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Originally posted by Volk

IThe main reason behind me wanting to enroll in film school is to have a place to make films and otherwise put stuff out there that I can display at film festivals and the like. This would give me some sort of platform to go off of for the rest of my career.

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And, of course, you could make films that you can
enter into festivals without going to film school. As
you say, this has been discussed a lot here. The final
answer is quite personal.

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So:

1. Is it feasible to move out and pursue filmmaking?

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I'm going to say that every single person above the
age of, say, 30, currently making movies at one point
moved out of their parents house. I did it, they did it,
you can do it, too.

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2. What's it like being a projectionist?

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I suspect it's like any other job. When I was about 15 I
knew a local projectionist and would hang out in the
booth. this was back in the days of a single screen with
two projectors so I learned how to do the change overs.
It was cool. I know most theaters, even single screen ones
now use the platter system. Go for it. You'll never know
what it's like without trying it.

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

It is unlikely that anyone here would have any experience as a projectionist. That just isn't one of those jobs that are widely available to young adults starting on their own. You'll more likely be able to find work as a waiter, doorman, messenger, grocery store clerk...

If you are just out of high school, most reasonable order of things would be to continue on to college. If your grades are too low to be accepted (as you may have indicated in your old posts), look first for a stable job that can produce recurring, predictable income. Only then can you afford to move out of a free place to stay (i.e. your parents' home). Obviously, as previous responses suggested, film school would be the ideal solution, if you can find a way to afford it. If not, look for a job. While you still live rent-free, you'll be able to save a bit of money, for your first short movie (or perhaps first decent camcorder). If living with parents presents too many obstacles, you'll need to carefully think what kind of place you can afford with your income. In general, it is possible to work at any of jobs mentioned above (low-paying, no-benefits type) and pay for rent and food from that money. You might end up sharing a larger apartment with others, or paying for a small studio in a cheaper neighbourhood. This will depend on your city, local economy, as well as your own criteria (what is acceptable to you).

Whichever way you go, most important thing is, if you want to work in film, you must read as much as you can about film making, as well as try and do as much (write script, get friends and a camera, shoot that script, then go back to your computer and edit the shots into a movie). Even if you can't afford a single film making course, you can still learn a lot for free, online, as well as in your library.

So, in theory, the best idea (on the director career path) is to stay at home, make money, study film and produce work of your own until you get noticed/hired in the industry itself. Am I right?

I guess I should post my stuff online and put the best in film festivals if this is true.

Option b. would be carting coffee on set I assume, until you get an opportunity to prove yourself there.

This is of course assuming I don't go to film school. ?:)?

I'd say yes. If you have a good living relationship with your parents (i.e. nobody is nagging about getting work, chipping in, bettering yourself, etc), staying rent-free is a major money saver (keep in mind, this isn't just rent money, but food money, laundry money, cable TV money, etc.).

Depending on where you live, there may be opportunities to take part in some indie productions doing what you suggest (carting coffee, i.e. P.A.). living rent-free will allow you to volunteer for this job, and this way, you can see in real life how practical film production works.

Probably the most valuable investment of your time at this point would be to read as much as you can (from books, or online) about the film making process, from script to final cut. There's plenty of info, from probably the shortest and most concise of all filmmaking books (Movie Making Course, Patmore, 2005), the usual "For Dummies" series (quite good), "Idiot's guide to...", and to tons of more specialised ones (the legendary "Five C's of Cinematography", etc). Plenty of web stuff as well: en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Filmmaking, www.4filmmaking.com and similar.

I'm not in the industry yet, but my understanding differs a bit from what you've presented in "Option B." Carting coffee won't get you a directing job. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that the most accurate mantra for becoming a director is simply "directors direct." Meaning, if you want to make films, you make films. It's my understanding that it's rather difficult to switch from a below-the-line position to an above-the-line position, which is where the "directors direct" line comes in. Like what you said, "until you get an opportunity to prove yourself there," I just don't think that's how it works. Prove yourself? It's not like one day the producer is going to look at a PA and say "You! It's your turn to direct! Do you have what it takes?" I can't even think of a scenario where this could work... it would really seem you'd have to be above-the-line (ie. a writer getting a chance to direct his work on a TV episode).

Again, I very well could be wrong here, but I'm fairly certain getting hooked job-wise below-the-line isn't condusive to becoming a director.

Well, not in the sense as you explained. But the point of getting some work (even volunteering) for a below-the-line crew position provides learning experience.

This is how I see it: getting a PA position on a production that is as professional as possible, and while there, trying to soak up as much; meanwhile reading and learning about the craft and process. Then, writing short script, getting together some friends and shooting it. Then trying to get into other people's indie productions (a camera operator, focus puller, assistant director...). Getting to know others who share the passion, doing more indie projects...

So say I work at home, and I produce quality content... Would someone contact me or do I have to apply with my work in hand? What would be a likely first job? An indie production that needs someone?

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Originally posted by Vasic

Well, not in the sense as you explained. But the point of getting some work (even volunteering) for a below-the-line crew position provides learning experience.

This is how I see it: getting a PA position on a production that is as professional as possible, and while there, trying to soak up as much; meanwhile reading and learning about the craft and process. Then, writing short script, getting together some friends and shooting it. Then trying to get into other people's indie productions (a camera operator, focus puller, assistant director...). Getting to know others who share the passion, doing more indie projects...

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Ah yes, I see what you mean. I completely agree. Last summer I got to hang out on set at our soundstages here (a professional production) and looking back I feel like I... just learned so much. Just by being there. I think that's a lot of the reason I want to go into film actually... boy did it feel RIGHT to be on that set.

Anyway, I digress. Getting on set in any way will be very advantageous for anyone, especially so if you're working. Plus, if you really don't know what it's like, I'd think you'll see pretty quickly whether you want to be there or not.

Volk, just out of curiosity, what games do you use for your machinima? As a gamer and filmmaker I have a lot of respect for the medium, and glad to see a "machinimist" on these forums. 🙂

Hmm, just thinking here, since you're already into machinima, have you ever considered animation? I suppose machinima is actually more akin to physical filmmaking than animating, but I'd think it could go both ways.

To be honest none of my machinima is finished yet. ?:D?

I don't have After Effects and until I put my videos through it I can't call them done. ?:(?

I'm not very interested in animation, I think creative directing is more my thing.

I do machinima on most popular games. Assassin's Creed, Halo 3, WoW. MW2 can jump off a cliff though. That is a visually appalling game.