Competition

In the world of film making there is competition. There really isn't a way to get away from it. Some competition is good for you. It causes you to want to do better each time you get behind the camera. You can't rest on your "good enough" as there is always going to be someone out there who is pushing to make a better film than the last one he made and you don't want to get left behind.
What we don't need is the kind of competition that results in back stabbing, name calling, manipulation, and flat out lying. This does nothing but breed a culture of weakness. We should not tear down others to make us feel stronger. We should challenge ourselves to actually BE stronger.
The best way is to focus on your own work. Don't bother yourself with what everyone else is doing. If you are then your attention is leaving your own work and causing it to suffer. Do your best and learn from any mistakes that may arise.
In a small film making community that I am in the best thing for it is for there to be as many good film makers as possible. One person can't support the community. The more great films coming out the area the more people of the community will take notice of what we're doing and treat us like a viable source of entertainment apart from the films Hollywood is pumping out.
It's not a life or death battle for king of the mountain. It's telling stories that might connect with others. Let's focus on that.