Are you active in the filmmaking industry or have aspirations to be?

[DA_Champion]

I'm impressed with how many people on this site say they want to be filmmakers, or even that they are shopping scripts. It's a high-risk, high-ambition decision to make for one's life. So, this thread is an invitation for you to brag. What do you do or want to do? How long have you been trying and what have been your experiences thus far? What advice would you give to the 15 year-olds on this forum who will be in your shoes in 10 years?

I'm an astrophysicist, so movies+TV are just an excessively-obsessive hobby for me.

 

[Octoberist]

I'm a PA at a visual effects/animation company based in LA.

I wanna be a writer though I'm still trying to figure out my path.

 

[DA_Champion]

Does PA mean production assistant? Can you describe your role for those of us not familiar with all the labels and what gear they represent in the giant mechanical watch?

 

[jonathancrane]

I have done some light work. I was an assistant on a webseries - doing slate and other tasks-and licensed one of Stephen King's short stories, which I adapted into a film. Presently, I am taking a break from academia to work for a while, and doing film related scholarship and projects on the side. In a few years, I plan to apply to several film PhD programs and sign on with whoever pays my ride (I would give my left hand, my film collection, and memorabilia, if it meant a paid ride into USC.)

My objective is to become a professional screenwriter, but have the option of falling back on teaching, lest it take a while for my endeavors to materialize. @DaChampion, it is awesome that you are an astrophysicist! I grew up revering scientists and still do.

 

[Octoberist]

Oh yeah, haha.

I'm a Production Assistant who aides the producers on various projects, which includes delivering footage to studios or other VFX facilities across town, scheduling meetings and talent, ummm.....buying food..getting coffee . I can't name the company but we work with high profile stuff. Of course, that's a double edged sword because it means higher stress levels. And the owner is..idiosyncratic. That's just being nice, haha.

BTW, half of the time, there's a lot of down time, hence why I'm here a lot, haha.

UPDATE: In terms of what gear I represent..I'm a vital member though I'm at the lowest rung. PA gigs are a hard deal. You deal with BS, you don't get paid well but you stick with it because you want to advance yourself in the industry. It's getting your hands dirty.

 

[jmc]

I don't work in the industry but if anyone is looking for a concept illustrator feel free to PM me, I'll shoot you my resume.

 

[CGHulk]

I'd like to get into the writing side of things.

 

[A Necessary Evil]

I want to act, terribly. Always have. My issue is, I don't have the money for an agent, and I'd have to move out of VA to at least have a .01% shot at becoming an actor in LA...which, due to being an adult, looks like it won't happen anytime soon.

 

[CapedCrusader14]

I'm a start up filmmaker and writer. I've done some small short films in school but only just completed a short one for a competition in July. This is my passion and my dream.

 

[Hyde]

I'm still a kid but want to be a director when I'm older. I write a bit at the minute, my stuff isn't great but it's decent for my age. Learning new stuff all the time, and I think my skills are developing with each script, be it a movie one or a TV episode. I've done a small bit of directing at my Youth Theatre and in Drama classes at school which both turned out rather well, although to be honest the hardest thing about directing for me isn't the creativity of it, it's keeping everyone under control

 

[dude stannis]

I do the odd bit of acting. I wanted to get into the film industry, but I have a dependant and as much as I love film, I love her even more.

 

[Thundarr]

As a teenager I did some acting in high school. Strictly school plays, nothing professional.

Later, in my twenties, I did some work as an extra in TV and movies. I've been in episodes of The Sentinel, The Dead Zone, Divinci's Inquest, and Scary Movie 3 & 4. I was also in a few made-for-TV movies.

I was assistant editor on an adult movie called "Naughty In Nature".

As for future ambitions, I have hopes of making it as a film writer. I've already written a feature length script for a live action adaptation of the cartoon "Thundarr The Barbarian". And I have other film ideas that I'd like to get down on paper. One of them is an adaptation of the short story "The Sentry" which is about an intergalactic war between two alien races. The twist is you don't realize until the very end that one of the two races (the "villains") is human.

 

[DA_Champion]

As a teenager I did some acting in high school. Strictly school plays, nothing professional.

Later, in my twenties, I did some work as an extra in TV and movies. I've been in episodes of The Sentinel, The Dead Zone, Divinci's Inquest, and Scary Movie 3 & 4. I was also in a few made-for-TV movies.

I was assistant editor on an adult movie called "Naughty In Nature".

As for future ambitions, I have hopes of making it as a film writer. I've already written a feature length script for a live action adaptation of the cartoon "Thundarr The Barbarian". And I have other film ideas that I'd like to get down on paper. One of them is an adaptation of the short story "The Sentry" which is about an intergalactic war between two alien races. The twist is you don't realize until the very end that one of the two races (the "villains") is human.

Spoilers man !

 

[mclay18]

I aspire to be. I'm working with a writer on a homage to Richard Linklater's "Before..." series, which was one of the films that made me want to be in the business.

I majored in English and love writing, but the screenplay format is difficult for me to work with. I think directing and producing is more my forte.

 

[gwynplaine]

Edit

https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/bipolar/id867778921

 

[Octoberist]

I want to act, terribly. Always have. My issue is, I don't have the money for an agent, and I'd have to move out of VA to at least have a .01% shot at becoming an actor in LA...which, due to being an adult, looks like it won't happen anytime soon.

Food for thought: Brenden Gleeson didn't start his film career till he was 34. Think about it. There's plenty of actors who worked hard in their 20's and hit their stride years later in their 30's. Gleeson just started when he was 34! Crazy.

I think he was a teacher, was already married with kids (with Future Bill Weasley/Star Wars Man).

 

[Octoberist]

As a teenager I did some acting in high school. Strictly school plays, nothing professional.

Later, in my twenties, I did some work as an extra in TV and movies. I've been in episodes of The Sentinel, The Dead Zone, Divinci's Inquest, and Scary Movie 3 & 4. I was also in a few made-for-TV movies.

I was assistant editor on an adult movie called "Naughty In Nature".

As for future ambitions, I have hopes of making it as a film writer. I've already written a feature length script for a live action adaptation of the cartoon "Thundarr The Barbarian". And I have other film ideas that I'd like to get down on paper. One of them is an adaptation of the short story "The Sentry" which is about an intergalactic war between two alien races. The twist is you don't realize until the very end that one of the two races (the "villains") is human.

Man, you just ruined the twist to your own story!!! :0

 

[The Chris]

Yes, I'm an aspiring filmmaker. My day job is as a projectionist at a movie theater, but I write, edit, and direct short films. It's such an addiction once I get going. Once I start I don't want to stop, and once the film is locked I want to jump on the next one now. Currently in pre-production of a short.

 

[Heretic]

I want to act, terribly. Always have. My issue is, I don't have the money for an agent, and I'd have to move out of VA to at least have a .01% shot at becoming an actor in LA...which, due to being an adult, looks like it won't happen anytime soon.

I know a few small time director types in Virginia that do short horror things etc. Low/no pay work on indie stuff is better than nothing. At the very least you'd make contacts, and maybe something would get distribution.

Also, you're a lot closer to Wilmington, NC...which last I checked was a bit of a hotbed for tv production.

 

[Teelie]

As a teenager I did some acting in high school. Strictly school plays, nothing professional.

Later, in my twenties, I did some work as an extra in TV and movies. I've been in episodes of The Sentinel, The Dead Zone, Divinci's Inquest, and Scary Movie 3 & 4. I was also in a few made-for-TV movies.

I was assistant editor on an adult movie called "Naughty In Nature".

As for future ambitions, I have hopes of making it as a film writer. I've already written a feature length script for a live action adaptation of the cartoon "Thundarr The Barbarian". And I have other film ideas that I'd like to get down on paper. One of them is an adaptation of the short story "The Sentry" which is about an intergalactic war between two alien races. The twist is you don't realize until the very end that one of the two races (the "villains") is human.

Spoilers man !

Man, you just ruined the twist to your own story!!! :0

I'm also almost certain this was a movie at one point.

Anyhow, slightly on the topic. I don't have aspirations to be in filmmaking even though I have ideas for stories for films. I'd have to actually write them into an acceptable format and work out the broad details to even pretend there was a chance they would get someone's attention.

 

[enquencle]

I'm a graphic design student, but I'm looking to go to film school this next year. It has always been my passion.
Where I live (Mexico) the film industry is in constant growth, but it is extremely hard to get a good job on it, and even harder to get an original project off the ground. It's just too focused on soap operas and cheesy comedy movies. But hey, we have to tke the first step if we want to change that, right?

I'd like to focus on directing and/or screenwriting, but I also love everything related to cinematography.


Any tips for choosing the right film school? What would be the main factors to make your choice?

 

[JJmelo]

Oh yeah, haha.

I'm a Production Assistant who aides the producers on various projects, which includes delivering footage to studios or other VFX facilities across town, scheduling meetings and talent, ummm.....buying food..getting coffee . I can't name the company but we work with high profile stuff. Of course, that's a double edged sword because it means higher stress levels. And the owner is..idiosyncratic. That's just being nice, haha.

BTW, half of the time, there's a lot of down time, hence why I'm here a lot, haha.

UPDATE: In terms of what gear I represent..I'm a vital member though I'm at the lowest rung. PA gigs are a hard deal. You deal with BS, you don't get paid well but you stick with it because you want to advance yourself in the industry. It's getting your hands dirty.

How did u get the PA gig? I want to get into the production side of the industry at some point. I just finished my honours english degree and am looking into film schools right now. If I could get some experience before that its even better

 

[Octoberist]

How did u get the PA gig? I want to get into the production side of the industry at some point. I just finished my honours english degree and am looking into film schools right now. If I could get some experience before that its even better

The whole experience is interesting. I hate using the word 'lucky' but I feel fortunate because I'm from a middle class background. Trust me, there's plenty of people here who are well connected from the get-go or just trust fund babies. But I survived!

Long story short:

I got an internship at a known production company known in the comic book industry (PM me if you wanna know). So I get to go to Comic Con for free every year as an added bonus. From there, a few years later, I met an intern from the same company last year (he wasn't there when I was there) and we networked, and got me a job at the VFX place. IF it wasn't for him, I wouldn't been lost because I got laid off a few years ago from a media company, and STRUGGLED to get a job. Then I got a retail job..and I had family issues so it got to the point where I wanted to give up.. So my buddy really helped me get back on the path again.

Keep in mind, I didn't go to a proper film school in the area -just went to a university not known for its film program (but is one of the better ones in Orange County).

 

[DA_Champion]

Does film school mean $150, 000 in student loans?

In which case, it ain't worth it?

 

[dude stannis]

The pinnacle of my acting career is the director of a student film, a little hipster girl who I've got about a decade on, telling me I'm overacting. My reaction to preventing a friend from committing suicide was supposed to be quiet shock, but I freaked out Cage style. t: