Author ironpony Posted April 29, 2021 Author Share Posted April 29, 2021 Some of it I spend monthly for myself, and some I give to them. They don't have power of attorney. Link to post Share on other sites
Happy Lemming Posted April 29, 2021 Share Posted April 29, 2021 On 4/26/2021 at 6:22 PM, ironpony said: I could use their house as one of the major shooting locations 9 hours ago, ironpony said: I was hoping to do it in 40K. How much of the $40K budget would you save by using their home as a "major shooting location"?? Link to post Share on other sites
vla1120 Posted April 29, 2021 Share Posted April 29, 2021 On 12/12/2019 at 2:38 PM, ironpony said: Oh okay, it's just I don't know how else to break into the business otherwise, than doing it on my own. Is there another way to work towards such a career goal that is better? Plus I was told before on here, in past threads that I should go for it, cause if I don't, I will keep on regretting it. Your parents just want what's best for you. History is full of successful people who went against the "safe" plans their parents had in store for them. I'm probably one of those people who have told you to follow your dreams no matter how many people dissuade you. However, you also must understand that, in that business, for every triumph you experience, there are 50 failures. You have to be mentally prepared for all the failure. You also have to be smart about it and put yourself in the best position possible to be successful. Have you considered moving to a place where they make the most movies? Of course, LA and NYC are the two biggest, but there are movies being made in other cities like Philly, Boston, Atlanta, etc. The more you can work on the sets of active movies and gain experience (doing whatever), the more prepared you will be to branch out on your own. Also, you'll be building a resume that will help get you backing when you're ready to shoot your own film. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” — Mark Twain Link to post Share on other sites
Els Posted April 29, 2021 Share Posted April 29, 2021 You do realize that the vast majority of the questions you are asking, are answerable by simply working in filmmaking, making connections, and learning based on what you see your bosses doing... right? If you are serious about this IMO you should move to a location where film studios are and apply like crazy for a job there. ANY job. Janitor, clerk, production crew, whatever. If you don't even have the motivation to do that, you won't get halfway through your own movie before you give up. 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Author ironpony Posted April 30, 2021 Author Share Posted April 30, 2021 10 hours ago, vla1120 said: Your parents just want what's best for you. History is full of successful people who went against the "safe" plans their parents had in store for them. I'm probably one of those people who have told you to follow your dreams no matter how many people dissuade you. However, you also must understand that, in that business, for every triumph you experience, there are 50 failures. You have to be mentally prepared for all the failure. You also have to be smart about it and put yourself in the best position possible to be successful. Have you considered moving to a place where they make the most movies? Of course, LA and NYC are the two biggest, but there are movies being made in other cities like Philly, Boston, Atlanta, etc. The more you can work on the sets of active movies and gain experience (doing whatever), the more prepared you will be to branch out on your own. Also, you'll be building a resume that will help get you backing when you're ready to shoot your own film. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” — Mark Twain Oh well everyone seems to be getting out of L.A. and NYC now because of covid and the political situations, it seems movies are not being made there near as much as it use to be, or so I hear. I thought I would be better prepared for the failure if I only spent 40K. Also LA and NYC are really expensive to live in, so I would need a job that can pay for me living there, and I do not know what to do as a profession that would pay that high to do so. But also, I don't have a green card to move to either of those cities either. Link to post Share on other sites
S2B Posted April 30, 2021 Share Posted April 30, 2021 (edited) What kind of work do you do now and what is your approximate annual pay? Edited April 30, 2021 by S2B Link to post Share on other sites
Author ironpony Posted April 30, 2021 Author Share Posted April 30, 2021 Right now I have a temporary seasonal job that is mininum wage at the moment. Before that I had another seasonal job that was paying 18 an hour. Link to post Share on other sites
S2B Posted April 30, 2021 Share Posted April 30, 2021 So really moving to LA - you could work full time and have more money to pay for those living expenses. You could get a room mate or two. maybe find work in your area of interest so you can see first hand how each producer executes effective days of filming. Ask them questions; learn while you’re working. certainly you understand if you don’t change anything - your life remains exactly as it is now. Link to post Share on other sites
Author ironpony Posted April 30, 2021 Author Share Posted April 30, 2021 (edited) Well L.A. is so expensive though, and I don't know what job will pay those bills, even with roommates. Can't I just make a feature film or make projects in a cheaper city. Why such an expensive city? Trying to make microbudget film projects in a very expensive city just seems oxymoronic to me, unless I am wrong? Plus I don't have a green card or visa so I am not sure how I can move to the US therefore. Edited April 30, 2021 by ironpony Link to post Share on other sites
S2B Posted April 30, 2021 Share Posted April 30, 2021 Newsflash... you can DO whatever you want. Link to post Share on other sites
vla1120 Posted April 30, 2021 Share Posted April 30, 2021 10 hours ago, ironpony said: Oh well everyone seems to be getting out of L.A. and NYC now because of covid and the political situations, it seems movies are not being made there near as much as it use to be, or so I hear. I thought I would be better prepared for the failure if I only spent 40K. Also LA and NYC are really expensive to live in, so I would need a job that can pay for me living there, and I do not know what to do as a profession that would pay that high to do so. But also, I don't have a green card to move to either of those cities either. Oh! You don't have to be in LA or NYC. Many production companies are moving to smaller cities to do business and, from what I read, the same is happening abroad. Search which cities near you are best for movie making. You're right, COVID has adversely impacted the industry, but movies are still being made. Just get yourself as close as possible to the business in whatever capacity possible. Exposure and gaining experience are key. Link to post Share on other sites
Author ironpony Posted April 30, 2021 Author Share Posted April 30, 2021 2 hours ago, vla1120 said: Oh! You don't have to be in LA or NYC. Many production companies are moving to smaller cities to do business and, from what I read, the same is happening abroad. Search which cities near you are best for movie making. You're right, COVID has adversely impacted the industry, but movies are still being made. Just get yourself as close as possible to the business in whatever capacity possible. Exposure and gaining experience are key. Oh okay, thanks, I can do that. I've been on some movie productions over the years in my city, as well as driving to some others that are a few hours away, here and there to get on sets. But I guess I just felt I was at the point where I should try to make my own feature film myself now, to try to break in with that, or at least I felt that was the best way to break in rather than rely on others to give me more of a break without ever having made a feature film. Link to post Share on other sites
BaileyB Posted May 1, 2021 Share Posted May 1, 2021 19 hours ago, ironpony said: Well L.A. is so expensive though, and I don't know what job will pay those bills, even with roommates. Can't I just make a feature film or make projects in a cheaper city. Your Canadian dollars won’t go far in the US. $40,000 Canadian dollars = <$30,000 US dollars and that I can’t imagine will even begin to cover the cost of a movie. Link to post Share on other sites
Author ironpony Posted May 1, 2021 Author Share Posted May 1, 2021 Oh okay, so I am better of making it in Canada then you are saying? My one friend from Indonesia told me I should make it there, as the money will go a lot further, and was considering that as well, but thought the flights might cost too much maybe. Link to post Share on other sites
BaileyB Posted May 1, 2021 Share Posted May 1, 2021 I think if you want to be taken seriously, you need to come up with an actual business plan. Otherwise, you are dreamer who is about to waste away the hard earned savings that your parents so wisely encouraged you build. Link to post Share on other sites
Author ironpony Posted May 1, 2021 Author Share Posted May 1, 2021 Well I think I need to enlist someone else and hire them to handle the business part of it. I feel I can do a lot better on the technical side of filmmaking, but if I could hire someone to handle the business side, that would be the best perhaps. I think I am more of a technical filmmaker than a producer/business marketer. Link to post Share on other sites
BaileyB Posted May 1, 2021 Share Posted May 1, 2021 3 minutes ago, ironpony said: Well I think I need to enlist someone else and hire them to handle the business part of it. I feel I can do a lot better on the technical side of filmmaking, but if I could hire someone to handle the business side, that would be the best perhaps. I think I am more of a technical filmmaker than a producer/business marketer. I fear that’s an easy way to be taken advantage of... you have to be very careful when you allow someone to control the business/money side of a business venture. You know, when we are young we all have dreams of things that we want to do. The reality is, we all have to find a job that puts money on the table. Those who are truly lucky manage to find a job that involves their interest or their passion. But many others, will chose a profession and pursue their interest or passion on the side. It’s just reality. Have you ever thought of a compromise? If you like the technical aspect of film making, try to get a job in the film industry doing this work? That way, you will do what you love and you can support yourself financially. Link to post Share on other sites
Author ironpony Posted May 1, 2021 Author Share Posted May 1, 2021 Oh well I like film directing and took a course in that, as well as read books in that. So I want to direct but it's hard to get a job in that when starting out and most directors direct a first feature themselves, without being hired it seems. Link to post Share on other sites
BaileyB Posted May 1, 2021 Share Posted May 1, 2021 (edited) 4 minutes ago, ironpony said: Oh well I like film directing and took a course in that, as well as read books in that. So I want to direct but it's hard to get a job in that when starting out and most directors direct a first feature themselves, without being hired it seems. Perhaps you need to do more than take a course. I imagine you will be taken more seriously if you get some experience and learn about the industry, starting at the bottom, and work your way up. Edited May 1, 2021 by BaileyB Link to post Share on other sites
Author ironpony Posted May 1, 2021 Author Share Posted May 1, 2021 Just now, BaileyB said: Perhaps you need to do more than take a course. I imagine you will be taken more seriously if you learn about the industry, starting at the bottom, and work your way up. Just now, BaileyB said: Perhaps you need to do more than take a course. I imagine you will be taken more seriously if you learn about the industry, starting at the bottom, and work your way up. Oh okay, well I've done a lot of jobs so far such as acting in roles in movies, and I have done editing and sound recording on other movies for people. But I keep getting hired for those jobs. It seems that if I have acted, edited and done sound, that's all they want me for, and no one wants to give me any directing jobs, if those are the jobs I have started out in. I am not sure how to work my way up as director but maybe I am doing it wrong? Link to post Share on other sites
BaileyB Posted May 1, 2021 Share Posted May 1, 2021 Just now, ironpony said: Oh okay, well I've done a lot of jobs so far such as acting in roles in movies, and I have done editing and sound recording on other movies for people. But I keep getting hired for those jobs. It seems that if I have acted, edited and done sound, that's all they want me for, and no one wants to give me any directing jobs, if those are the jobs I have started out in. I am not sure how to work my way up as director but maybe I am doing it wrong? Isn’t working in the industry in any way better than not working in the industry at all? If you are getting hired for those jobs and they provide a living wage, then I would continue to explore that option. The reality is, I’m sure lots of people work in the film industry and very few probably get the opportunity to direct. It could take years before someone decides to give you a break, or it may never happen at all. That doesn’t mean that you can’t still work in the industry and make a living wage doing something that you enjoy. Link to post Share on other sites
Author ironpony Posted May 1, 2021 Author Share Posted May 1, 2021 8 minutes ago, BaileyB said: Isn’t working in the industry in any way better than not working in the industry at all? If you are getting hired for those jobs and they provide a living wage, then I would continue to explore that option. The reality is, I’m sure lots of people work in the film industry and very few probably get the opportunity to direct. It could take years before someone decides to give you a break, or it may never happen at all. That doesn’t mean that you can’t still work in the industry and make a living wage doing something that you enjoy. Oh yes for sure I can still work in the industry, it's that that since I wanted to try a shot at getting into directing a feature film particularly, I thought this is the best way to do it, but maybe I am wrong. It just seems that feel I have been 'typed', so to speak, as in once you are an actor or editor, you will be always be and people only want me for those jobs. I can still do them, I just wanted to try a shot at directing, since that is what I wanted goal and passion wise. Link to post Share on other sites
Wiseman2 Posted May 1, 2021 Share Posted May 1, 2021 18 hours ago, ironpony said: I just wanted to try a shot at directing, since that is what I wanted goal and passion wise. Ok, start with making/producing YouTube videos. Get some of the kinks out without a big budget, rent some equipment, etc. Get some friends, extras, amateurs, volunteers together, pick a free locale and a theme/plot and see how that goes first. If you can pull that off and get a lot of YT hits, likes, followers, comments, etc. then you'll get real-time feedback. 3 Link to post Share on other sites
Author ironpony Posted May 2, 2021 Author Share Posted May 2, 2021 Oh ok I have done this as well and got feedback. But wouldn't a feature still be the next step? Link to post Share on other sites
elaine567 Posted May 2, 2021 Share Posted May 2, 2021 7 hours ago, ironpony said: Oh ok I have done this as well and got feedback. But wouldn't a feature still be the next step? Not when the feedback was less than stellar. If people like your YouTube stuff they will probably like your feature film, if it is of the same quality and creativity. As you had no success at all on YouTube, why would you think you will have success with a low budget feature film? Fine if you have money to burn, but you don't. No success = a complete waste of money. You might as well make a bonfire of your $40K in the garden and save yourself a lot of bother and heart ache. Your next step is to try to make a YouTube film that some people will actually like. If a surgeon cannot master removing tonsils, his next step is not hoping he can perform a heart transplant... 3 Link to post Share on other sites
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