IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit 'Flow' Director Gints Zilbalodis
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Feb 6, 2025 
Gints Zilbalodis, the talented director behind the acclaimed animated film 'Flow', reveals his creative journey and the unique challenges of low-budget filmmaking. He discusses the art of wordless storytelling, emphasizing the vital role of music and sound design in conveying emotion. Zilbalodis also dives into the intricacies of character development and narrative structure, sharing insights on animating animal sounds and employing innovative filming techniques. His experiences highlight the importance of collaboration and creativity in independent cinema.
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Making Film To Force Personal Growth
- Gints turned personal anxieties about collaborating into the film's core story about a cat learning to work with others.
- He made the film to force himself to confront his fear of teamwork by writing it into the narrative.
Hire For Talent, Then Train
- Find talented people and teach them your approach when local talent pools are small.
- Prioritize collaborators you connect with personally to ease the anxiety of leading a team.
Use Music Early To Shape Tone
- Write and demo music early and edit scenes against it so tone and pacing emerge together.
- Collaborate closely with composers and editors to adjust both music and cuts until they find a common ground.