do you ever feel guilty for taking sick days for this reason?

[ironpony]

I just got back to talking with her more in depthly about it.  She said that even though she is given a director title, that the other assistant directors, and producers are really doing the directing, and she is more of a figurehead role.  I guess the advantage of this is she doesn't have to do much and is still given a director title, but is that really an advantage?  I would really want to do the work if it were me.

[Lotsgoingon]

Dude, from my perspective 36 is young. Absolutely go for your dream. If it doesn't work out, it will mean a lot that you tried. Not trying guarantees that the dream won't work out. And sometimes when we got for a dream and we keep our eyes and ears open, we discover steady gigs that are in the universe of the dream. And you can learn a lot about logistics and people skills and managing skills--all kinds of skills--in making a film. So the work you do there isn't wasted by any mean. 

 

[Allupinnit]

On 9/30/2020 at 11:32 PM, ironpony said:

Oh okay, but I was told that even if I am older, it's okay to do what you want to do career wise, and that it's okay to be late bloomer.  Is there a rule that you can only start out doing what you want to do, when you are young?  Why is there a time limit?  Or is the saying better late than never, bad?

I mean a film director I that I have worked with before, is producing and directing her first feature film next year, and she is in her 40s, so is it really so bad?

I guess it depends on what you want out of your life.  For me personally, financial security is right up there at the top.  I have friends who have made films.  They typically don't go on to make money and need to keep their "real" jobs to pay their bills.

There is no rule that says you have to do anything.  You do you.  Gently, I just get the sense from your posts that you're not even really sure how to go about pursuing your dream and I wonder if it makes sense to also focus on the things that are inevitable - you will one day be old and need to money to live on when you can't work.

[ironpony]

Oh okay, well I guess I just feel like I am not doing what I want for the career I want, where as everyone else is.  I feel like I am not taking the plunge, where as other people I know are, and feel like something is missing in my life as a result.

[basil67]

1 hour ago, ironpony said:

Oh okay, well I guess I just feel like I am not doing what I want for the career I want, where as everyone else is.  I feel like I am not taking the plunge, where as other people I know are, and feel like something is missing in my life as a result.

Oh no 😰  please try to avoid this train of thought.  It's so far from the truth that everyone has the career they want.   Yes, there are a number who love their chosen career, but many simply work in a field which they can function well in.    Have a look around at all the jobs out there which you'd hate to do - and then consider the chances that the people who work those roles think that they have the career they want.

 

[Bluesky00]

Nope not at all

[ironpony]

I see what you mean but even if they do not get the job out of it, they still tried.  For example, my one friend wanted to be in a rock band, but at least they recorded albums and tried.  Or how my ex may not have been a lawyer, but she went and got her law degree.  So I feel they still tried.

[major_merrick]

Dishonesty?  Feelings?  Those things DON'T particularly matter.

However, your job does.  Bread on your table and gas in your tank matters more than anything else!  So you need to evaluate how many days you can take and don't get close to the limit.  And don't get seen!  You're walking a fine line.  I have zero sympathy for most employers, because they squeeze as much out of the employees as they can while providing as little as possible in return.  But if you get caught or mess up your own job, your employer is not to blame. 

Be smart!  It is likely that your film endeavors will take more time than your days off with your job will permit.  You may have to change your employment situation as others have suggested.  It is also unlikely that a film career will provide the security and profit of a standard employment arrangement, it is your life.  Just like sports, lots of folks play ball but few make it to the pros.   

[Dork Vader]

On 9/30/2020 at 9:03 PM, ironpony said:

Oh okay, well I don't think she is any more experienced than me though.  But even though we have both worked in the industry where we could so far, we still have to eventually make a big leap and decide to make something that is hopefully going to be good for business, don't we?  I mean what do you do, after you have worked in it for a while, here and there?  Don't you have to take the leap eventually?

The thing about filmmaking is there is no ranks, in the sense that no one is going to promote you though, so I don't think it's a world of ranks really to work up, rather than trying to break in by yourself, as oppose to someone promoting you for you, if that's what you mean?

Plus even though she is older than me, we took the same film school course together, and worked on the same projects, so I don't think she is of any higher rank, that I can tell anyway.

Honestly it's impossible for us to judge this decision based on what you're telling us. So much can play into this such as your connections in the industry and numerous other things. 

I would not say it's impossible for you to break into the industry at 36 especially if you have some connections in the industry. But it depends on so many factors, what's your experience managing big projects? What type of creativity do you have? How experienced are you with film? Editing? And so many other things. Creativity can play a big part in it as well. So can displaying an ability to stay on budgets and meet deadlines.

I'm 36, I'll be 37 in May. I'm very into video games. 4 months ago I got invited to be be part of a special program with a major gaming company. It's definitely not the norm and I'm definitely the exception. It's something most people dream about and 99.999999% will not achieve. I just happened to be the right person, in the right place, at the right time... So I would not say these kind of things are impossible, but it's not common.

[ironpony]

4 hours ago, major_merrick said:

Dishonesty?  Feelings?  Those things DON'T particularly matter.

However, your job does.  Bread on your table and gas in your tank matters more than anything else!  So you need to evaluate how many days you can take and don't get close to the limit.  And don't get seen!  You're walking a fine line.  I have zero sympathy for most employers, because they squeeze as much out of the employees as they can while providing as little as possible in return.  But if you get caught or mess up your own job, your employer is not to blame. 

Be smart!  It is likely that your film endeavors will take more time than your days off with your job will permit.  You may have to change your employment situation as others have suggested.  It is also unlikely that a film career will provide the security and profit of a standard employment arrangement, it is your life.  Just like sports, lots of folks play ball but few make it to the pros.   

Oh okay.  Well I only wanted to take one one day off so far for this film project but is that too many, if I have only been working the job for two and a half months almost so far?  Also the shoot is in two weeks, if that makes a difference as to how good it would look to book the day off sooner?

[major_merrick]

17 hours ago, ironpony said:

Oh okay.  Well I only wanted to take one one day off so far for this film project but is that too many, if I have only been working the job for two and a half months almost so far?  Also the shoot is in two weeks, if that makes a difference as to how good it would look to book the day off sooner?

In general, I consider it poor form to ask for any kind of day off when you've got less than 6 months in on the job.  Some jobs where I live don't grant any vacation days until after a full year after your hire date, and only minimal sick days.  That really depends on where you work, though.  Most places have a Code of Conduct, so what are the rules at your job?

[ironpony]

Yeah I know what you mean.  I guess if I want a job in the film industry, I am going to have to find away to make enough money at it so I don't need another day job, because the day jobs keep getting in the way, if one other people want me to help them shoot.  So I guess I will have to find a way to work in the industry full time, if that's the way to go.