Moviemaker Magazine
A publication focused on the craft and business of making movies, from micro-budget to studio films
Overview
Moviemaker Magazine covers the art and business of filmmaking, from micro-budget independent films to studio blockbusters. It features interviews with filmmakers, how-to guides, equipment reviews, and its influential annual lists of best places to live and work as a moviemaker.
The publication takes a practical, craft-oriented approach that appeals to filmmakers at every level. Its articles on financing, distribution, and production workflow provide useful business knowledge for actors who also produce or direct their own work.
How It Works
For actors, Moviemaker provides insight into the filmmaker's perspective, which helps you understand what directors and producers value on set. Its annual best cities lists can also inform decisions about where to base your career.
Much of Moviemaker's online content is free. The print magazine and some premium digital content require a subscription, but the free articles cover a broad range of useful topics.
Who Uses It
Moviemaker Magazine is especially valuable for actors who want to understand the complete filmmaking process. The more you know about production from the filmmaker's side, the more valuable you become as a collaborator on set. The publication's annual 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee list and Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker list have become essential references for filmmakers at all levels, and their city-by-city analysis of production infrastructure, film commissions, and local talent pools helps actors make informed decisions about where to base their careers. Moviemaker's editorial approach is uniquely practical and encouraging, treating filmmaking as an achievable goal rather than an exclusive club, which makes it particularly inspiring for actors who are considering stepping behind the camera for the first time.
Pricing & Plans
Moviemaker operates on a freemium model with a substantial amount of content available for free on its website. The print magazine is available through a subscription at approximately $20 per year for six issues, and some premium digital content may require registration or subscription. The free online articles cover a wide range of topics including directing techniques, producing strategies, distribution models, and filmmaker interviews, providing significant value without any financial commitment. The magazine also sells individual print issues for approximately $7 each, allowing readers to purchase specific issues that cover topics of particular interest. Compared to other filmmaking publications, Moviemaker's pricing is very accessible and reflects its mission of democratizing filmmaking knowledge for creators at all budget levels.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
Moviemaker's greatest strength is its practical, accessible approach to covering the filmmaking process from idea to distribution. The magazine treats filmmakers at every level — from first-time micro-budget directors to seasoned professionals — with equal respect and provides actionable advice that readers can implement immediately. Its annual lists and rankings have genuine authority in the filmmaking community and are frequently cited by film commissions, festival programmers, and industry organizations. Moviemaker's interviews with filmmakers often focus on the specific challenges and solutions encountered during production, providing the kind of practical detail that glossier publications tend to gloss over. The publication also covers the evolving landscape of film financing, distribution, and marketing with a focus on strategies accessible to independent filmmakers rather than exclusively covering studio-level deal-making.
What Could Be Better
Moviemaker's limitations include its primary focus on filmmakers rather than actors, which means acting-specific content — audition techniques, agent relationships, casting strategies — receives relatively little coverage. The print magazine publishes only six issues per year, which limits the timeliness of its coverage compared to daily digital outlets. Moviemaker's website, while containing valuable content, is less frequently updated than major entertainment trade publications, and some content can feel dated compared to the fast-moving digital media landscape. The publication's coverage is heavily oriented toward American independent filmmaking, with limited attention to international markets, documentary, or the commercial studio system. For actors who are not also filmmakers, much of Moviemaker's content — equipment reviews, post-production workflows, financing strategies — may not be directly relevant to their immediate career needs.
Our Recommendation
Actor-filmmakers who direct, produce, or are developing their own projects should subscribe to Moviemaker Magazine and regularly read its online content, as the practical business and craft insights directly support your producing and directing efforts. Even actors who focus exclusively on performing benefit from reading Moviemaker occasionally, as understanding the filmmaker's perspective — their constraints, priorities, and decision-making processes — makes you a more empathetic and effective collaborator on set. Use Moviemaker's annual best cities list when considering where to relocate or establish a secondary base for your career, as their analysis of production infrastructure, cost of living, and local industry activity provides data-driven guidance for these significant decisions. If you are an actor who aspires to direct someday, start reading Moviemaker now to begin building the knowledge base you will need when you step behind the camera.
Pro Tips
Read Moviemaker's filmmaker interviews with a focus on understanding the director's perspective during casting and production — knowing what filmmakers value in their collaborators helps you present yourself more effectively in auditions and on set. Consult Moviemaker's annual 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee list when deciding where to submit your short films, debut features, or projects you have produced, as their analysis considers entry fees, networking opportunities, and career-building potential alongside programming prestige. Use the Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker list to research markets beyond LA and NYC that are building robust production ecosystems — cities like Atlanta, Austin, Albuquerque, and Vancouver consistently rank highly and offer growing opportunities for actors as well as filmmakers. If you are writing or developing material to produce, Moviemaker's articles on financing, crowdfunding, and distribution provide practical, current advice that reflects the realities of independent film economics. Follow Moviemaker on social media for daily content that supplements the print magazine with timely news, filmmaker spotlights, and production tips that keep you connected to the independent filmmaking community.