Professional networks for filmmakers, and the companies who need them

These networks connect companies that need help producing film and video projects with the directors/filmmakers/editors/cinematographers/
production studios who can help them. Our roundup includes some top filmmaker networks, along with a few niche platforms that can hook you up with locations, gear, music, and storyboard artists.

Movidiam

Movidiam is a professional creative network and project management application that has attracted both high-end agencies and filmmakers in over 170 countries. Members include directors and producers from BBC and Discovery Channel, brands such as Converse, and agencies such as Grey and Wieden + Kennedy. The project management functionality elevates this from being a basic network, and looks pretty slick. A simple profile and 2GB storage is free. A Producer account is $25 per month and includes 25GB, up to 20 projects, and group collaboration. An Agency level account is coming soon.

Storyhunter

The world’s largest network of professional video creators, Storyhunter gives brands access to over 15,000 vetted freelancers. It’s an impressive roster: Storyhunter filmmakers have been nominated for or won Sundance, Peabody, and Cannes Lions awards. Get started by posting your brief. When qualified filmmakers apply, you’ll be notified. Negotiate with the best fit, and away you go. Contracts, payments, and taxes are all handled electronically by Storyhunter. In exchange, Storyhunter takes a service fee of 20% of the first project and 5% for subsequent projects.

Videopixie

Videopixie is a marketplace of videographers, directors, video editors, and animators from around the world, from individual freelancers to whole production studios. To post your project, answer a few simple questions … then wait for bids from pre-selected video pros to roll in. Videopixie’s fee is based on the size of the project, between 1% to 9% of the creator’s bid.

Shooting People

Serving the UK and New York City, this community for independent filmmakers is 45,000 strong. For $45 per year (or $9.95 per month), Shooting People members can find collaborators; hear about festivals, competitions, and funding opportunities; post jobs; get work seen; and receive full access to the members network.

Stage 32

Dubbed by Forbes as “Lynda meets LinkedIn for film, television and theater creatives,” Stage 32 is a community of over 500,000 film, TV, and theater creatives from around the world. More than networking, Stage 32 offers over 1,000 hours of education, a job board, and pitch sessions.

Colaborator

Colaborator is a project collaboration network made by filmmakers for filmmakers. Currently the service is free, but only Colaborator-vetted companies are able to use it to find filmmakers. However, that roster includes Wired, SXSW, and the Daily Dot, so they’re off to a good start. Colaborator says it will eventually become a paid platform for companies, but always free for filmmakers. They also have plans to offer premium services for a fee to filmmakers. Stay tuned.

Cinely

This global network of filmmakers and production companies spans more than 90 countries. To find talent on Cinely, search by name, title, position, or location. You can solicit work via contest or RFP, and choose whether all Cinely producers may submit or only those selected by Cinely. Regardless, because filmmakers are by invitation only to Cinely, you’re assured of a certain caliber. Cinely charges an undisclosed fee for the service.

Jorgen’s List

If all you need is a storyboard artist, check out Jorgen’s List. Every artist is recommended by at least five art directors who work with them regularly. It’s a dead-simple search interface — search by likelihood of availability, from very likely to likely to unlikely.

Set Scouter

Need the perfect location? Find and book it yourself with Set Scouter, a catalog of residential sets available for rent by owners. You can search by location type, availability, price, and amenities. Set Scouter adds a service fee based on the daily rate: on a rate of under $2,000, it’s an additional 20%, and on a rate equal to or over $2,000, it’s an additional 15%.

Synkio

Or if you only need tunes, Synkio can hook you up with ready-to-license music and audio. You provide the details of the project, budget, timelines, usage, all that good stuff. You then have direct access to the Synkio Library of copyright-free music and its network of music professionals. There’s a free plan, or go pro for $45 per month.

CameraLends

For camera gear, check out CameraLends, a peer-to-peer lending network available in the US. It’s a great way to make some dollars on gear you’re not using all the time, have access to gear you wouldn’t normally, or test out something you have your eye on. Equipment includes GoPros, drones, lighting, and audio.

Do you have experience with any of these, or have others to suggest? Do tell …