Be the Train: The Mindset and Tools You Need to Make Your First Feature Film

From an award-winning filmmaker who writes, produces, and stars in her own projects—an actionable, motivational guide to everything you need to know (and how you should think) about making your first feature film.

As an aspiring actress, Selina Ringel waited for years for her train to arrive. She did everything “by the book”—went to film school, attended endless casting calls, and searched for an agent. Then, instead of waiting to be chosen, she chose herself.

She realized she had to become the train—creating momentum by inspiring others to join her own projects. Regardless of where you are in your career, Selina will teach you how to bring your projects to life and will give you the most important tools that filmmakers need to succeed:

• The relentless mindset needed in creative industries

• How to get funding—and how to get things done without it

• How to build and steer the right team into the station

• How to find joy and fulfillment in the process

More than a traditional filmmaking manual, Be the Train is a powerful blend of real-life examples, practical advice, and a call to action for creatives to take control of their art. Stop waiting for permission—get your projects on track. All aboard!

Advance Praise for Be the Train

“If you’re feeling stuck and tired of waiting for everything to fall into place, Selina Ringel’s Be the Train is exactly what you need. Her compelling story will show you how to build unstoppable momentum and turn your dreams into reality. As an award-winning filmmaker who dared to do things her way, Selina offers practical tips and insights to help you take control of your future. Whether you’re making your first film, launching a new career, or getting ready to take charge of your life, Be the Train will ignite the fire within you to make it happen.”
—Mel Robbins, New York Times bestselling author and host of The Mel Robbins Podcast

“This book should be required reading at every film school. The cold email outreach chapter alone is worth the price of the book. But the real value is in the mindset she outlines. Inspiring. Motivational. Revolutionary. I’m on board the Selina train.”
—John Fithian, former CEO, National Association of Theatre Owners, and cofounder, The Fithian Group

“Selina is an undeniable force of nature. The advice she gives is invaluable for anyone who struggles with self-doubt or needs some practical guidance in this crazy industry. I wish I had read this book when I was starting out as a young filmmaker in Hollywood!”
—Amy Wang, writer of Crazy Rich Asians 2

“Even in my fourth decade as a professional filmmaker, I learned important essentials from Selina Ringel’s Be the Train. The specificity of her advice, earned from her own hard work, speaks volumes about subjects like making genuine contacts, finding an agent and/or manager, production, distribution, rejection, resilience, failing better, and so much more. If you’re looking for guidance, either as a rookie or as a refresher course for an old hand, this book is a must-read."
—Michael Miner, cowriter, Robocop; director, The Book of Stars; and lecturer, University of California, Santa Barbara

Selina Ringel is an award-winning writer, producer, director, actress, and entrepreneur whose work includes three feature films, a comedy special, and a digital series. Her first feature, The Best People, was sold to Samuel Goldwyn Films (MGM) and distributed in more than forty countries. She won the Award This! honor for Best Indie Drama with her second feature, Single Mother by Choice, which was sold to HBO and doubled its investment in the sale. Her stand-up comedy special, 2 Moms, 1 Mic (with Kaela Crawford), and her digital series Tuning In are both on Amazon Prime. Her third feature, You, Me & Her, has a 100 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes and has won fourteen awards. Over a fifteen-year career, her scripts have won or been finalists at Slamdance, WIF, and the Blacklist, and she has been a guest judge for festivals including Film Outside the Frame and Tilt Up. She is a graduate of AFI's MFA producing program and runs her own production company, Two Hands Productions, with her husband and business partner, Dan Levy Dagerman.