Career advice for film?

Question

Hi.

My name is Matt and I am 17 years old. I have a vast infatuation for film - I adore it. That is the only thing in my life that I absolutely love. I have always said I wanted to be a Primary School Teacher after school because I have some interest, but then I realized life is too short. Why should I follow a career where I only have some minor love in? Why should I conform to society's expectations? Fact is, for over a year, I have wanted to be a filmmaker. It is my biggest ambition. I have seen the works from Kubrick, Bergman, Keaton, Chaplin, Scorsese, Lynch, Kurosawa, Malick, Jordo etc. and I have attempted to create some films by myself as none of my friends are keen on the art.

Thing is, why bother going to a film school? Why bother spending thousands of dollars by just getting a qualification? Sure, you may increase your knowledge on certain facets of film, but I think it is honestly in the heart. Look at Stanley Kubrick - left school, had poor grades, picked up a camera and BOOM - off he went. He is now arguably cinemas most innovative and influential filmmaker.

I live in a rather popular town in Melbourne, but there isn't much competition nor places to about film.

Question is, where do I start from? I have ideas for scripts - do I write them, track down a film producer and wait for feedback? Do I HAVE to attend some type of film school? Because I honestly believe it is in the heart - I admire the medium. All I want to do is make films, but where do I start from?

My parents are always negative saying it's too hard to get into, and yes, it is difficult, but as the old cliche goes, you can accomplish anything if you put your mind to it. And I will try my BEST.

So, where do I begin? Who should I contact? Should I start writing scripts? Getting ideas?

Any advice would be immensely helpful, and please, don't say I am naive, because I am not. I am aware film is an extremely difficult business to get into - but you know what, I don't care. I already have regrets in my life - I am too bleak. I need to live! And the only way is to become a filmmaker. So please, advice here would be really helpful.

Thank you very much.

Answer 1

Enthusiasm and passion is great.



But neither is probably not going to be enough to become a powerful / famous director. (Please keep reading, this is not a meanie message, read WHY I am telling you this).



There are countless people who want to become directors, and few will ever become a Kubrick or Spielberg or anyone else.



Go do some education in the field, they aren't going to hand you directorship just coz you want to be a director. You are either going to need a degree or something formal, or by starting at the bottom of the pecking tree in the film industry (if you can get in). That means sweeping and getting coffees and nothing "exciting"...



If you wish to write scripts, start writing - if you do go for either option who is the better choice, someone who has made a start or someone who hasn't.



Unless you can get a job in the industry (not likely at the moment) then you are better off going doing something in education, if you get a great offer you can always leave right?, and there will be good contacts and you get an education whilst you are at it...

Answer 2

First, you have to decide what you want to do in the industry.



If you want to be a director or a cinematographer, you've got to go to film school. You can't even get a job as an intern without being enrolled in one.



If you want to write, then you've got to write. You need to write every day. You need to learn proper story structure, formatting and pacing. The GOOD news is that writers don't need a degree or any other nonsense. They need an imagination.



Writing down ideas is useless; EVERYONE, their children, their dogs and the fleas on the dogs have ideas for movies. You can't copyright ideas, and nobody wants to read an idea. If you've got an idea, write the screenplay. Put it in the proper format, and make sure that it's between 90-120 pages long.

Answer 3

It's so awesome to hear that you're so determined! Film is my passion as well!



Anyways, you can always look for internships with local film studio. Gain experience. Make great friends.NETWORK! Make some short films, do the best you can do. Once you find good friends show them your work. It's a tough business but why settle for anything other than you dreams, right? I wish you the best of luck and when your nice and famous I could use a directing job, haha!

Answer 4

research online for close independent films made on your town. The most important to succeed in the film industry is to make contacts. Apply as an intern to local tv stations. go ahead and write the script grab a camera and make a film. you might even get it noticed online, if is really good even put it on local festivals =]



if you gonna put a video online i suggest not putting it on youtube. join Vimeo.com