That depends on where you want to be in 15 years. As a med student your pretty much guaranteed a high paying job where as long as you dont directly hurt anyone, you can get away with being a worthless sack of shit like most doctors are.

Writers have to work harder though because theres competition, unlike the medical field. Thats really where it boils down for most people, do you like competition? Do you like a stable flow of income? Do you like to be challenged, or just to read a certain number of books and tell people what you think their problem is? Do you like to do the same job every day or have to adapt to a new one every so often?

I personally hate competition, but then again i hate being a worthless sack of shit even more, and no amount of high steady income can make up for that. In the end you will choose what means more to you, money or purpose.

John,

If you will only be satisfied being as successful as Spielberg,
then forget the film business and stick with medicine. As you
correctly point out, not everyone is that successful.

My advice to you is to stick with the very difficult medical
career and continue to play around with making movies - a
hobby if you will.

=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

Man you guys sure are convincing!

Poof, well said. In that brief post of yours, I found a lot of meaning. As with what you had to say certified instigator. I also loved that quote in your signature:

The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
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It's like you guys have said, what matters more to me, purpose or money. I know for sure that purpose matters more to me than does money. And I apologize for that comment about Spielberg. It was just to highlight my point, but in retrospect, I see that it was inappropriate.

Thanks again!

John

Yes, but will purpose matter more when your broke on your ass? Just something to consider.

I belielve most people in the film industry are compelled to be there and would probably (or did) work for nearly nothing in order to make films. If you have doubts about the success factor than it's probably not for you because the odds are long and the payback is mostly in non-monetary ways.

Having said that I can't imagine being a doctor and dealing with the sickness and blood and the unforgiving hours for years on end to get through medical school and then interning before you can make dime one. Yeah the money is assured, if you make it.

The bright side of things is if you get a medical degree you can always invest in movies and work your way in that way.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

Your comment about Spielberg wasn't inappropriate, it was just
confusing. On a messageboard it's difficult to know if a comment
like that is a throw-away, or if it's something you really mean.

In my experience everyone who thinks about the safety and success
of a career as a writer and director fails. Because - again as
you already pointed out - it's extremely difficult. The people
who succeed, even those who don't have the success of Spielberg,
but make a good living doing what they love, do it because they
have no other choice. A writer writes because they can't not
write and not because they want the security of a well paying
job.

Something to think about: there are a lot of people out there
making a good living writing and directing that you have never
heard of - that don't have the success in the traditional
meaning, but make a living doing what they love. For some people
success isn't the fame and fortune of Spielberg, but doing what
they love to do.

=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

Very good points brought up by all. (Thanks!)

Well, as you all may know, I am even beyond that "Newbie" status. (As in, that's how far down I am!) But what I do know is that finding the funding for a production is one of the hardest things there is about film making. So how can one cope with that? Do you just write to many people telling them your ideas and see if they want to invest in it? But who will trust someone that has no name in that business (in my case for example, if it was my first "big" project and I'm looking for a break...)?

Because I do like the idea of being like a "self investor" when you have a way to do so through some kind of high paying job....

My advice to you is simple, if your hearts not 100% in it then its not for you, good filmmakers dont do things by halfs. "But the only thing is that not everyone who goes this route becomes as successful as Steven Spielberg. :(" Most filmmakers dont even get a big audience let alone recognition for their work. Speielberg made it big for one reason and one reason only, because he was willing to put the hard work in, which is why its about sticking with it when you dont have reconition, its about working hard to get the best results that you can to represent your vision how you see it.

So should you go in to the film industry? is really a question of are you prepared to work at it and get better as each day comes?

(I havent actually read what other people have responded with as this is my initial thought though I will go back and see what sort of advice has been offered to you)

Hope that helps, Cleary.

www.myspace.com/b31_film_productions

Okay another point that I'd like to pick up on from a different thread: You said "what I do know is that finding the funding for a production is one of the hardest things there is about film making"!!!!!! I think you need to re think this point, as to me it seems like this is you sitting there expecting the money to just fall in to your lap! Whats to stop you from getting a regular 9-5 job to finance it your self? Thats what I'm doing with my time now, my jobs not fantastic I work at my local McDonalds, the works tediouse and the pay is shocking, but I'm looking at the overall picture, Im making the money come to me, Im out there earning it and not thinking who could I get to help me finance this, that or the other?

You said that your 50/50 as to the careea path that you want to take! But who says that you can only take one careea path? Have you considdered going in to medicen and making films as a hobby just to learn from the trade before you head up a film careea from the safty of a well paying job. I'm not saying that that would be easy becuase I know for a fact that it would be hard, but again it goes back to dedication.

I hope this dosent just sound like I'm hatting on you, but it is what it is, posertive critercism (To learn from) from a different point of view. Cleary.

www.myspace.com/b31_film_productions

Go to Medical School unless you are 100% for being a filmmaker. A friend of mine called me one day from his car...which he was living in at the time...he called to say this filmmaking thing is like a curse...you can't get rid of it. I laughed and wired him some money for food. You know for sure if you want to be in this business. Money has nothing to do with it. You will do whatever you have to to get your films made. So if you are still thinking about which path to take...then take the medical school...then when you are 45 and have tons of money...if you feel cursed then finance your films yourself like the rest of us and make your films.

Read this CNN article on Paul Haggis. Everybody has trouble getting financing. http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/19/film.paulhaggis.ap/index.html

quote:

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Originally posted by Kess

Money has nothing to do with it.

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If only this was the case, unless you can get every thing 100% free (In which case crack on) then money will always be an issue. Cleary.

www.myspace.com/b31_film_productions

I dont see any reason why you should have trouble making money doing film if your good at what you do. Of course if your stubborn and want to go for director or producer positions or try to do all positions half assedly then you will probably fail more often than not.

Id say instead of getting a different job that will consume all your time and most likely distract from your interests, why dont you do some grunt film job and work on your personal projects in the meantime? Of course you will never amass enough money to complete a project on your own, but you will be able to complete a proof of concept that can be shown to investors so you can create it for real, unless of course you have a few hundred million sitting in the bank.