There has never been a better time to make an independent film. I would start by listening to the Film Method Podcast. You also want to make sure your screenplay is amazing before you start any sort of production. You may want to start with a short film first, of filming one of your scenes that can stand alone. That will be a sink or swim test to learn from. You can learn the basics of shooting from a place like Film Riot or Indie Mogul on youtube.

Your screenplay really needs to be amazing before starting any film produciton. I recommend listening to Robert McKee's Story in your car. I find Story is better to read after you've written your first few drafts rather than before. There are also some great books out there that all cover different aspects of writing. The Writer's Journey is great. Save the Cat also has some good ways to think about structure, although his book shold be taken with a grain of salt.

One thing I like to do is watch movies, and write down what happens and at what minute. Its a great way to see if your movie is working. Since every page is about a minute, it gives you a great idea of where the screenplay is. One big problem with a lot of screenplays is that they take too long to get to their second act. Also, make sure the second half of your second act is strong and has some twists...that's where most films get lost and people start to fall asleep. Best of luck!

Directing, especially when you are the screenwriter and have been working on the production since early development, can cause a lot of stress in relationships. Especially if you have kids. Most directors require a lot of concentration. They live in the world they are creating and can't have a lot of distraction. On set, they are asked hundreds of questions and must keep their focus on how everything is going to work in editing. So, suffice it to say that if there is a lot of stress at home, this can severely limit a director's ability to do his job. So, family lives need to be stable. Directors have to eat, drink and sleep their films while in production so its good to work out issues at home in advance. I would go so far as to say, if a production is around a month, directors who have issues at home may want to stay in a hotel or something so they can stay focused.