To be a director you can take several different paths, but it all comes down to getting the filmmaking education. Go to film school or buy books, volunteer on a few shoots and start making your films. I would recommend buying a few books, studying film and shooting films. This way you can keep your day job and determine if filmmaking is what you really want to do. It sounds very glamorous, but it is work. Not hard back-bereaking work, but it is work...tedious and boring if you don't love it...but exciting if you do love it. Going to film school can be a supportive environment for learning, because you are around others with the same goal as you. Getting a degree will not ensure you a job or guarantee you of ever working in the business, but if you know that you want the education and films school is your way of attaining it then go for it. But know that once you graduate...you are pretty much on your own. Being a salesman is a great head start. You will have to be the ultimate salesman. Whichever route you take...go for it! So you don't get old wondering what might have been!

2 really important things:

make sure uni/college is well conected with links in industry so they can give you placments, once you have done a couple of placments as a runner here and there and know the basics of the industry, phone up studios and ask to be put through to a department of a particular film (each film has its own department) from there, explain that your new to industry, really keen, WILLING TO WORK FOR FREE etc and you really want to work on set even if its just for a couple of days, if lucky they will ask for your CV. its all about collecting experience from as many different places ass possible which makes it easier to move up the chain and offcoure try to make as many contacts along the way.

make sure the institute you go to has 100% access to renting cameras so you can make as many short films as possible, a big part of film school is the recources avalible for making your own short films. camera rentals, advice from teachers/professors and a big film comunity. 100% access also means you can make money to help pay for bills etc via filming weddings and events, because you have 'free' access to cameras you can charge cheaper thatn normal price.

hope that helped

quote:

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Originally posted by LaurieD

Hi everyone,

Just registered on the forum as I'm looking for a bit of advice. I am a 22-year-old guy who is looking to lay the foundations for a career hopefully in film. I am looking to study for this, and I'm interested in the creative and practical side. The ultimate dream for me is to produce/direct movies, but there are so many schools and courses out there that I am unsure where to begin.

I live in Scotland and own a flat in Edinburgh, and I understand Napier University has a decent Skillset recognised film school. However I'm open to suggestions for the rest of Scotland, the UK and even the world! I'm basically at a crossroads in my life and since school I've just been working sales and office jobs but I've come to realise I need to go after my dream at some point or I'll never be happy.

So any advice would be really, really appreciated!

Thanks all,

Laurie

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Hi LaurieD,
Hi I'm a film student of ?url="http://www.filmschool.ph"?IAFT?/url?. If you have time try to visit us... The academy is cool with sophisticated equipment, hope to see you there...?:)?

Thanx Bhaby4ever...

bhaby4ever newbie, 4ever film maker, 4ever ?url="http://www.filmschool.ph"?IAFT?/url?...

Hey guys, I'm writing a script now... I was just wondering if anyone can share me some great ideas for my story... Thanks in advance... ?:)?

bhaby4ever newbie, 4ever film maker, 4ever ?url="http://www.filmschool.ph"?IAFT?/url?...

bhaby4ever, the folks on this board are generally happy to share ideas. You should (a) start your own thread so as not to derail this one (b) tell us what you're working on so we're not tossing out ideas about space convoys and desert warriors (and zombies) when your story is really a coming of age story about a lesbian and her autistic friend. If you know what I mean.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

I agree with RJ.

bhaby4ever, if you start your own thread with this question, I'll delete this one so we can stay
on the topic of looking to study film and discuss story ideas with you on your own thread.

Uhmm... I'm so sorry guys... My bad... However, Thanks a lot for making me aware...

bhaby4ever newbie, 4ever film maker, 4ever ?url="http://www.filmschool.ph"?IAFT?/url?...