My situation at the moment is rather disappointing.

At the beginning of the summer, my main goal was to make 3 short film (at least), in order to practice, make some stuff for a porte-folio, and to present them at my college's short film night.

But little to no idea actually came. When inspiration would decide to come, it would usually be something to hard to pull off on my own or with my technical mean.

Now, in the past month, I've been pushed to do things that I didn't really wanted to do, and absolutely ZERO story idea have come up to me. It has not always been like this, but it is right now...so I doubt.
The way, I think, to know if really film making is for me, is by making film, but right now things are not going well (or not going at all). I would like cinema to be my vocation, but is it, really? No way to be sure for now...

- I'd like to know, to you sometime doubt? Have you ever doubted? Do you think you will? Do you brush the thought aside?

- On a related note: if you have no doubts, what makes you so confident? What have strengthened your certitude?

I'm curious.

Doubt is natural. If you don't doubt, you're lying. I struggle with the same problems you do; I doubt. But I still push through it. It's all a matter of will - no one is meant to be a filmmaker, they simply choose to be.

Ask yourself this: is there anything else you can think of that you might want to do as much as filmmaking? Do you really enjoy experiencing cinema, instead of just watching? Does it make you happy to make a film for the sake of making it?

I've had doubts. Man oh Man, have I had doubts.
I've wanted to be a filmmaker since I was a young boy and I'm just now getting ready for college as I type this. Through that time, I've had tons of doubts. I mean, look at the competition. I've always asked myself.. "Can I really make a living off of this?" "What if my movies fail to attract the audience?" "How am I going to get the time/money to make this so called film?"
I've had friends/counselors/teachers etc. try and push me into certain directions. I've been told to get a REAL major when I go to college. I've been through all of that.
Even now, when I try to write screenplays, nothing comes to mind. Even when I get a good idea, I have trouble turning it into a movie script. I've even thought about just giving up completely, but I continue to do it because I really couldn't picture doing anything else with my life.
Whenever I have doubts, I just pop in one of my favorite movies and watch it and even watch the special features, like the behind the scenes. That's when I usually snap out of it and get myself pumped about filmmaking again. That might sound stupid, but it works for me. Good luck.

Who said you need to come up with your own ideas?

I mean, there are roles in the filmmaking process that require mostly drive and preparation to make someone else's ideas happen, where creativity plays a secondary role, if that.
Maybe you'll end up discovering that these are the roles you enjoy the most, or the ones that come more naturally for you, and there's nothing wrong with that. Films need people like (I'm guessing) you. If we were all directors and screenwriters, no films would ever get made (well, maybe just a few).
I'd say, try to concentrate on the things in life you enjoy the most, but more importantly, WHY you enjoy doing these things. Then try to figure out the kind of jobs (or careers) where these traits become requirements.

Then again, you sound like you're pretty young. Maybe you just don't have any stories worth telling right now. And again, that's perfectly fine. It may be just a matter of time.

Thirdly, you may want to find some older filmmakers or film students in you area and offer to help, or just ask them to let you hang out on the set. You'll probably learn a whole lot more about what you want and what you don't want to do in this situation, as opposed to sitting in your room thinking or trying to find an article on the internet that will inspire you.

Best,

E.

Doubt is always sitting on your shoulder talking in your ear. Those that push past that little voice are the ones that will succeed. Everybody has it so don't think you are alone in that regard. Stories come from experiencing life. When was the last time you drove across the country...by yourself? When was the last time you had your heart broken? Got drunk and did something stupid...if you drink. When was the last time you helped someone you didn't even know? Bought a homless person a meal and sat down and talked with them? What scares you? Whatever fears you have confront some of them and scare yourself. Stories come from living life...observe others also. Step back and watch...but get in there and go for it! The best scripts come from the basics of life...not the extraordinary...not the extreme. Great characters in simple stories about security, money, love, discovery, etc.

sometimes things just dont work out. most often its because of the weather. why do so many hollywood movies suck? Well theyre all shooting on hot days.

doubt is something that has nothing to do with anything! doubt actually requires a lot. dont think of your ideas as being great or huge....it leads to critiquing yourself too hard...youll end up with a lot of "Big ideas" when you should focusing on whats hanging infront of your eye. Things happens before you all the time, and you dont doubt them happening? you accept it as true. why would you judge them? in movies things happen, and we've been tricked into thinking we need to judge whats going on...most movies havetricked everyone into thinking thats how you watch a movie. you critic it. real films dont let you do that, theyre far over, in your head, making your wheels spin. dreaming up whats going to happen next, or what could be happening....at all. most good films willleave you hanging on these, you'll have yourself a new film in your head compared to what i actually saw.

in the end u have to doubt the audience.doubt theyll care, they want TRansformers, how could you compare? watch that film, take notes on what the audience likes, make a film completely opposite. your goal as anartist is to chart new territory, what hasnt been? think theyll be "entertained?" I DOUBT IT...according to their book [dictionary]

entertaining huih?

quote:

Originally posted by E.D.M.:
Who said you need to come up with your own ideas?

I mean, there are roles in the filmmaking process that require mostly drive and preparation to make someone else's ideas happen, where creativity plays a secondary role, if that.
Maybe you'll end up discovering that these are the roles you enjoy the most, or the ones that come more naturally for you, and there's nothing wrong with that. Films need people like (I'm guessing) you. If we were all directors and screenwriters, no films would ever get made (well, maybe just a few).
I'd say, try to concentrate on the things in life you enjoy the most, but more importantly, WHY you enjoy doing these things. Then try to figure out the kind of jobs (or careers) where these traits become requirements.

Then again, you sound like you're pretty young. Maybe you just don't have any stories worth telling right now. And again, that's perfectly fine. It may be just a matter of time.

Thirdly, you may want to find some older filmmakers or film students in you area and offer to help, or just ask them to let you hang out on the set. You'll probably learn a whole lot more about what you want and what you don't want to do in this situation, as opposed to sitting in your room thinking or trying to find an article on the internet that will inspire you.

Best,

E.

Not that this comment was not appropriate or well written or anything, but I did not start this thread to get advice (even though your were of quality).

I'm more interested in other people's experience. Did you ever had any doubts? Or did you pictured yourself director but finally found out it was not what you wanted to make?

Read a book.

And make it a GOOD book, no Harry Potter or Michael Crichton.

It's the few uncensored paths to the world out there and so little filmmakers are doing it becaues they're too busy shopping for the coolest filmmaking gadget, or reading online forums.

If you read, ideas will come, not to mention your writing will improve

Our generation is the most isolated, unmotivated group to come along in a while. Read everything you can get your hands on, and your life, not just coming up with how to use your neighbor's awesome airsoft pistol collection, will benefit from it.

Yet no one wants to pick up a book anymore. A shame.

MAKE A MOVIE ABOUT A DOUBTFUL FILM STUDENT!

I've had my doubts, and I've had the whole "get a real degree" speech from lots of people. The sad thing is: I listened to them.

I went through two years of college to get a business degree. By the end of my second year, I realized, "I'm hating this." If I was hating school for business, how much would I hate actually working in a cubicle?

So this year I'm going for a brand new start! Am I basically starting from square one as far as college goes? Yeah. But I'm a whole lot happier.

And funkbomb, I couldn't have said it better myself! Here's some books that are sitting on my shelf that I absolutely loved reading:

1) Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
2) The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown
3) The Once and Future King by T.H. White
4) Common Nonsense by Andy Rooney
5) The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov
6) The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
7) Tom Clany's Splinter Cell
8) A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
9) Robot Visions by Isaac Asimov
10) The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

That's just to get you started. Keep your chin up. Do what makes you happy. You don't want to be the middle aged guy who hates his job, wife, and kids, and ends up a poor, divorced drunk.

I'm now 22 and I still don't know what I want to do. I like film but I constantly wonder if I'm good enough.

Ideas are easy. Everytime I get an idea I write it down in a word file, even if it's undoable. But ideas are easy for me. What's easy for you? Right now, in school, being a filmmaker means being pretty well rounded in film. You don't have to be well rounded to be excellent at something. Try it, yes. Know how each job works so you know how it relates to yours. Start specializing. I get ideas because I'm a writer. Maybe you aren't a writer. Or maybe you are, but you need a kick start.

This site might help spark some innovation:
http://www.penguinking.com/premise.php

I use it whenever I want to write something short and goofy to get the juices flowing.

quote:

Not that this comment was not appropriate or well written or anything, but I did not start this thread to get advice (even though your were of quality).

I'm more interested in other people's experience. Did you ever had any doubts? Or did you pictured yourself director but finally found out it was not what you wanted to make?

Er... My experience IS where that piece of advice came from.

Yes, I had doubts. Yes, I pictured myself as a rock star playing arenas and making millions, then I decided I was better off writing music for independent films for little to no pay, and the occasional TV gig (which I do get paid for).

E.

MY biggest doubts come from comparing myself to others. I know this kid, he's only a little bit older than me and he directed this short that was funded by a local production company. It's got great reviews and almost won at this event. I make not crappy looking movies that's best hopes are being thought un-sucky at a highschool fest or put on the internet praying for reviews.

This kid has had major oppertunities lately, the company likes his new script so that will be produced by them- he's making it for a fest where he could win 2 grand. Currently, he's going to community college buti'm not much better off I'm just going to a state school- one that's film school i didn't even get into.

And lately, with all these awesome developments for him (even thouh he's offered to help me get jobs), I can't help but feel like a person who knew Andy Warhol before he was big. Or like Mozart's rival in Amadeus.

I mean personally I don't think his **** genius but everyone seems to think it's the greatest thing since sliced toast.

What I'm trying to say is I am jealous... I mean it would've been so easy for this to have been me, but it's not. Yet, I'm happy for him- alothugh I originally met him because he was supposed to help me with one of my projects, but his "practically award winning" movie's production was about to conflict with my filming.

What he did (sent out a script to numerous companies), I guess I could've done too... if I had a script that long. And he did work for it. it's just, I want to be noticed too... I'm working my butt off, but whenever I get critiques of my stuff from him it always makes my efforts seem so futile.

It doesn't help that the past 4 years of my life have sucked... in every aspect. (but that's a different story.)

I doubt if I'm ever gonna get my **** together and reach toward some kind of potential... I'm worried I'll be struggling for the next 10 years, while he's some great young director. I'm worried I'll be a frustrated female Vincent Gallo-type muttering "I could've done that."

I don't know if i could live with that...b ut that's the way things always turn out. So, I doubt I ever receive retribution in cool for all the suck.

***** eloquent endings*

He got to work his ass off. You don't get result without work, or at least intelligently placed effort.

Edit: Oh yeah does he got anything on the internet? Would be interesting to see how good he is.

hahaha. how good he is?

this is adsactly the problem!

quote:

Originally posted by Kyle Johnson:
adsactly

Do you really think that's the correct spelling of that word? You've been writing it like that for as long as I can remember.

i never said he didn't do a lot of work it... he did and at the exact same time, I did too. But our efforts more produced entirely different results that are valued differently.

And yes, he does have stuff online.

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&...340&blogID=251950523

this was his last project(the one that he got help from the company with): http://www.myspace.com/followthedollar

quote:

Originally posted by Josh:

quote:

Originally posted by Kyle Johnson:
adsactly

Do you really think that's the correct spelling of that word? You've been writing it like that for as long as I can remember.

Whoa that is such a strange coincidence. I picked up that spelling from Kyle, and I just used it 5 seconds ago in an IM conversation and the person was confused. But I enjoy spelling that way...adsactly > exactly

Creating word sure is awesome.

And I've watched his stuff. Didn't like it that much (music and random montage (but that demonstrated some visual talent and potential IMO))

Does he have a lot of friend and social network? Is he popular? That might explain the high review.

Edit: Those "behind the scene" are pretty interesting tough.