Working with Cinema

[Felipe]

Have anyone here thought about getting a job in the movie industry? I mean not just as actor, since I guess most of the people dreams of being a movie star, but as a director or producer, or any of the various jobs that get involved in the making of a movie?

I was thinking about that those days, but here in Brazil is kinda hard, the movie business is still in he beginning, it is starting to get stronger but it still has a long way to go.
_________________

[Ikano]

I probably thought about it when I was really small but shrug it off as a childhood fantasy like shortly after...

However after taking a class last semester--which ended up being a mini movie making class....at the end of the semester when our movies were due and we had to show everyone etc, my classmates and teacher were all saying that I should direct movies in the future and stuff
I dunno...I don't exactly see myself sitting in a director's chair or anything but I guess after taking that class...the thought hasn't completely left me.
_________________

[Felipe]

Well, maybe you should try. Go after a cinema school or something like that, I don't really know how to call it in English. But you should try, maybe you're the next Quentin Tarantino or something. ;)

I never worked with anything close to making mini movies, but I always had interest in cinema, theater and acting.
_________________

[Ikano]

oh sure...as a hobby...a side hobby...that I'd probably partake in when I'm old and rich :*laugh*:

Honestly I think the only reason my movie came out pretty good was I didn't try to bite off more than I could chew...
For example...on the point of actors, I used the least number of characters I could and I stuck with my family members as being the actors -- In fact, I decided it was best for me to act as the main character, it's my character, my script, no room for misacting there (going off on a tangent a bit: I gotta say...I STINK AT ACTING. I'm NEVER GONNA DO THAT AGAIN! )
Another example is I didn't dwell too long on the script and storyboard, while the other movie-makers took days to perfect the script and make a nice-looking storyboard (wait a sec...come to think of it...not everyone did share their storyboards... :? hmm... ) Cuz I just KNEW that once I started filming everything that could go wrong(/contradict with the script) WILL go wrong.

:roll: In the end I reckon I just 'did well' in the class cuz I managed my time a bit better and ended up having/spending the rest of the semester messing around (experimentally) with random things.
_________________

[retrospect.]

i had originally thought about dropping the unholy amounts of skrilla to go to film school, but i've since then taken a more realistic point of view and explored the world of pharmacy. what i would love to do though is with my potentially awesome income with this field (i start school soon!) is to capitalize some film work, and use my career to allow me the thing i want to do most. i've always loved cameras and my advice to anyone who wants to make money in movies is to be a cameraman, work the camera and reap the benefits of having the skills and connections to let you do more of your own thing.
_________________

[Tullaryx]

With basic digital camera equipment and programs for film editing becoming less complicated to use it's not too difficult to start learning how to make films. Sometimes its less to do with how much money you need (though you will need some money to start things off since equipment and other stuff you need to start with don't come free) and more of dedication to learning the craft.

If you want to be on the screenwriting side of the film industry then you have to constantly write, write, write and read. Also, be prepared to be rejected alot. I know people who gave up trying to break into the business after being rejected a couple times. The Film industry is not a place to be thin-skinned. Those who do the hiring will always go for the more competent candidate. That doesn't mean they will always pick those who went to film school (though it helps) but will pick those who has shown skill in the job they're going out for.

If you really want to try getting into any part of the business go read the industry trades like Variety and the like. They usually have adds for places which can give courses or at least recommend literature and other reference materials to learn about the industry's ins and outs.
_________________

[Felipe]

Thanks for the info guys! :mrgreen:
_________________

[kuwaizair]

sometimes I do, I wonder often if I would be good at writing for film.
so many films are horrble travisties now, or uncalled for remakes, unessesary sequals (Disney company I'm talking about you!) and well, brainless sex filled comidys.

I'm not smart like that enough to do technical things, like computer stuff. But Concept art prehaps, maybe I'd enjoy making sound effects
_________________
few runes short of a set of 27

[Tullaryx]

The hard thing about breaking into the film industry as a screenwriter is not whether you ca write very interesting scripts with original ideas, but whether you can picture your story as making money for the studios. As much as people decry all the sequelitis, remakes/reimaginings/reboots, cookie-cutter comedies, action movies and horror they always seem to make money.

Rare are films which bring on original ideas to the table that hadn't been done to some degree in the past. Even foreign films, which has been the haven for unique storytelling and original ideas, have begun cannibalizing itself in terms of storylines. The last two films I've seen which brings wholly original ideas that no one had ever seen before have been Oldboy and 13 Tzameti.

So, if anyone here wishes to try a hand in scripting stories for the film industry. Remember to follow the main rule of the job. Will others want to pay to watch your movie and how many people would do so? It's always great to be able to get all artistic and avant-garde, but if no one but yourself and a handful of elitist film-school snobs would want to watch it then you're better off working at McDonalds. They pay better in the long run.
_________________

[Shrew]

As much as I love Oldboy, it got its basic plot from a manga, and while it's a fun as hell, it's ultimately a revenge story with a disturbing twist, but isn't that what Oedipus Rex is?

I think scriptwriting is one of the more painful parts of Hollywood. First you have to alter your script to make it acceptable, then it gets put into the hands of a director who can make something completely different, and finally you go through the wonderful Test screening process. The most important thing is not so much the strength of the script itself but your ability to sell the script. It's also important to have connections, so you can get in to see the right people.

The Player is a really great film to watch if you want to be turned off making movies. It's not exactly kind to the dark side of Hollywood. But it's still awesome, and is a good exploration of the whole art versus commercialism theme.
_________________


Fear our Vagueness.