I find myself in a very torn place at the moment.
I've made lots of shorts here and there, music videos which have been well received and dabble with other creative endeavours (a keen musician and story writer).
My problem is I feel in a rut. Whilst not ready to just go out and make a feature film, or walk into a studio job, I feel like my development and ability to jump all hurdles to break into a film career are all held back by the fact I'm an 'evening and weekend' creative.
I force myself up everyday at 5am to get time to write before heading into a 9 to 5 job, which far from being just a turn up, leave, turn off kind of job, involves a lot of project management and technical skill in the IT Sector. I work to the point of mental exhaustion and always need to be thinking about the days ahead when I come home. I also have a relationship I wish to maintain. All of this time eaten, and although my motivation is there, I need more hours in the day to achieve what I need to achieve.
Now, its not a sympathy post, far from it, I'm lucky to have a steady well paid job in such times. However, I want to be a filmmaker, and I feel that my 'day job' severely hinders the time and energy I could spend pursuing the career. Even posts for unpaid film crew, just for experience, want me Monday to Monday, or 'four days next week', something this full time job cannot allow me to do.
I want not necessarily 'do this' advice, but some kind of discussion on what avenues or possibilities could be advisable. I don't want this to be a hobby, but just quitting my job to be a filmmaker, with a lack of savings and bills to pay, would be madness.
I'm 23 years old, and I want the next 7 years to have me ready to GO GO GO at 30. I want to be making films or working on set in TV or in some capacity, and I need the next few years to be serious.
I want to get up early, have breakfast, and then start film related work. I want to hammer that script or that project.
I know pay is going to be a struggle whatever option. Do I take a big pay cut and go for a part time job? Like evening work in a bar? And then use the daytime to build a film career; trying to get any sort of paid work on the side to add to income?
Going to uni? Whilst I've learnt a lot self taught stuff and would prefer to continue on that avenue, perhaps taking advantage of the "you're working on film everyday" and the finance options going to uni provides (initially).
I just feel like, with 7 months until I'm 24, now's the time to make some kind of change - a change that if a mistake I can recover from whilst I'm not paying a mortgage or have kids or something. (I do have bills as mentioned, but they aren't huge and I live at home, they're bills paying for my camera rig lol). I just don't want it to be the completely wrong mistake if you get me.
Thanks in advance, this has always been a valuable place for advice so far.
I've made lots of shorts here and there, music videos which have been well received and dabble with other creative endeavours (a keen musician and story writer).
My problem is I feel in a rut. Whilst not ready to just go out and make a feature film, or walk into a studio job, I feel like my development and ability to jump all hurdles to break into a film career are all held back by the fact I'm an 'evening and weekend' creative.
I force myself up everyday at 5am to get time to write before heading into a 9 to 5 job, which far from being just a turn up, leave, turn off kind of job, involves a lot of project management and technical skill in the IT Sector. I work to the point of mental exhaustion and always need to be thinking about the days ahead when I come home. I also have a relationship I wish to maintain. All of this time eaten, and although my motivation is there, I need more hours in the day to achieve what I need to achieve.
Now, its not a sympathy post, far from it, I'm lucky to have a steady well paid job in such times. However, I want to be a filmmaker, and I feel that my 'day job' severely hinders the time and energy I could spend pursuing the career. Even posts for unpaid film crew, just for experience, want me Monday to Monday, or 'four days next week', something this full time job cannot allow me to do.
I want not necessarily 'do this' advice, but some kind of discussion on what avenues or possibilities could be advisable. I don't want this to be a hobby, but just quitting my job to be a filmmaker, with a lack of savings and bills to pay, would be madness.
I'm 23 years old, and I want the next 7 years to have me ready to GO GO GO at 30. I want to be making films or working on set in TV or in some capacity, and I need the next few years to be serious.
I want to get up early, have breakfast, and then start film related work. I want to hammer that script or that project.
I know pay is going to be a struggle whatever option. Do I take a big pay cut and go for a part time job? Like evening work in a bar? And then use the daytime to build a film career; trying to get any sort of paid work on the side to add to income?
Going to uni? Whilst I've learnt a lot self taught stuff and would prefer to continue on that avenue, perhaps taking advantage of the "you're working on film everyday" and the finance options going to uni provides (initially).
I just feel like, with 7 months until I'm 24, now's the time to make some kind of change - a change that if a mistake I can recover from whilst I'm not paying a mortgage or have kids or something. (I do have bills as mentioned, but they aren't huge and I live at home, they're bills paying for my camera rig lol). I just don't want it to be the completely wrong mistake if you get me.
Thanks in advance, this has always been a valuable place for advice so far.