Am I out of Luck?

[HorrorIsMyGod]

I have always wanted to do something that involves the process of movie making. Be it Writing, Acting, Directing, or anything else for that matter. Here is my Dilemma -- Knowbody here cares about making movies! Now I know the best way to get your foot in the door is to make a short, or be involved in one. So, What am I to do If knowbody cares about this? How do I get my foot in the door, If there is no door?

[DoCk]

there is always a door.....sometimes your just not right in front of it. get something actually completed thats your best effort and get it critiqued by someone who is in the loop or knows their stuff also check out some film festivals..

[Ronaldinho]

If you think of it in terms of luck, well, then, yes. You're out of it.

But I think you're asking the wrong question. You need to be asking yourself, "How can I get involved in filmmaking and learn more?"

You need to find a way to make it happen. Maybe that means getting involved with a local theater group. Maybe that means moving to a more metropolitan area. Maybe it means taking bigger risks than you're comfortable taking.

But right now it has nothing to do with luck. It has to do with creating an opportunity. What are you going to do to create an opportunity for yourself?

[Tuukka]

If you're still a teenager and you can't move out of home yet, there are still possibilities. Now, I think that even small places have at least some people who are interested in stuff like this. Try asking in your school.

But if you practically live in middle of nowhere and you can't get anyone to help you, there is a possibility of making everything by yourself. I did my first 3 short movies this way. I pressed the rec button on the camera and acted by myself in front of it. I recall that Ronaldinho has also done this at some point.

It's of course it's a real pain in the ass to shoot this way, but it's still a good learning experience. I'm not sure, but I think Bankholdup's short movie was also done this way. It's in this thread:

http://www.joblo.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=70079

[XvoorheesX]

I don't believe you. If you live in North America, there probably are people in your city involved with filmmaking. I live in a small town in Atlantic Canada... And there's everything from small youth-run media workshops to production companies that have made features with Kevin Spacey.

And even if there's nothing like that, you can't say that there is no one interested in filmmaking. You just need to find them.

Of all the things you mentioned that are holding you back, you haven't mentioned one thing that would keep you from writing, directing, or acting. You just need to be pro-active and make things happen yourself.

[bankholdup]

Find people that are in school plays. Chances are they would be interested in making a movie.


Or do what I did (and others have done). Make a short by/with yourself.

You have to find any way possible to get started. You can't sit around and wait for things to fall into place. Make it happen!

[HorrorIsMyGod]

I'm 23 (Last time I checked anyways!) years old, and have been out of school for quite sometime now. Acting is something I don't want to do, but any other job I'd take. If I remember correctly my school had a drama class, but people were only interested in getting the extra credit. Other then that there were school plays, but I feel it may be difficult to make a film with a cast of seventh graders! Oh well, maybe making movies Isn't really what I'm meant to do. I love writing (Probably not too great at it though!), However I find it really hard to accually sell something. Maybe I just need to find another medium, and just watch films instead.

[Mog]

Originally posted by HorrorIsMyGod
I feel it may be difficult to make a film with a cast of seventh graders!

You'd be surprised. Bottom line, just get something made and do anything to make it. Whether you use family members, 7th graders, kindergardners, homeless people, etc. etc. Also, check with your local church. A lot of churches have a multimedia department AND have people that are interested in acting. I live in B.F.E. and I've managed to find a LOT of people that are interested in film...I've found them at my church, community theaters, etc. And as far as getting your stuff known? MiniDv is a wonderful thing. Post it on the internet. The internet also has a lot of online film festivals...and you wouldn't believe how many ACTUAL film festivals there are in the universe. It's hard to miss one. Just my two cents.

[bankholdup]

Originally posted by HorrorIsMyGod
Acting is something I don't want to do, but any other job I'd take.

You really think I wanted to act? If you want to direct, DO IT, that's all there is to it. Taking that first step is one of the greatest things you'll ever do, believe me. The sooner you start, the better. Get all of the crap you're going to make out of the way. Be in your own movie, who cares? Not many people are going to see your first film probably, since it's just experimenting and getting the feel of things. Maybe you can't find people, but I don't think you're looking hard enough. Look, you're 23, and you're just now wanting to get a start? That's awfully late compared to when people usually start out (from what I've heard). DO IT NOW! I'm 17 and just completed my first film; that's what I consider a late start (could be wrong?). You're 6 years older than me, and haven't started yet. Stop waiting for everything to be right, get a camcorder, star in the movie (doesn't matter if you don't want to act!), and get the movie made. Take it from me: don't wait for everything to be perfect, just get it done, no matter what the circumstances are. I wish ya luck.

[XvoorheesX]

Does your citty/town have a university or college? Most have film related classes, you could probably find people there. Same with audio/visual clubs at highschools.

And if you really can't find anyone interested in filmmaking, get your friends interested in it.

[bankholdup]

Yeah, just tell your friends, "Look, if I am ever going to break into this business, I need to make a film. I need your help." How can they not help you after that? Unless, of course, your friends are jerks.

[Cyd V]

The main thing you need to have in order to be a director is the ability to motivate the people around you. If you can't motivate your friends, or people in your town to be in a movie, than you should cancel the notion of becoming a director.:eek:

[XvoorheesX]

Look, you're 23, and you're just now wanting to get a start? That's awfully late compared to when people usually start out (from what I've heard).
Yeah, you always hear about Steven Spielberg and M. Night Shyamalan making hundreds of short films before their balls even dropped, and Robert Rodriguez always talks about shooting in his backyard, but don't let it discourage you. Rather than worrying about it, just work twice as hard to make up for lost time.

Ten-minute motivation: http://www.exposure.co.uk/makers/minute.html

[HorrorIsMyGod]

I think I am simply going to focus on my Writings, Even though I can never finish a Script. Seems like I'm addicted to Revisions!:( Anyways, I wish the best of luck to everyone else! ;)

[AxeDamn]

Originally posted by HorrorIsMyGod
Seems like I'm addicted to Revisions!:(

You've just proven yourself to be a better writen than 50%+ of the people on this board, myself included :)

[RavenBlade]

Horror,

Don't give up just yet, it's more
easy to give up, then to keep going,
and in my opinion, you're to good for
that. Nothing in this life is easy.

I started cracking out 2 shorts,
when I was 26, would've been
alot earlier provided I had cash
to to buy a camcorder, but I didn't.
I suggest you look around, take
what you can get, and do it.
I've worked and still do with
people who are still in high school,
and they churn out good stuff,
even though acting isn't their forte.

Acting isn't my best thing, but
I do it, because I love the art of
film making, and if you love it to,
you'll jump head first into it.
I admit it, I love to act, even
though my acting is lousy at times.

In short, you can't just give up,
just because the opportunity
is not before you, grab the bull
by the balls, and sling it out
of the ball park.

It's cool man, you can do it.

Raven

[Kastman]

Originally posted by RavenBlade
Horror,

Don't give up just yet, it's more
easy to give up, then to keep going,
and in my opinion, you're to good for
that. Nothing in this life is easy.

I started cracking out 2 shorts,
when I was 26, would've been
alot earlier provided I had cash
to to buy a camcorder, but I didn't.
I suggest you look around, take
what you can get, and do it.
I've worked and still do with
people who are still in high school,
and they churn out good stuff,
even though acting isn't their forte.

Acting isn't my best thing, but
I do it, because I love the art of
film making, and if you love it to,
you'll jump head first into it.
I admit it, I love to act, even
though my acting is lousy at times.

In short, you can't just give up,
just because the opportunity
is not before you, grab the bull
by the balls, and sling it out
of the ball park.

It's cool man, you can do it.

Raven

Off topic and sorry, but was that a poem?

[RavenBlade]

Originally posted by Kastman
Off topic and sorry, but was that a poem?

Nope, just motivation, or
a form thereof.
What made you think it was a poem?

Now back to Horror's dilema.

I hope you can get things sorted out
without giving up.

Raven

[adamjohnson]

The margins you post with are pretty narrow on some others computers. Thats probably why he thought it was a poem.

[AxeDamn]

RavenBlade is a poet as well as a writer, so everything he posts he gives poem graphology.

That's always been how I interpreted it, anyway. It may just be some settings, but I think he does it on purpose :) it's cool.