-
✅ Technical and creative solutions for your film.
✅ Screenplay formatting help, plot and story guidance.
✅ A respectful community of professionals and newbies.
✅ Network with composers, editors, cast, crew, and more!
🎬 IndieTalk - Filmmaking and Screenwriting help site and community.
By filmmakers, for filmmakers since 2003
I need some advice
- Thread starter ChrisWood
- Start date
There are zillions of jobs in the film industry...my wife's cousin is the transportation coordinator for the remake of Red Dawn shooting here in Detroit. And he's never met an actor or seen a set or read a script. He spends his whole day in an office on the phone.
My point being, what sort of job? Do you want to make movies? Do you like audio or photography? Or writing or acting? Or do you just have a general love for movies?
I'm sure there are probably more than a few technical schools in Texas where you could learn various crafts and film arts. Or you could get together with friends and start making movies, using one or more of the hundreds of "how-to" books available.
Give us an idea of what you'd like to do and we'll be able to provide more specific ideas.
My point being, what sort of job? Do you want to make movies? Do you like audio or photography? Or writing or acting? Or do you just have a general love for movies?
I'm sure there are probably more than a few technical schools in Texas where you could learn various crafts and film arts. Or you could get together with friends and start making movies, using one or more of the hundreds of "how-to" books available.
Give us an idea of what you'd like to do and we'll be able to provide more specific ideas.
Welcome Chris!
My first bit of help would be to suggest you decide what
you want to do in film industry. You don't need to make
a final decision right away, just focus into a few areas.
Do you want to drive trucks? Be a transpo coordinator
like Uranium City's cousin? Do you want to make food
for cast and crew? Do you want to wrangle horses? Do
you want to be an animal trainer? How about a
greensman? Or part of the swing gang?
I'll bet you want to be a director, right?
My first bit of help would be to suggest you decide what
you want to do in film industry. You don't need to make
a final decision right away, just focus into a few areas.
Do you want to drive trucks? Be a transpo coordinator
like Uranium City's cousin? Do you want to make food
for cast and crew? Do you want to wrangle horses? Do
you want to be an animal trainer? How about a
greensman? Or part of the swing gang?
I'll bet you want to be a director, right?
Howdy Chris and welcome...
Well, I guess the next question is... Are you willing to Do It Yourself or are you looking to jump into the "Industry" aka take the Hollywood route and try your luck that way!?
And, if you choose the Hollywood route, what makes you want to take that path rather than the independent DIY path?
Well, I guess the next question is... Are you willing to Do It Yourself or are you looking to jump into the "Industry" aka take the Hollywood route and try your luck that way!?
And, if you choose the Hollywood route, what makes you want to take that path rather than the independent DIY path?
Great choice...
I think DIY/Independent filmmaking has tons of potential. A lot more than people think.
Okay, so, since you decided to take the DIY route, the next question is... Do you think you are confident enough to tell a damn good story. Something that will turn some heads. Something that is so explosive, people will want to see it. Not only will they want to see it, they will pass the word on to other people and tell them to see it.
I think DIY/Independent filmmaking has tons of potential. A lot more than people think.
Okay, so, since you decided to take the DIY route, the next question is... Do you think you are confident enough to tell a damn good story. Something that will turn some heads. Something that is so explosive, people will want to see it. Not only will they want to see it, they will pass the word on to other people and tell them to see it.
i am a creative person. and i know i can tell great stories. it takes me some time to write stuff but thats only because i take my time and make sure that i do it right and make sure that its good enough. so i know that i could make a story that gets peoples attention
Well that's good. That's a good step in the right direction...
My opinion is read a lot of scripts. I mean, take at least a month and read some scripts. As many as you can cram into that month. This way you will get pretty familiar with structure, how a script should read, etc. There are a lot of websites on the internet that have scripts that you can download... Simplyscripts.com, Script-o-rama.com, etc. Go there, grab a couple scripts and start reading...
Also, feel free to e-mail me whenever you'd like. I'm always up for talking writing/filmmaking
My opinion is read a lot of scripts. I mean, take at least a month and read some scripts. As many as you can cram into that month. This way you will get pretty familiar with structure, how a script should read, etc. There are a lot of websites on the internet that have scripts that you can download... Simplyscripts.com, Script-o-rama.com, etc. Go there, grab a couple scripts and start reading...
Also, feel free to e-mail me whenever you'd like. I'm always up for talking writing/filmmaking
Then your path is quite clear.
If you want to write then you need to write. You’ve already
written a couple of scripts, so now you need to write several
more. You’re a creative person who can tell great stories. It
sounds like you have a great attention to detail which will make
you a good director. So now it’s time to show that to people.
Write a script that you know you can do. Nothing crazy, nothing
out of your league. Then make the movie. You don’t need top of the
lone equipment and you don’t need top of the line actors. You need
to make a movie.
And then make another one.
There is no reason why you can’t make 4 to 6 short films this year.
That's how you get started.
You have gotten a nice reception here. You followed up on the questions asked, and gave us good information. I'm on a good frame of mind, so I am going to "wax philosophic" for a moment.
The thing that you must always do is stay busy. If you are struggling to support yourself it can be a challenge. It's all about discipline and making some serious choices. You have to do "it" every day if you're a dancer, a musician, an athlete - or a writer. For you it will be harder as writing is a "solitary" pursuit, but you must practice your craft every day. And always be open to "cross-training". Work for free - hopefully you'll get gas money - on other projects. Learn how things should - and should not - work on a set. Watch how other people tell stories. Learn a film craft.
The other reason to stay busy is that you are connecting with other filmmakers. It's an opportunity to network. You'll have a pool of people to call when you are ready to do your own film.
Don't pass up on the opportunity to do "unusual" things in your personal and "professional" life; it can lead in interesting directions. I went to a networking event last week and participated in an actors workshop - something totally out of character for yours truly - and got a lot out of it. It gave me a different perspective on my own craft.
Learn to recognize good advice when you hear it.
So, welcome.
The thing that you must always do is stay busy. If you are struggling to support yourself it can be a challenge. It's all about discipline and making some serious choices. You have to do "it" every day if you're a dancer, a musician, an athlete - or a writer. For you it will be harder as writing is a "solitary" pursuit, but you must practice your craft every day. And always be open to "cross-training". Work for free - hopefully you'll get gas money - on other projects. Learn how things should - and should not - work on a set. Watch how other people tell stories. Learn a film craft.
The other reason to stay busy is that you are connecting with other filmmakers. It's an opportunity to network. You'll have a pool of people to call when you are ready to do your own film.
Don't pass up on the opportunity to do "unusual" things in your personal and "professional" life; it can lead in interesting directions. I went to a networking event last week and participated in an actors workshop - something totally out of character for yours truly - and got a lot out of it. It gave me a different perspective on my own craft.
Learn to recognize good advice when you hear it.
So, welcome.