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Let me tell you something about Imposter Syndrome: it’s normal as hell. In fact, if you don’t feel it while developing your indie feature film, you’re probably not pushing hard enough.

Imposter Syndrome is a feature, not a bug. Seth Godin (Marketing visionary) talks about this all the time—it’s the feeling you get when you’re standing at the edge of something important, something real. The fear that you’re not enough, that someone’s going to figure out you’re just winging it—yeah, that’s your brain telling you you’re doing something that matters.

You think the Greats didn’t feel this? Spielberg, Nolan, every successful filmmaker—at some point, they all had that moment where they thought, “What the hell am I doing here?”

Welcome to the human condition.

Steven Pressfield (Author - "The War of Art") calls it “The Resistance”—the internal voice that tries to stop you from creating. It’s the fear, doubt, and sabotage we all face when we’re trying to make something that’s going to leave a mark.

Here’s the secret: the bigger the project, the louder the voice. And guess what? That voice doesn’t go away, no matter how much experience you have. The key is realizing that it’s just part of the process.

The Indie Filmmaker’s Fight

When you’re building an indie feature film, you’re not just fighting the industry. You’re fighting yourself—your doubts, your insecurities, and that nagging voice that tells you you’re not good enough.

But here’s the kicker: imposter syndrome is proof you’re doing something meaningful. It means you’re taking risks, stepping into unknown territory, and putting yourself out there in ways most people will never have the courage to do.

And that feeling? That’s exactly where you need to be. It’s a sign you’re growing. If you’re not feeling like an imposter, you’re playing it too safe.

Why It’s Normal (and Good)

Godin says, “If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try.” That fear is your compass. It’s how you know you’re on the right path. Everyone feels it—the difference is how you deal with it.

Do you let it stop you, or do you use it as fuel? Are you going to sit on your hands because you don’t think you’re good enough, or are you going to make your film because you’re the only one who can tell this story?

Here’s the Play:

• Embrace the fear. It means you’re doing something worth doing.

• Expect Imposter Syndrome. It’s not going away, so stop waiting for it to disappear.

• Keep moving forward. The only thing worse than feeling like a fraud is letting that feeling stop you from creating.

You’re making an indie film, not a PowerPoint deck. It’s supposed to be hard. It’s supposed to make you question yourself. But here’s the thing: if you push through, you’ll be one of the few who actually do the work.

It’s a sign you’re playing in the big leagues. If you feel comfortable and confident all the time, you’re probably not creating anything that matters.

So, if you’re stuck wondering whether you’re good enough, smart enough, or talented enough, I’ve got news: You’re exactly where you need to be. Now, here’s how to deal with it.

Step 1: Document the Journey Like an Archaeologist

Stop trying to be the architect who has everything planned out and perfect. You’re not an architect; you’re an archaeologist. You’re uncovering pieces of a bigger picture. Your job is to discover and report, not design and present.

Instead of worrying about perfection, document the process. Show the wins, the mistakes, the stuff that didn’t go as planned. Audiences don’t connect with polished outcomes—they connect with the messy, real journey.

Learn as you go. Use the film as your "lesson plan" for your development and only learn what you need to in order to get to the next step. Learn to write an outline, THEN learn how to write a screenplay. Learn to break down your script, THEN learn how to schedule it (I have a course on this if you're interested).

Action: Start today. Write a blog post about what’s going wrong. Record a video about the challenge you’re facing this week. Show people what it’s really like to make an indie film from the trenches.

Step 2: Set Smaller Milestones and Celebrate Them

Filmmaking is overwhelming. The budget, the cast, the locations, the schedule—it can all feel like too much. Here’s the trick: break the giant task into bite-sized pieces.

Think of it like training for a triathlon. You don’t focus on the full race from day one. You break it into daily sessions and focus on progressive training in different disciplines: hit the swim on Tuesday & Thursday, the run on Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday, the bike on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Same goes for your film. Script revisions, scheduling, budgeting, shot lists, networking, fundraising, marketing, etc. are all disciplines that you keep working on every week.

Action: Set a main goal for each week. Maybe it’s finishing a rewrite, locking down a location or finalizing your cast. Then build other tasks and skill development around that. Every time you hit a small milestone, celebrate it. Momentum destroys doubt.

Step 3: Create Public Accountability

If you want to kill Imposter Syndrome, there’s no better tool than public accountability. When you tell people what you’re working on, when you show them progress, you make it harder for yourself to back out. You don’t want to be the guy who talks a big game and never delivers.

Action: Post your progress on social media, start a newsletter, or blog about your film regularly. You’ll feel a pull to stay on track, and you’ll have built-in support when things get tough.

Step 4: Surround Yourself with Other Builders

You can’t beat Imposter Syndrome in isolation. You need people around you who are facing the same battles. Pressfield’s “Resistance” shows up in every creator’s life. But when you’re part of a tribe, you see that you’re not alone.

Action: Find your crew—other indie filmmakers, creators, entrepreneurs. Get into a regular rhythm of connecting, whether it’s a weekly Zoom call, Slack group, or mastermind session. Lean on each other. Iron sharpens iron.

Step 5: Redefine Failure as Data

Failure is only scary when you’re trying to avoid it. But if you look at failure as data, you take away its power. Every time you mess up, miss a deadline, or blow a budget, it’s not a disaster—it’s information.

Action: After every “failure,” take five minutes to write down what went wrong and what you learned. Did a location fall through? Did you lose a cast member? No big deal—now you know what doesn’t work. Adjust. Move forward.

Step 6: Take Fast, Imperfect Action

Perfectionism will kill your film. You’ll sit around waiting for everything to be just right, and next thing you know, your project’s stalled out. Speed beats perfection. Make decisions fast, act fast, and get things done. Imperfect action moves the needle; perfectionism kills momentum.

Action: Commit to spending 30 minutes a day on your film. No excuses. Whether it’s sending an email, reviewing the script, or making a call. Do something every day, no matter how small. Motion crushes doubt.

Step 7: Detach from the Outcome

Here’s the hard truth: your film could flop. You might not hit the budget, the reviews might suck, and it could get lost in the festival shuffle. But none of that matters if you’ve shown up and done the work.

Success in this game is about process, not outcome. Detach your self-worth from the end result. If you focus on the journey, you win every day.

Action: Reframe your thinking. Success isn’t a film that makes millions—it’s a film that gets finished. If you’re showing up, learning, and improving, you’re already winning.

Final Word

Imposter Syndrome? Welcome to the club. It’s the price of admission if you’re building anything worthwhile. But here’s the thing—it’s not going away. The trick is learning how to live with it, how to keep moving forward even when that voice in your head is screaming that you don’t belong.

So, start documenting, take action, and surround yourself with people who push you. The only way to beat imposter syndrome is to keep showing up. If you do that, you’re already ahead of the game.

So yeah, you feel like an imposter? Good. You’re exactly where you need to be.

Missing anything that you want to see? Let me know.

Cheers,

Anthony (He/Him)
​Habethy Film Productions Ltd.

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​Unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish, BC) and Tsleil-Waututh (Vancouver, BC) territories.​
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