. Figure Out Who You Are.
Everyone’s making something these days. What makes your work worth watching? Maybe it’s your humor. Maybe it’s how you find beauty in chaos. Whatever it is, find your flavor and stick to it like it owes you money.
5. Learn to Sell the Dream.
No one’s coming to “discover” you. You’ll have to pitch, chase, and convince people you’re worth
their budget. You’ll also have to smile through clients saying things like, “Can we make it viral?” Yes, sure, let me just press the viral button.
6.Expect Chaos. Embrace It.
Shoots will fall apart. Clients will change scripts last minute. Someone will forget the batteries.
Welcome to the business. The trick isn’t avoiding chaos, it’s learning to dance in it without throwing the camera at someone.
7.Protect Your Passion.
This industry will test you. It’ll make you question if creativity can survive capitalism. But when you see that one shot, the one that makes your stomach flip, you’ll remember why you started.