How should I start?

[Aspiring Mogul]

I have no experience in film making, though I have a large amount of professional and business experience, but I am interesting in making movies.

So how should I start? I am thinking of doing a few shorts every so often, to build up my experience and also to see if this is what I really want to do. I can upload those shorts onto Youtube or an internet channel, but where do I show the shorts in movie theatres? Is there even a microscopic market for short films? If so, then that would be really, really great.

 

[directorik]

My approach is to cultivate a working knowledge of pretty much all the jobs I'd be asking people to perform below me (that way I won't be asking for the ridiculous and impossible) and to have a fairly good handle on all the jobs above me.

This I have never understood. I've been on both sides.

As a producer or director I have never felt the need to have a
working knowledge of pretty much all the jobs. I know nothing
about audio; I know nothing about costuming, I know nothing
about visual efx - and not knowing has never hurt me. I learn
by talking to people and relying on their specific expertise and
passions.

As crew I have never expected the producer (or the director) to
have a working knowledge of my job. I was in make-up effects
for many years and I have been asked to do the ridiculous and
impossible. I LOVE doing the ridiculous and impossible - it makes
my job interesting and a wonderful challenge.

Just to be clear; I am NOT saying you shouldn't. If you want to
have a working knowledge of pretty much all the jobs I respect
that. I am only saying I do not fully understand why. Frankly as
a writer and director (and as make-up efx and camera operator)
I would prefer the producer to step back and allow me to do my
job. I want them to have full knowledge of their job and stay out
of mine. Go ahead, ask me for the ridiculous and impossible - is
my job to deliver the ridiculous and impossible.

Other than that; great post Ray.

Being the Executive Producer is running the company. The EP needs
to be able to see talent and bring the right people together. They
need to bring the money to the project and run interference between
the finances and creative. It's a very, very difficult and much needed
job. And the production business is very, very different than most other
businesses. Each department is very, very different than others. An
excellent costumer does not rise up the ranks through the grip department.
A great art director does not start as second, second director. An EP
does not need to start at the bottom; they do not need (in my opinion)
a working knowledge of the other jobs - they need to run a business
and trust their employees to have the working knowledge.

Any one out there knows someone who wants to guide me?

Glad to.

 

[Aspiring Mogul]

So how do I convince a good crew to join me?

I keep seeing the odd young so-called up-and-coming director that has a few fairly well-known stars, and he goes on the internet asking for some money, but, quite often, he doesn't get anything, and, after a few years, the website gets taken down. And, in my business experience, I see lots of young people who have a business scheme, tries to recruit others, and everything comes crashing down.

I don't see how I can do it without spending some money, and especially putting in an investment in shorts to get a feel for the business - remember every business is correct.

And Directorik is correct to say that an EP should NOT know all the skills. The man hours required to learn each skill is staggering. My firm is small, but even I don't know all the skills, and, as it expands, I will know fewer and fewer skills required to make it operate.

 

[directorik]

So how do I convince a good crew to join me?

Have a project they believe in.

I'm still going under the assumption you want to be the Exec.
So you need to find a script you believe in. Or if you have the
story you want to tell you need to find a writer. How? There is
no, one path that works. You may have to read 200 scripts.
You may have to just go with your gut and use someone you
already know. This is were being "in" really helps. Living where
there are a lot of film/TV people and working in the business
opens your options to more people. Money talks. But if you
cannot pay a writer you need to work very hard to find the right
one who will work for free.

Once you have the script you can convince a producer to come
on board with money. If you cannot pay then you need to have
a project that an up and coming producer is willing to invest
in - not money; time and talent.

The "how?" isn't easy and there is no, one answer. Look here on
indietalk. There are many writers here, there are dozens of directors
who have their dream projects that you could put together, there
are even a few here who would be glad to work on YOUR passion
project - a "work for hire".

It's not going to be easy. Starting your firm was not easy. This
will be different and more difficult.