You know to get into the business, right now I'm a junior in High School, I'm sure not sure what kinda steps I should take so I can get a chance in Hollywood. I figure goto college somewhere around LA? Not for film school necessarily, but to be like a stock broker or somthing. Somthing to fall back on, and a nice job to fund the hobby of film making. Next year I'm in art photo3, I have this thing for pictures, I love them I do, cinematography or directing would be the thing for me, I can visual what things should look like. Just wondering how you start to get experience besides making movies, like interning at a local cheapoTV station or somthing like that. I just need ideas to get my thinking about film. Ive started saving up for a camera, and when graduation rolls around I'm sure I can get a pretty good laptop for 1500+- a few bucks for editing etc.
Contacts and networking are important; moving to the LA area is probably not a bad idea.
Having something to fall back on is a safe bet, and if you want to be a stock broker then move to NY.
My belief is to put 100% into what you love and are passionate about doing.
Lets say for instance: I would someday like to become a cinematographer. Now as I go off to college, would I want to buy my own camera? or would I want to find jobs on set, where I get people coffee and network myself and just work my way up?
Owning your own camera will be beneficial to honing your cinematography/directorial skills. Finding a job on set will be good for meeting people and getting yourself embedded in the industry; you'll also learn a great deal - things you most likely won't learn in school. Cinematograpy is a bold and worthwhile goal, and you should above all be excited for the opportunity to pursue your dream.
Here's a good book if you're interested:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/187950541X/qid=1111647887/sr=8-1/ref=pd_ka_1/103-2684564-5402201?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
I've always believed there are two major schools of thought on this. One is to get yourself a job/internship at a major studio. Usually this will be an entry level position like a Production Assistant. This is how you'll meet people, make contacts, throw your name around, etc. Then there's the indie film route, which is to crank out a movie on your own as best you can and try to find distribution for it. Then you can approach studios with that under your wing and see if you can work out a deal with them.
Personally, I'm partial to the indie film route, mostly because I'm a creative control freak. Plus, I wouldn't be able to stand doing piddly little things on a major production, but that's just me. You have to decide which way is best for you.
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Bruce Campbell - "So you want to get into show biz?"
Me - "Yeah, I'd really like to direct movies."
Bruce Campbell - "Cool. Just don't suck."
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Bruce Campbell - "So you want to get into show biz?"
Me - "Yeah, I'd really like to direct movies."
Bruce Campbell - "Cool. Just don't suck."
you could do both...
if you love outside the US, there's a very different route. lots of countries, including Canada etc., have subsidized film industries. its hard to get your foot in the door, but there is a route. the key is to have a lot of content under your wing...
but making films is a necessity i believe. you don't know how good/bad/what you have to work on until you start doing that.
www.maketradefair.com
www.thehungersite.com
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www.maketradefair.com
www.thehungersite.com
www.oxfam.ca
The best way to get into the biz is to start making movies now. Make them short, learn what you're doing. Read every book you can get on the subject. By the time you get into your senior year of college you'll have a far better idea of what to do (make full length film, go to film school).
RJSchwarz
I was thinking though in college, even though I plan on making my own films, that I should take some cinematography classes. It seems like it would be too expensive to learn howto operate a film camera on my own, since it costs so much to rent/own purchase/develope the film.
Instead of film, use DV. The only part about DV that is expensive is the camera(unless you want lenses, filters, etc.), and it's much easier to edit.
"How happy is the blameless Vestal's lot! The world forgetting, by the world forgot. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd."
"How happy is the blameless Vestal's lot! The world forgetting, by the world forgot. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd."
