Are you serious?

[untamed_aggression]

This has probably come up before but I've been up nearly 48 hours and I'm just too lazy to search for it...

How many peeps here are making films because that's their career? This is what they want to do. And who's just making flicks on the side, as an interesting hobby.

I ask because I'm getting a lot of shit off my family asking about what I want to do with my life. I reply, "Be a filmmaker," to which the inevitable response is "No, a proper job."

Does anyone else get the same hassle or is it just me? [img]confused.gif[/img]

[Xendar]

Hi,

I work as an IT techncian by day building and configuring NLE workstations. So that is sort of in the "film making" industry.

By night I make training videos for stuff like Adobe Premiere and I also edit videos for a local corporate videographer. I'm mainly editing wedding videos for him at the moment (someone has to do it!). Plus there is some DVD authoring I do too. Hopefully all the work I do on the side will one day help fund more kit ie. proper Mini DV camera, tripod, lights etc. And I can start out on my own. I live in reality though, working for myself is still just a dream at the moment. I can't quit my day job just yet as I have a Fianc?, dog, cat and a mortgage I have to look after.

I don't think we're best placed in West Yorkshire for jobs within the TV or film making industry as up here they are few and far between.

[belovedmonster]

I dont get any problems no. But then i got straight As in 6th form and now Im doing a degree in English Language and Linguistics at York so my parents cant really say anything becos its not like film making is the only thing im doing with myself. Infact ive hardly filmed anything lately becos the stupid degree takes up all my time.

After doing my degree im going to apply for a post grad training course with the BBC. They are like gold dust but i think if i pull my finger out i can get on them. The advantage then is that id be getting paid ?15k a year to train to direct, which seems like a dream position to be in. Its not "film" making granted but i can still shoot stuff in my spare time and doing it will open up a whole host of jobs both with the BBC and working with other people. The BBC are without a doubt the best trained broadcast people in the world so making the transition to film if i want to shouldnt be too hard. That said i would be perfectly happy working in TV if i was enjoying it.

At the end of the day to get your parents off your back you need to be doing something positive that is going to yeild results. You may well be able to write and film a masterpeice in your spare time and get into the business that way but the ammount of people who do that are few and far between. If you did some training or something you could show that you are actually working towards your goal. And here its important to make a distinction between good training and experience and bad training and experience...there are alot of crap courses out there that you are wasting your time if you get onto them.

Do you have a part time job at the moment? Could you perhaps think about getting one in the broadcast field? There are alot of small independent production companies out there that do everything from coporate stuff to advertising to prime time TV stuff. If you could get a part time job somewhere like that it could get your parents off your back.

[belovedmonster]

Try contacting the local film commision (in your case screen yorkshire http://www.screenyorkshire.co.uk/ )and explain you want to make it into the film business can they help you... state that you are willing to work as a gopher/slave for any films being filmed in the area. If you are serious about it you have to commit yourself and do stuff like this as much as play around and have fun on your own movies [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Kev Owens]

I'm finishing a media studies degree, and whilst doing so I've gained a lot of theoretical knowledge on film, video and other areas of the media. The practical side was a big let down, which is why I broke off and made a short independent of Uni;
A Blank Slate - which got accepted into the UK film guide 2003.

This gave me some credibility in my claim that I was serious in pursuit of a career in film-making. Another short I wrote was produced by Northern Film and Media (a Northern Film Council funded branch).

So I'm serious, however I'm well aware that the step I take after Uni is the decisive one- which in many ways I have absolutely no control over.

[Yammeryammeryammer]

I'm doing a BSc in Psychology to be a clinical psychologist, apparently. Nothing remotely to do with filmmaking. I make movies because it is very fun, challenging, and expressive. Also I keep a little videography business on the side for money. Never really considered filmmaking as a career, I guess cause it isn't 'proper'...

[emjen]

I have no idea where I want to go. The filmmaking industry is really small here in holland, so I think I'll just go on and get my degree in Media studies at the university. After that I might even try filmschool again.

But while I'm studying I'm also shooting and learning how to shoot. And I will soon take a course in screenwriting.

So if I can combine my degree with filmmaking I'm a happy man.

[Gwailofilms]

Originally posted by Untamed Aggression:

I ask because I'm getting a lot of shit off my family asking about what I want to do with my life. I reply, "Be a filmmaker," to which the inevitable response is "No, a proper job."

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">To which my response is usually: "If everyone thought like that, then you'd have nothing to watch on TV or the at the cinema."

I'm absolutely serious about being a film-maker. I'll admit that I lost my passion for about a year, but now things are looking better than ever. I've got half-a-dozen music videos lined up to direct (at least one of which I'll be getting paid for [img]cool.gif[/img] ), I'm editing one documentary, about to finish shooting another and I learned earlier in the week that I'm soon to be going into pre-production on my first no-budget feature. Oh, and I've got a short in the JVC Tokyo Video Festival.

I think I'm more serious now than I ever have been.

I also think I'm lucky to have a family that enjoys watching my output and is very supportive of what I want to do.

[windowslaws]

Yes, very

[Nigel]

Right now things are kind of slow for me....I am sort of living in two places and working when I can.

I just finished up a music video and a beer ad of mine will be airing soon. At times I can survive solely as a DP and others I have to work a part-time job.

Just when I think I can survive the market slows down.......Time will tell.

Good Luck