Hey, snap.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I hope you told them that if the world was ending in 24 hours you wouldn't give a fuck about someones filmic choices.If the world was ending in 24 hours, what film would you recommend for someone to watch?
Getting into the "industry" is no more than going from an "outsider" to an "insider". You don't need university to get into the industry, why do you think you are fucked if you don't get in? Many of the professional crew I have met did things like Milk rounds, they did not go to university!
It's not what you know ... etc.
Luck doesn't come into it. Luck is being prepared for an opportunity.
If you don't get into university and you are still serious I would say get your ass to London and work on as many short films as you can (it will all be free so best sign up for benefits), join BECTU (when I joined all you needed was a call sheet to prove what you did) and just get out there. Put your directing on the back-boiler for a while and learn from other people's mistakes.
It's very very very easy to work towards your goal and gain credibility by working with other people. Just know when to keep your mouth shut.
After a year of working on shitty films in London and listening to people's bullshit, apply to the ft2 apprenticeship scheme. If you get on that you'll then be an insider, getting paid (a meagre amount) and doing a job you love. If you don't get on ft2 you at least would have had an interview with industry professionals (my interview was with the producer of "The Bill" and a DoP for Merchant Ivory and someone else I've totally forgotten - hey, it was 1997)
Directing can come later, every fucker wants to be a director yet so few understand that directing is mostly a world of pain and compromise.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The reason I'm fucked if I don't get in 'cos I didn't get in last year since all the places had gone. I've spent the last 8 months looking for a job, with no luck.You don't need university to get into the industry, why do you think you are fucked if you don't get in? Many of the professional crew I have met did things like Milk rounds, they did not go to university!
If I don't get in, I sincerely doubt that my parents will be willing to support me anymore, and my girlfriend will be fairly pissed too.
I know you don't have to go to uni to get into the industry. The reason I'm going is mainly to get some experience whilst spending someone else's money and abusing their resources for my own projects [img]tongue.gif[/img] It was Leeds Metropolitan Uni, by the way.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I can barely afford the bus into town, let alone move to London.If you don't get into university and you are still serious I would say get your ass to London and work on as many short films as you can
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That was my immediate reaction [img]biggrin.gif[/img] I went with Chasing Amy [img]cool.gif[/img]Armageddon.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I keep trying to explain the nature of the industry to my gf and my family, they don't seem to get it. They think you see an ad to direct Alien 5 in the classifieds and apply for it [img]graemlins/sure.gif[/img]Originally posted by Nigel:
Stuff
When I first moved to North London I was signing on and was getting my rent paid by housing benefit. A lot of productions will pay you a tube fare and feed you on-set. When in London, I'd be very very surprised if you couldn't get a job in the TicketMaster call centre that (was in) Leicester Square. I managed it. Loads of jobbing actors work there too. There's always those fast-food places too ...
I hope you get want you want at University, but don't write yourself off if you don't get in.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Don't worry, I won't.Originally posted by miker:
I hope you get want you want at University, but don't write yourself off if you don't get in.
But I'm willing to bet a fair portion of my family will.
When I went to an interview for uni about a year ago I openly expressed my dislike for french 20th music and the interviewer seemed keen to change my opinion but I stuck my ground. When I left and got home I read that she was one of the world leaders of french 20th century music! Oops. A week or so later I got a letter saying my required grades had been lowered based on my interview so speaking your mind sometimes doesn't do any harm [img]smile.gif[/img]
oh, and now I love 20th century french music altho I didn't accept that uni's offer [img]tongue.gif[/img]
The problem is that there isn't much choice in the north for universities or colleges that do degrees in film / video production. And even less if you're looking to get a job in the industry. When I went to college studying video production 8 years ago. Back then there was even less choice - I ended going to Dewsbury college to study a HND. Dewsbury college is the shitest of the shit.
I got much more valuable experience going on work experience at local video production companies. But after all that I'm still not in video production. I work as a IT technician building and testing NLE systems, so it's not all bad.
If you really want to make it go to London.
I'm finding my course pretty good - MWP at University of Bolton.
It's one of 8 Skillset-accredited screenwriting courses in the country (skillset list) and I just got a 2 grand bursary from them, the presentation for which was a marked assignment.
We use XM2s in the first year, but they have better kit as you go, and they ask slightly better questions: "Which film-makers do you admire?" "That would be Kubrick." "and why is that?" "umm....." [img]biggrin.gif[/img]
Panic over, I got my unconditional offer this morning [img]cool.gif[/img]
I guess somehow, in some bizarre way, they took something useful from that interview.
Here's to another 4 years of scrounging off my family!!! [img]graemlins/beer.gif[/img]
Posting Permissions
Bookmarks